Premiere: Kav Temperley and Katy Steele - Graduation Day

Take a first listen to the new collab between two WA icons ahead of Temperley’s new album releasing in September

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Releasing Monday, July 4 but premiering here on Pilerats today is a meeting of two of Western Australia’s (and Australia’s, for that matter) finest musical minds, with Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe) teaming up with Katy Steele (Little Birdy) for the heartfelt new single, Graduation Day.

The latest cut from his forthcoming sophomore solo record, Machines of Love and Grace, Graduation Day was co-written between these two iconic vocalists and as the name implies, is an ode to this sacred rite of passage with Kav explaining “Growing up in Fremantle, it used to be a right of passage to jump off the old traffic bridge into the river on graduation day. People would pull over their cars and yell at you for being reckless and dangerous. The song Graduation Day is the story about someone who stayed behind and somebody who chose to leave, and about how no matter how far you go - there is always this tether pulling you back”.

Kav and Katy are not only peers, but long-time friends, making the collaboration all the more special with Kav elaborating “Myself and Katy have been friends for many, many years. Katy did her first Little Birdy demos in the back shed of my old house while Eskimo Joe were writing our second album A Song Is A City. We almost asked Katy to join Eskies playing keyboards, but Little Birdy was such a great musical project that it would have been criminal if she didn’t get out there and become the musical goddess that we all new she was destined to become. After two years of such extreme isolation, it was an absolute pleasure to get in a room together and work on some new music. You never know if the magic is going to happen when you sit down to write a song with someone, but Graduation Day just felt right straight away”.

Katy expands on this saying “Kav is such a great writer and musician and I've always had a tonne of respect for him. This song showcases what a great writer he is so I am truly honoured to be on it! We've been hanging out a little recently working on stuff and Kav played me the song in the studio. I guess we share a slight affinity both being the 'lead singers' doing solo stuff and all the feelings, pressures and emotions that come with it. It's been so nice sharing those feelings together, it's made me feel less alone”.

A timeless pairing, give Graduation Day a spin ahead of its release on July 4 now!