Review: "screen" - katie MAC
- Karlee Skipper
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
katie MAC never fails to deliver flawless pop anthems. Her latest EP, glitchpop!, is a cohesive masterpiece that takes the listener through a journey of heartbreak and longing. Her single, “screen,” ingeniously closes out the project with gut-wrenching lyrics that encapsulate the complex emotions katie explores throughout glitchpop! After accepting that this relationship is over and she will never see her muse again, she tells them, “I’ll just watch your life go on without me on the screen.” She will now stay updated on their life through social media, forever connected with them in some way – even if it is just the highlights. This phenomenon is unique to the modern age of dating, and navigating this new type of longing is unfathomable. In the bridge, the EP’s title becomes clear with the lyric: “It’s all a glitch in my personal hell.” Creating this project was a cathartic release that the singer needed to put into the world. Just like she “couldn’t look away,” she felt compelled to transform her raw feelings into lyrical works of art. katie’s descriptive imagery draws listeners in, leaving them hanging on every word. Her clever songwriting shatters their hearts alongside the artist. katie is a wondrous wordsmith, and each track on glitchpop! deserves to be played on an endless loop.
In the classic katie MAC fashion, “screen” consists of mesmerizing vocal effects and heavy synths. The track begins solely with katie’s layered vocals in the first verse, reeling in the audience with the raw, intimate atmosphere. In the pre-chorus, a soothing synth wave introduces the instrumentation, building anticipation for the reveal of the hook. When the chorus hits, the deep synth boom makes its entrance, alongside katie’s strong vocals. The power of her voice, paired with the instrumentation, showcases her desperation and yearning for her former partner. In the middle of the chorus, the song mellows out again, showing her vulnerability, before bursting back into the emotional soundscape. The track continues in this structure until it reaches the bridge, where the production takes a complete switch - like a glitch. The vocal effects lessen, revealing katie’s natural vocals and a dynamic production with synth waves and bass, catching the listener off guard. Slowly, the track returns to a booming production to close out the bridge, before it switches to the soft, slow outro that features katie’s raw vocals, bringing the emotional story to an end. “screen” is an effervescent hyper-pop ballad that is perfect for a late-night drive down city backstreets while mourning the loss of a past relationship. katie has once again perfected her unique glitchpop sound, resonating with listeners who are experiencing their own heartbreak.
katie MAC is an LA-based pop singer-songwriter. Her music blends raw vocals with hyper-electronic production and heavy autotune, crafting songs that are perfect for crying in the club. She made her debut in 2017 with her single, “Nice Guys.” Since then, she has released two LPs, two EPs, and several singles. She first went viral with her track, “Not My Ex,” which has amassed over a million Spotify streams and landed on major playlists including New Music Friday, Pop Right Now, and Brand New Chill. She has also earned praise from Rolling Stone Mexico, HuffPost, Notion, EARMILK, and Hype Magazine. In addition to her solo career, she’s an in-demand writer for artists such as John Harvie, Brooke Alexx, and Caroline Kole. Listen to katie's new EP, glitchpop!, on all streaming platforms and follow her on her social media listed below!
Written By Karlee Skipper
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