Katie Dauson Delivers An Explosive New Single 'That Volcano'
- Curious For Music Team
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Katie Dauson has always had a way of dressing vulnerability in surprising textures, and her latest single “That Volcano” is perhaps her most compelling contradiction yet.
Bright, beachy, and deceptively carefree, the track wears its yacht-rock and surf-pop influences like sunglasses on a cloudy day — shielding something much more complex beneath the shine.
What begins with the lightness of a tropical breeze soon gives way to something weightier. Sparked by a playful glance at a parrot-covered Jimmy Buffett vinyl, the song quickly peels back its vibrant aesthetic to reveal a quiet catharsis. As Dauson sings with ease and control, you begin to understand that this is less about birds and more about burden — and the beautiful, often tangled, road to shaking it off.
The production, led by longtime collaborator James Nickle, is lean but luminous. There’s a confidence in the mix — nothing overstated, everything in its place. Dauson’s guitar, a left-handed Martin OM-18V she’s played for years, becomes an anchor. Its clarity adds a kind of emotional legitimacy that can’t be faked.
Lyrically, “That Volcano” walks the line between confessional and universal. Dauson’s realisation — that she was, in fact, writing about herself all along — is the kind of moment that quietly hits you mid-chorus. The accompanying animated video by Joren Cull feels like a perfect extension: surreal, charming, and just melancholic enough to leave a mark.
More than just a catchy tune, “That Volcano” is a study in what it means to reclaim yourself without bitterness. It’s a smile with teeth. Dauson continues to carve out her space — one that’s deeply personal, deeply musical, and entirely her own.
