Her influences are varied, including Nina Simone, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Simon and Garfunkel, and Velvet Underground. She has sung with Badmarsh & Shri album and worked with Twisted Nerve artist Pedro.
Her album, Leave to Remain, was greeted with critical acclaim, and her earlier Little Black Numbers was nominated for a Grammy award.
In 2010 Williams collaborated with former Delicate Vomit member Anna Spencer as The Crayonettes on the album Playing Out - Songs for Children and Robots
In 2012 she launched a new project called 'The Pond.'
A trio with Simon Edwards and Ginny Clee, the project mixed by Portishead’s Adrian Utley.
Hollow
Kathryn Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You hit speed to slow the solemn in you
There's a time and a place
But this isn't it, this isn't it
Can I live with the hole?
Leaving you behind leaves
Without the plan or the plough
Of doubt, the seed
Like the click of a camera
The world's stopped for my scrutiny
I can magnify raindrops
And see what they slice through
I can push back forgotten
And ring in the new, ring in the new
Can I live with the space?
Leaving you behind leaves
Without wanting a light
Constellations appear
Is this my course?
With doubts?
Your need fills the hollow in me
Can I still fill the hollow in you?
In Kathryn Williams's song "Hollow," the lyrics are imbued with a sense of longing and uncertainty. The opening lines suggest that the singer is incomplete without the person they are addressing, whose "need fills the hollow" in them. This is contrasted with the idea that the other person is similarly struggling, trying to "slow the solemn" in them by distracting themselves with speed.
The singer seems to be grappling with a difficult decision about leaving the other person behind, as they question whether they can "live with the hole" that will be left in them. They acknowledge that without the other person, their own sense of purpose and direction will be diminished, as if they are missing the "plan or the plough." However, they also seem to be aware of the ways in which their doubts and uncertainties are amplified in this relationship, with the "seed of doubt" growing larger without the other person around.
The song's chorus explores the idea of magnifying and scrutinizing one's own experiences, suggesting that there is both beauty and pain in this kind of intense self-reflection. The singer wonders whether they can "live with the space" that is left when they leave the other person behind, but also acknowledges that this space may be necessary for new possibilities to emerge. Ultimately, the final lines of the song return to the central question of whether the two people can truly fill each other's "hollows," suggesting that this longing and uncertainty may be an ongoing part of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Your need fills the hollow in me
Your presence fulfills the emptiness inside me, making me feel complete.
You hit speed to slow the solemn in you
You distract yourself from your sadness by keeping busy, but in doing so, you only delay the emotional pain and don't truly heal.
There's a time and a place
Certain situations require a specific time and space for them to be appropriate or successful.
But this isn't it, this isn't it
However, the current circumstance is not one of those situations and it's not the right time and place for something to happen.
Can I live with the hole?
Can I accept and endure the sense of emptiness within me?
Leaving you behind leaves
Moving on from the relationship means that
Without the plan or the plough
There's no clear direction or guidance for what comes next.
It gets bigger the seed
The uncertainty and doubt only grow, making it more difficult to be decisive.
Of doubt, the seed
The origin of this feeling is uncertainty and a lack of confidence in one's abilities to make good choices.
Like the click of a camera
The perspective changes quickly and suddenly, much like how a photo captures a moment in time in an instant.
The world's stopped for my scrutiny
When taking a closer look at the world around you, time seems to stand still and everything becomes clearer and more detailed.
I can magnify raindrops
By focusing intently on even small details, they become more significant and meaningful than they may have seemed before.
And see what they slice through
Examining the impact of seemingly insignificant things can reveal deeper truths about the world and the people in it.
I can push back forgotten
Reflecting on things forgotten or ignored in the past can be a powerful tool for personal growth and learning.
And ring in the new, ring in the new
Making room for new experiences and ideas can be a refreshing change, leading to growth and creative inspiration.
Can I live with the space?
Can I accept and endure the feeling of emptiness created by leaving behind what once filled that space?
Without wanting a light
Being comfortable with a lack of clarity or illumination, and taking time to sit in the unknown.
Constellations appear
With focused attention and willingness to see beyond immediate surroundings, a whole new set of possibilities presents itself.
Is this my course?
Is this the path I'm meant to take, despite any uncertainty or discomfort?
Your need fills the hollow in me
Despite everything else, I still feel a sense of wholeness and completion when I'm with you.
Can I still fill the hollow in you?
Are we capable of truly filling the void in each other's lives, or is it simply an illusion of connection that distracts us from our own pain and emptiness?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kathryn Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PD1968
Fantastic I love her voice.
Andrew Evans
HUGE FAN of Kathryn. I've been looking for her for years. Good stuff.
Kiristo
Beautiful voice/music.
J C
Fabulous!! Great place to post your work Kathryn, now let's hope even more people get to hear your unique voice and enchanting voice and melodies. Best British Female Singer by a mile....
Lisa Claire
Kathyrn has a wkd voice, I absolutely love it!! Completely agree with you MediaStarz!!
Brown Brothers Recordings
KW - marvelous song. you have got magic. best of luck with your US release.
johnpegg
Wow, this is new, glad to she is on top form still.
leif1962
Awesome, this rocks my world 100%. Unrealistic.
J C
Kathryn, Al Lewis and Regina Spektor have the talent but alas never recognised for their great voices and song writing talents. Amazingly Al Lewis still has no record company deal. All worth eeing live for the full effect and realisation they have real voices unlike so many manufactured z-celebrity talentless performers who the lazy media fawns over.
Den Serrano
She's really reallu great!!! But I can't avpoid remember Janis Joplin...