Kat Five – Emergency Start (self-released)
Following on from the release of single Emergency Start back in May genre-bending artist and ‘indie prophet’ Kat Five has released a new visual accompaniment to the call-to-art-activism track
Artist: Kat Five
Track: Emergency Start
Label: Self released
Released: 23 July 2026
Find it: YouTube
The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing, to paraphrase that well known quote. These days we have become very good at seeming like we are doing something – tapping into our screen about how awful things are, that something must be done, before going back to memes self-soothed that we did our little bit; off-boarding our creativity and critical thinking to the machines so we can get the hit from presentation without the pesky effort to get there. We’ve become very good at using technology as a procrastination-enabler and being very busy actually doing nothing.
Kat Five is giving us a rallying cry against that inertia with single Emergency Start. Whether that performative something, or true inertia spawning from fear and doubt, this is a call out against it all, and a statement of sovereignty for creativity of all kinds, a call-to-art-activism when the world needs it most.
First released in May this year Kat has now shared a visual treatment for the pulsing, dark, but ultimately frenetically positive electro-pop track. About the track Kat said, “Culture is a mighty way to inspire and unite people, and we need it more than ever to help combat the horrors of the current world, and build new alternatives. This is a call out to all kinds of creators, and also a shout out for some simple moves you can make against techno-feudalism.”
‘Write the song / Make the banner / Release your anger / We are stronger together’
Working with filmmaker Jenn Webb, featuring contributions from Berlin-based cross media artist Tank Thunderbird and inspired by Hard Art Collective headed by Brian Eno, Kat Five said, “I had a vision of breaking through yellow and black bonds, and creative director Claudi Panaite brought that to life in an incredible way, including building a special set for us to use on location at Cu Dalston, a venue I love.”
In solo work and has half of Feral Five Kat has been a pioneer of experimental creative approaches both in sound and pairing with visual treatments. Emergency Start offers an invitation to become immersed in that creative flow, to find it as a glitchy, relentlessly-rhythmic and neon-glowed beacon for your own art.
Emergency Start by Kat Five is out digitally now.
Find Kat Five: Instagram | Bluesky | Bandcamp
Image: Jenn Webb
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Sarah Lay
A long-standing music journalist she's also co-founder of independent record label Reckless Yes, an author of novels, and when not messing around with words and music, a digital strategist.
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