Katie Gavin

Katie Gavin
Gavin performing with MUNA at the First Avenue Mainroom (Minneapolis, Minnesota) in August 8, 2022.
Background information
Birth name	Catherine Hope Gavin
Born	(1992-12-30) December 30, 1992 (age 32) Chicago, Illinois, US
Origin	Winnetka, Illinois, US
Genres	Various
Instrument(s)	Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Violin, Shruti Box
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Saddest Factory Records
Member of	MUNA

Catherine Hope Gavin ^{[1] [2]} (December 30, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and musical producer raised in Winnetka (Illinois) and better known as vocalist, lyricist and occasional rhythm guitarist for the Los Angeles-based alternative musical group MUNA since 2013.

Katie already had a solo career that began in 2009 when she began publishing home recordings of her own compositions on SoundCloud and occasionally performing live in Greater Chicago. After moving to Los Angeles in 2013 after a first move to New York in 2012, she put her solo career on hold by forming MUNA with her then-classmates Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson at the University of Southern California, restarting it, however, in October 2024 with the release of a solo album called "What A Relief" through Saddest Factory Records - which MUNA has been a part of since 2021. ^{[3] [4]}

Early life and education

Gavin attended New Trier High School, graduating in 2011. ^[5]

While attending New Trier, Gavin posted a cover of Willow Smith's Whip My Hair, which went viral. ^[5]

She spent a year at New York University before transferring to the University of Southern California, where she graduated with a degree in Music. ^{[6] [7]}

Career

In 2013, Gavin met Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin at USC, where they formed the band MUNA. ^{[8] [9]} Gavin has released three studio albums with MUNA.

In 2024, Gavin announced her debut full-length solo album, What a Relief , which was released on October 25, 2024, through Phoebe Bridgers' record label Saddest Factory Records. ^[10] Prior to the album release, she released three singles "Aftertaste", "Casual Drug Use" and "Inconsolable.". ^{[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]} She described the album as " "Lilith Fair-core," and cited Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple and Ani DiFranco. She embarked on a sold-out solo tour in the fall of 2024, and opened for Bleachers at the Greek Theatre. ^[16] She is one of the opening acts for Lucy Dacus on her "Forever is a Feeling" tour. ^[17]

Personal life

Gavin is a lesbian. ^{[18] [19]} She was in a relationship with MUNA bandmate Naomi McPherson for three years. ^[20] Gavin is also neurodivergent, and has struggled with depression, anxiety, and addiction. ^[21]

Discography

Studio albums

• What a Relief (2024)

With MUNA

Main article: Muna discography

• About U (2017)
• Saves the World (2019)
• Muna (2022)

References

1. "Katie Gavin". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
2. "MUNA's Katie Gavin Announces Debut Solo Album "What a Relief", Shares New Song "Aftertaste"". pm studio world wide news. 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
3. Strauss, Matthew (July 23, 2024). "Muna's Katie Gavin Announces Debut Solo Album, Shares Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
4. Bodkin, Bill (January 13, 2011). "Interview: Katie Gavin". The Pop Break. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
5. Gonzalez, Jasmine. "Gavin forms band, making it in the music industry". New Trier News. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
6. Stone, Avery (May 10, 2016). "If We're Lucky Enough to Have a Platform, We Should Use That to Help People". Vice. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
7. Bernstein, Jonathan (March 15, 2022). "Life's So Fun: Muna Choose Happiness". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
8. Whelan, Catherine; Tidmarsh, Kevin; Branch, Natasha. "MUNA Might Just Save The World". NPR . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
9. "PROFILE: MUNA". Wonderland. June 2, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
10. Strauss, Matthew (July 23, 2024). "Muna's Katie Gavin Announces Debut Solo Album, Shares Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
11. Browning, Maddie (July 23, 2024). "MUNA's Katie Gavin announces new solo project ahead of Newport Folk Festival performance". WBUR . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
12. Carter, Daisy. "MUNA's Katie Gavin announces debut solo album 'What A Relief'". DIY . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
13. Paul, Larisha (July 23, 2024). "Katie Gavin Bridges Gap Between Muna and Her Debut Solo LP With 'Aftertaste'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
14. "Katie Gavin Share New Song "Casual Drug Use": Listen". Stereogum. August 20, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
15. "Katie Gavin of MUNA Shares "Inconsolable" Ahead of Solo Debut". FLOOD. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
16. Hudson, Alex. "MUNA's Katie Gavin Announces Solo Debut 'What a Relief,' Shares New Single "Aftertaste"". Exclaim! . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
17. Bloom, Madison. "Lucy Dacus Announces New Album and Tour; Shares "Ankles" Video: Watch".
18. MUNA (March 27, 2024). "Lesbian Book Club with Trixie Mattel". Gayotic. YouTube.
19. Katie Gavin (December 1, 2022). "Photo of Katie Gavin". Instagram. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
20. Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang (July 20, 2022). "Hot Enough To Go For It (w/ MUNA)". Las Culturistas. Spotify.
21. Eleanor Noyce (June 21, 2022). "MUNA's Katie Gavin reveals that she is neurodivergent in a heart-warming Instagram post".