AK Patterson

AK Patterson is a London-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends gritty honesty with haunting beauty. Known for her unflinching exploration of dark and complex themes, Patterson crafts songs that find hope in the bleakest corners of human experience.

Described by fans as “Buckley with boobs” (in reference to Jeff Buckley), she prefers to label her style as modern chamber pop fused with the melancholic spirit of 90s Lilith Fair.

At the heart of her performances lies her compelling storytelling and a powerful vocal delivery—a skill she honed during her youth, playing violin and guitar in the back of an Irish pub. Her distinctive sound is further defined by an unconventional approach to songwriting and her mastery of unusual guitar tunings.

Her rise has been marked by a growing reputation in London’s underground music scene, particularly through her connection to ‘The Circle,’ a network of independent songwriters. In 2023, acclaimed actor and musician Johnny Flynn included her in The Guardian’s cultural highlights after attending her performance at the Brunel Museum. This year, she was invited to perform with the band Bastille, supporting them on tour following the release of their latest album, &.

2025 promises to be a milestone year for Patterson, with the release of her third EP—an evocative collection of songs that explore London’s dark underbelly. Drawing on themes of organized crime, her time spent working in a men’s prison, and personal struggles with heartbreak and isolation, the EP reflects Patterson’s relentless drive to turn adversity into art. The first single, “I Don’t Know How to Die” (released November 20, 2024), marks her triumphant return after a painful eight- month struggle with a throat condition that temporarily robbed her of her voice. The track, which features an emotionally raw vocal performance reminiscent of Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek” and Caroline Polachek’s “Insomnia,” is set against an ethereal electronic landscape—a sonic representation of someone lost in a watery purgatory. The music video was filmed in New Zealand, featuring haunting visuals of black sand dunes and tumultuous seas.

Patterson’s resilience in the face of challenges has been a consistent theme in her music, evident in her previous EPs Shadows and Mettle, both produced by Mercury Prize-winning producer Charlie Andrew (alt-J, David Gilmour, Marika Hackman). Recorded mainly in complete darkness, Shadows led to a coveted support slot with alt-J, touring the UK and Europe, culminating in two sold-out performances at the Royal Albert Hall. The title track was featured on BBC Radio 6, where Amy Lamé named it one of her “best gigs of 2019” following Patterson’s standout performance at The Great Escape festival in Brighton.

From her second EP Mettle, the single “My Body is a Spacesuit” gained significant airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music, with Guy Garvey calling it “the best new music he’d heard.” The track showcases Patterson’s art-pop sensibilities, blending surreal samples—from a choir she conducted inside a Polish silo to the gentle hum of her cat—with her unique instrumentation, including the koto, an instrument she learned while living in Japan. Meanwhile, the EP’s second single, “Out of the Steelworks,” highlights Patterson’s distorted violin, which resonates with a raw, industrial edge reminiscent of Royal Blood’s bass-driven sound. The track explores the story of a young steelworker seeking escape, a theme not far from Patterson’s own experiences working in an oboe factory, where she recorded some of the track’s industrial rhythms.

Patterson has also garnered attention for her collaborations with renowned drummer Adam Betts (Colossal Squid), known for his work with Squarepusher, Goldie, and Jarvis Cocker, and has contributed to Johnny Flynn and Sivu’s latest records.

As she prepares to release her third EP in early 2025, Patterson reflects on her evolving sound: “These new songs may seem darker than ever, but they are ultimately about survival, resilience, and, above all, hope.”