Toronto singer-songwriter Katie Dauson is revving the engine on her latest single, ‘Get Ready’, a punchy, high-octane slice of rock and roll that barrels forward with blues grit and rockabilly swagger. It’s a track that feels both classic and unmistakably hers, reaffirming Dauson’s reputation as one of Canada’s most versatile, genre-defying artists.
Known for seamlessly weaving together rock and roll, surf rock, folk, bluegrass, and rockabilly, Dauson has always had an ear for timeless sounds. On ‘Get Ready’, she leans hard into the raw spirit of 70s rock, delivering a song that crackles with momentum from the first beat.
“I was listening to a lot of 70s rock and roll and rockabilly music, which inspired me to write this song,” Dauson shares. “Originally, there was no harmonica in the track, but after hearing Bob Seger’s Katmandu and his iconic harmonica solos, I knew I had to add them—and play them myself. The song is full of energy, from the vocals to the rhythm guitar and harmonica solos. Lyrically, it’s about self-doubt pushing me to do better, confronting detractors, and challenging them to rise up too. Even with its deeper meaning, I wanted to keep the song positive and upbeat.”
That decision proves pivotal. The harmonica cuts through ‘Get Ready’ with soulful urgency, nodding to blues legends Junior Wells and James Cotton while keeping one foot planted firmly in rock and roll tradition. Dauson’s rhythm guitar — played on her 2014 left-handed Gretsch Duo Jet — adds a chugging, propulsive backbone, channeling the melodic sensibility of George Harrison and the Beatles.
Vocally, Dauson brings a rough-edged confidence reminiscent of Bob Seger and Wanda Jackson, balancing grit with melodic control. Lyrically, ‘Get Ready’ explores self-doubt and the drive it sparks, while also confronting detractors with a challenge: rise up or step aside. Despite its deeper meaning, Dauson frames the track with an upbeat, positive energy that makes it impossible not to move along.
Produced and engineered by James Nickle, ‘Get Ready’ captures that balance perfectly — tough but joyful, reflective yet impossible to sit still to. With Dauson handling both rhythm guitar and harmonica herself, the single showcases her hands-on musicianship and fearless creative instincts.
‘Get Ready’ isn’t just a throwback; it’s a reminder that rock and roll’s fire still burns brightest when artists like Katie Dauson bring it roaring into the present.
Listen below:
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