Katydids

The short-lived but appealing acoustic pop quintet Katydids emerged from south London and displayed clear common ground with peers such as Fairground Attraction and the Bible. American-born vocalist Susie Hug and guitarist Adam Seymour first encountered each other in 1987 during session work for the fleeting duo Big Bam Boo. Their immediate chemistry led them to begin writing and performing as a unit. They completed the lineup with acoustic guitarist Dan James, bassist Dave Hunter, and drummer Shane Young before securing a contract with Reprise. The label matched them with producer Nick Lowe, whose grounded aesthetic meshed naturally with the group’s unassuming approach. Their 1989 self-titled debut blended 1960s pop and folk-rock influences into a strong collection. The 1991 follow-up Shangri-La, helmed by the Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie, refreshed the arrangements while introducing a subtly darker mood on several tracks, though it retained much of the original album’s appeal. Limited sales prompted Reprise to drop the band, after which Katydids disbanded.