Katie Pruitt epitomizes the transformative power of music, as evidenced by her remarkable journey through her artistry. Following the release of her acclaimed debut album Expectations in 2020, where she courageously chronicled her experiences growing up queer in the Christian South, the Georgia native received an outpouring of heartfelt messages from listeners whose lives were deeply touched by her music. Reflecting on this impact, Pruitt shared, "A lot of people told me how the record helped them navigate their relationships with family - I even had some parents tell me that it helped them understand their children better."

Now, with her highly anticipated sophomore album Mantras, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter delves even deeper into introspection, exploring themes such as gender identity, self-compassion, and the quest for inner peace amidst chaos and uncertainty. "One of the big themes of this record is the idea of building a home inside yourself rather than seeking it in others," Pruitt explained. "Over the past couple of years, I've tried to change the way I speak to myself and turn my negative internal dialogue into a kinder voice because that ends up influencing everything."

Produced mainly by Collin Pastore and Jake Finch, both known for their work with acclaimed acts like boygenius and Lucy Dacus, Mantras showcases Pruitt's evolution as an artist. Drawing inspiration from the folk and indie-rock genres, Pruitt infuses her signature lived-in lyricism with propulsive grooves and overdriven guitars, creating a sound that is both captivating and immersive. "Most of this record came from Collin, Jake, and I tracking everything in their studio - this tiny little shed filled with a whole bunch of fun musical toys," Pruitt recalled. "We built the tracks from the ground up as opposed to cutting everything live, which gave us so much more room to let the songs evolve."

While collaborating with co-writers such as Ruston Kelly on several tracks, Pruitt primarily relies on her own introspection and personal experiences to shape the album's narrative. From the introspective opener "All My Friends (Are Finding New Beliefs)" to the poignant exploration of family dynamics in "Blood Related," Pruitt's songwriting remains deeply autobiographical yet universally resonant.

Thematically, Mantras navigates through the complexities of self-discovery and acceptance, offering listeners a profound and cathartic respite. Songs like "Self Sabotage" and "White Lies, White Jesus and You" confront issues of self-doubt and hypocrisy with unflinching honesty, while tracks like "Naive Again" and "Worse Case Scenario" embrace moments of hope and resilience amidst adversity. On that Pruitt offered, "I hope when people hear the record, they feel what I felt after writing it, which was a sense of trusting myself and trusting that — no matter how bad things look — there's always hope where there's fear."