The new single from Katie Jo is a sonic throwback: classic country with a classic country vocal. Sounding both new and familiar at once, “How Soon” is immediately absorbing. The strong and restless rhythm mirrors the song’s theme of fickle love, fading feelings and moving on. Though it’s upbeat, the focus on the sort of love that is bound to fail has that stark bitterness found in much of the best country and Americana.
Here, the twist is that it’s written from the point of view of the woman left behind rather than the rambling man. The inversion of this country cliché gives the song a freshness. The accompanying video, featuring footage taken by Jo while travelling by rail across the American west, works well with that railroad train beat. The Los Angeles-via-Wichita singer-songwriter delivers this timeless song with such confidence that comparisons with Luther Perkins and early Cash are justified.