Photo of Kitty Empire
Kitty Empire

Pop Critic

Kitty Empire is The Observer’s pop critic. Prior to her broadsheet work, she wrote for the New Musical Express and freelanced. She occasionally crops up on BBC Radio 4 and has also contributed to 5Live, 6Music, BBC2’s The Culture Show and Newsnight Review. She has appeared on judging panels for the Mercury Prize, the BRITS or the Sky Arts Awards. She also has a wholesome side-gig reviewing middle years children’s books.

Photo of Kitty Empire

Kitty Empire

Pop Critic

Kitty Empire is The Observer’s pop critic. Prior to her broadsheet work, she wrote for the New Musical Express and freelanced. She occasionally crops up on BBC Radio 4 and has also contributed to 5Live, 6Music, BBC2’s The Culture Show and Newsnight Review. She has appeared on judging panels for the Mercury Prize, the BRITS or the Sky Arts Awards. She also has a wholesome side-gig reviewing middle years children’s books.

  • Kitty Empire
    PinkPantheress: a bedroom fangirl comes of age

    The Brit-winning producer and nostalgia-loving singer brings her zingy retro vibe – and trademark handbag – to a punchy gig that rarely pauses for breath

    Fri, 29 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Albums of the week: Paul McCartney, Boards of Canada, Brian Jackson, Kurt Vile, Laura Misch

    The former Beatle takes a trip down memory lane for his 20th solo album, where unexpected epiphanies arise. Plus, one to watch Violet Grohl

    Fri, 29 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Playlist of the week: the most enduring power ballads

    As Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, is released in cinemas, our critic selects the best of rock’s most emotional subgenre

    Thu, 28 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Tinariwen’s sounds of the Sahara

    Live in London, the mighty Tuareg band’s gnarly desert rock tells a powerful story of ancient strife and modern geopolitics

    Fri, 22 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Albums of the week: Dua Saleh, Rostam, Kevin Morby, Jasmine Myra

    ICE, wildfires and flooding all feature on the Sudanese-American’s genre-bending album. Plus one to watch Kwn

    Sat, 16 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Paul Simon’s poignant last hurrah

    Against the odds, the 84-year-old titan of US song captivates with a superbly arranged, spiritual swansong

    Thu, 14 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Albums of the week: Aldous Harding, Loraine James, Muna, Chris Potter

    Harding’s enthralling, riddling album is her clearest, most open-armed yet. Plus one to watch, Chloe Qisha

    Sat, 9 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Rosalía live – arena pop as a spiritual experience

    The Catalan singer proves she is not quite earthbound in a dazzling, daring show

    Fri, 8 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Albums of the week: Tori Amos, Kneecap, Hiss Golden Messenger, Chiminyo

    Plus one to watch Silver Gore

    Sat, 2 May 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    How Big Thief broke the mould

    The restless rockers, led by Adrianne Lenker and her blistering guitar playing, are a unique force in today’s musical landscape

    Thu, 30 Apr 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    The renaissance of Kim Gordon

    The Sonic Youth co-founder rages against the algorithm in this thrilling set of guitar noise, rap beats and tech bro takedowns

    Fri, 17 Apr 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Chapter books of the month: in the space between worlds

    A house on chicken legs makes a break for it, and a reluctant vampire sets off on a road trip

    Sat, 11 Apr 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Shabaka’s jazz rave

    Armed with an array of woodwind instruments, the former Sons of Kemet star pulls off a mind-blowing, uncategorisable sweaty club gig

    Fri, 10 Apr 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Geese are the hottest band in the world

    On their incandescent European tour, Geese earn their status as the swaggering new force in American rock

    Tue, 24 Mar 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    David Byrne’s permanent pop revolution

    The former Talking Heads star reimagines the possibilities of the gig format on his riotous Who Is the Sky? tour

    Fri, 20 Mar 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    How Dave conquered British hip-hop

    The London rapper displayed intelligence and vulnerability on his arena tour

    Fri, 13 Mar 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    On his new album, Harry Styles is living his best life

    Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally finds an ever-evolving artist musing on fame and romance. It is flirtatious, fun – and confusing

    Wed, 4 Mar 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Lily Allen’s radically self-contained one-woman show

    On the first night of her West End Girl tour, Allen maintained a steely control throughout some of the most nakedly emotional material of her career

    Tue, 3 Mar 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    The Brits honour success stories. And what a story Olivia Dean has

    The singer’s meteoric rise last year led to her beating Adele’s record for the longest-running No 1 album by a female artist

    Sun, 1 Mar 2026

  • Kitty Empire
    Mitski: the voice of an anxious generation

    The US singer-songwriter retreats from the outside world on a surprisingly funny album

    Fri, 27 Feb 2026

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