We had a chat with Catlea about their resonating new breakup single ‘Bones’
Lauded for a varied and engrossing indie pop sound that spans a variety of styles and influences, rising artist Catlea is somebody who has an infectious and memorable style that is as likely to make you dance and move your feet as it is to make you resonate and think.
The artist’s latest single ‘Bones’ is a glowing showcase of this, with the artist utilising their captivating and catchy nature to explore the emotional upheaval and uncertainty and isolation that comes with going through a breakup, making for a sound that will resonate deeply with listeners thanks to its transparency and the authenticity that shines throughout. We love this new release, and had a chat with Catlea to find out a bit more about it and how it came to life.
Hey! We love your new single ‘Bones’, what more can you tell us about it?
Hey, thank you so much! I think style-wise, ‘Bones’ is one of my more sophisticated songs, it’s definitely the one I’m most proud of so far! Even though it’s mainly a combination of pop subgenres (Indie pop, Synthpop, and Electropop), it still has a real depth to it.
As for the meaning behind the song, it’s about the inner conflict between being more than ready to move on after a breakup even though you’re not quite at the point of letting go. I think it can be summed up with the lyric, “I didn’t move on so soon, just locked those bones in my closet.”
As per usual with my work, I wrote ‘Bones’ in an attempt to express and highlight how I was feeling ⎯ not only through the words but also through the music itself. The best way I can describe it would be to picture the lyrics as my inner monologue, while the upbeat music and melody is how I’m presenting my thoughts and feelings to everyone else. I hope anyone who’s going through something similar can resonate and feel a little less alone after listening to it.
What was the process like putting it together?
I wrote the beginning of the song at the same time as several of the others on my album ‘Language Barrier’ (which is coming out in January, by the way!), but then somewhere along the way it got shelved for whatever reason. I write a lot, so that happens pretty often ― I swear half of my best songs are just waiting for me to find and finish them!
Cut to about a year later, I went to Barcelona for a couple weeks to work with my team at Room to Studio, getting the finishing touches done on the album (or so we thought) and putting together my live show. We were basically finished with everything by that point, so we took a day to work on new music. I found the half-finished lyrics for ‘Bones’ in my notes and went “Oh yeah! This one was pretty good, I think!”
I played what I had for my producer Jason Boshoff and guitarist Oscar Garcia-Bragado, who immediately asked me why the heck it wasn’t on the album, to which I could only respond “I don’t know! It’s about to be now!”
I went back to my apartment that night, finished writing the song in one sitting, came back into the studio the next morning, played it for Jason and Oscar, and then it was time for them to get to work. ‘Bones’ ended up being one of the strongest songs on the album, and now it’s out in the world!
What were your biggest influences when creating it?
Honestly, I didn’t have any conscious musical influences while I was writing the song, but I can say now that it has a pretty similar vibe to ‘Ain’t It Fun’ by Paramore! Maybe that song’s vibes seeped into my subconscious or something.
My influences were more personal, coming mainly from my emotions and the positive reaction I got from my team when I rediscovered the lyrics and played it for them!
What more can you tell us about your upcoming debut album Language Barrier?
I’ve been working on “Language Barrier” for a long time and I can’t express how excited I am to finally see it out in the world! It’s a concept album that explores all the layers of heartbreak and grief, but it’s not just an album full of sad songs. All you have to do is listen to ‘Bones’ to see that!
The album takes you on a journey through the process of realizing it’s time to leave a relationship that was plagued with miscommunication, selfishness, dishonesty, and gaslighting, as well as the aftermath of it all and the hope towards the future. As per usual in my music, it was written based on my own personal experiences and tells the story of the heartbreak I went through, untangling the web of lies I was told, the support I got from others, and my own process of healing which involves a whole lot of self-reflection, self-acceptance, and a bit of ‘fake it til you make it’ mentality.
‘Language Barrier’ is, ultimately, an album about finding your voice to create a stronger, more resilient, and more empowered one. My hope is for the music to resonate with anyone who has been lied to, ignored, or silenced. Beyond that, I hope my music can help in some way, even if it’s just a small piece of the healing puzzle. There’s not a person on the planet who isn’t going through something difficult, but we don’t have to face those things alone.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
I’ll be doing a ‘Language Barrier’ tour in the US and UK in early 2025, starting on March 6th in London! I’m also looking to potentially play at SXSW London and the Great Escape. Then I’m off to Barcelona in the late Spring to record my next album at The Room to Studio.
Thanks so much for having me, it’s been a pleasure!
