Cancelled weddings, some lesbianism, and a new EP: CATTY has been on a wild journey from Caernarfon to the big smoke, making music to haunt your ex by along the way. Read our latest Hype cover feature.
Words: Stephen Ackroyd.
CATTY is not your average pop star. Hailing from a small town in North Wales, she’s the kind of artist who makes music to haunt your ex with – because God knows those exes need a good scare. With her debut EP ‘Healing Out of Spite’ arriving today (18th October), some dubious people better start sleeping with the lights on.
The journey from Caernarfon to London is more than just a geographical shift; it’s a narrative arc for any main character looking to make ‘it’ in their field. That’s not to do down ‘the regions’ – wonderful enclaves of culture and personality that are every bit as valid as the smoggy streets of That London, but sometimes you’ve just got to admit that you’re gonna have to come to them if you want the big wigs to pay attention. CATTY made the leap at the raw age of 18, embodying the classic trope of a small-town girl chasing big-city dreams. But this isn’t your typical rags-to-riches story. As CATTY puts it, there were “definitely some teething problems – a cancelled wedding, some lesbianism – it’s not quite a Hallmark film, but I’d watch it.”
There’s a self-awareness and dry humour permeating CATTY’s music and persona. When asked about if she has any hobbies outside of music, she admits, “Low key, no, not really. Which is a bit sad, innit? I should work on that.” But actually, that’s kinda cool, not sad. Passion matters, and with an honesty that makes her relatable, candour like that very much goes against the fake it to make it rulebook the traditional music industry loves to stick to.
But don’t mistake her frankness for laziness or a lack of giving a fuck. CATTY’s been grafting hard, selling coffee to “the whole of East London” to fund her musical ambitions. Her recent tour with fellow potential pop superstar Dylan was a turning point. “She’s a gem,” CATTY gushes. “No one was listening to my music at the time, but she backed me from the get-go – took me on that tour, honestly, probably against the advice of everyone around her, and it changed my life. I think she’s magic, and I ride for her. I really do.”
“A cancelled wedding, some lesbianism – it’s not quite a Hallmark film, but I’d watch it.”
This experience seems to have solidified CATTY’s belief in the power of authenticity and supporting fellow artists. There’s no room for the cutthroat and competitive between the next wave of stars here. There are bigger frogs to boil.
With her debut EP ‘Healing Out of Spite’, CATTY is already filling the pan and lighting the stove. The release, a musical representation of internal conflict, “came from the angel and the devil on my shoulders having a screaming match.” Who won? Well, that’s for us to find out.
CATTY’s songwriting process is deeply personal. “I honestly just write about my life experiences – that’s the only thing I know how to write about,” she explains. This approach has led to a collection of songs that feel genuine and relatable. However, it’s not without its challenges. “I spun out the other day because I was scared that all of these breakup songs were going to manifest more for me, so maybe I’ll branch out,” she admits.
Musically, CATTY’s influences are a blend of vampy rock and contemporary pop. “I honestly haven’t steered too far away from what my dad played in the car when I was younger – a lot of 70s/80s classic rock,” she reveals. “I love the pop girls, too, obviously, and I think I am just a mixture of those two things.”
One of the standout tracks on the EP is ‘I Gotta Be Cool’, which CATTY cites as a favourite. “It feels like a little mantra,” she explains. But it’s not just the lyrics that make this track special. CATTY’s passion for harmonies shines through in her description of the recording process. “I’m such a little harmony fiend; I will sit there for hours and build up harmony tracks – my producers actually must hate me – but I love it so much. I do my own backing vocals and harmonies because I’m a bit of a control freak but also because it’s genuinely so fun to me.”
As for the future, CATTY is already looking ahead. “Trying to think less! And a new EP!” she quips when asked about her current projects. But before diving into the next creative cycle, she’s planning to take a well-deserved break, taking a holiday before going back into writing mode. “I’m going to give that ‘doing nothing’ thing a go, but I’m so excited for the next era. I can really see it, and it feels good to me – this feels like the year I laid the groundwork.”
This sense of building towards something bigger is tangible. ‘Healing Out of Spite’ may be a debut collection, but it’s also very assured in its own skin, a calling card from an artist who knows exactly who she is and what she wants to say. And really, who doesn’t love a bit of score-settling with killer harmonies? ■
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