After the success of her first Nashville recorded single, “Lil’ Black Dress”, released back in August. Fast-emerging musician Caitlin Mae has been itching to introduce her next single, “Fiona”, produced at Sound Kitchen Studios, Franklin, Tennessee, the first song to be announced alongside three others that will soon make up her sophomore EP.
Set to be released on January 13th, this upcoming single is one of Caitlin Mae’s lyrically and sonically deepest songs yet. Instrumentally, the track delves into the world of synth and pop whilst her smooth-sounding vocals scream modern country as they always have. The song’s theme speaks for itself, a homage to anyone and everyone who has ever felt alone.
Caitlin has kindly taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution regarding the upcoming release & you can find the full interview below.
Hey Caitlin, thank you for this interview. Can you start by telling readers a little bit about yourself?
Caitlin: Hey Jess, thank you so much for interviewing me ahead of my next release! My name is Caitlin Mae, and I am an independent singer/songwriter with a passion for all things modern country and storytelling! 2022, hands down, had to be my favourite year yet, full of memory-making, meeting new people and grasping every opportunity with both hands. I was lucky enough to win Female Vocalist of the Year (Gold Award) and Music Video of the Year for my song, “Take My Demons”, at the International Singer Songwriter Association Awards, EP of the Year for my debut EP, “PERSPECTIVE”, at the Josie Music Awards, held at the Grand Ole Opry, Entertainer of the Year at the Who’s Hoo Country Music Awards and the Social Stars Award for Spotlight Artist of the Year – to top it all off, I have spent the past 9 months travelling back and fore to Nashville, touring and recording my next EP, which includes the release of my new single, “Fiona”.
How would you currently describe your musical style?
Caitlin: That’s definitely a complex question to answer! I have roots in country music having spent a lot of my childhood in Florida, where the music taste is VERY different to the UK. Growing up I was influenced by artists like Taylor Swift but as I aged, and went through different phases, I fell in love with the likes of Carrie Underwood, Maren Morris, Miley Cyrus and even Kelsea Ballerini. I would describe my musical style as having elements of pop and rock to it, possibly with hints of an Ed Sheeran/Taylor Swift mix.
On Friday, you will be unveiling the new single “Fiona”. How did the idea for this song come together?
Caitlin: The single, “Fiona”, was born of lonely feelings during the lockdown, a time when we were all experiencing huge change and finding new ways to adapt and acclimatize. Aside from that, we all have our own demons, or “dragons”, to fight, and “Fiona” was a way of facing mine on my own terms.
Did you always plan to release “Fiona” as a single?
Caitlin: In my heart, “Fiona” was always destined to be a single. Somewhere down the line, however, the song also became part of a bigger project, an EP entitled “Seasons Change”, which is earmarked for release later this year. The song, and the EP as a whole, tells the turbulent story of learning to love yourself and feeling lonely along the way.
How would you compare the creative process behind this song to your earlier releases?
Caitlin: The creative process behind “Fiona” was very different, from writing it in lockdown to debuting it virtually instead of live, and even later on down the line recording it in a new studio, with a new producer AND in a different country! I am grateful that my working relationship with my producer at Sound Kitchen Studios is a great one, allowing for endless creative juices to flow.
What does this song personally mean to you?
Caitlin: “Fiona” opened the door to a lot of “firsts” for me and it will always hold a special place in my heart, being the first song I wrote acoustically when I learnt to play guitar in lockdown, and also being a song that tells a very emotional part of my story. Luckily, I also know that it’s just that, a part of my story, and loneliness does not define us, nor does it last forever, rather it teaches you to treasure the people who stand by your side through the good AND the bad.
If listeners were to take anything away from this song, what would you like it to be?
Caitlin: If listeners were to take anything away from this song, I would like it to be that they are never truly alone, even when it feels like they are. We all experience highs and lows, but it is often the lows that make us appreciate and chase the highs that much more. I think the thrill is in chasing the rainbow and not always necessarily in finding it.
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Caitlin: I always LOVE chatting with you Jess, you champion independent artists year-round without fail and so I want to say a big thank you on behalf of us all – we love you!
Lastly, don’t forget to pre-order (iTunes Store) and pre-save (Spotify) my new single, “Fiona” before it’s released on January 13th. Send in your screenshots for entry in the giveaways to be announced on release day!
You can pre-save “Fiona”, ahead of January 13th by clicking right here.
Caitlin Mae: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.
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