London-based singer-songwriter Cat Burns released her debut album “early twenties” on July 12, 2024 via Since 93 / RCA Records.
The album comprises a 17-track (deluxe edition 25 songs), featuring a guest appearance from American singer-songwriter India.Arie.
Produced by Aston Rudi, Ed Thomas, goddard., inverness, Jonah, JonahPH, Jonny Lattimer, Jordan Riley, Kurisu, Mike Spencer, The Nocturns, RISC, Steve Mac, Stuart Price and Yakob.
Also, Cat Burns made a short film “early twenties” to accompany the debut album.
The film was directed by Libby Burke Wilde and is set to be released on July 17, 2024.
Cat Burns said of the album, “'Early Twenties' is my love letter to this period of time in my life. It's my attempt at showcasing the highs and lows of being in your early twenties. The album talks about romantic relationships, both my own and people closest to me, whilst also speaking about self-introspection and accepting who you are.”
She shared on social media, “This is 4 years in the making. I was 20 when I started making this album, I've changed so much and my life has evolved so much too. At 24 I feel proud of my younger self for writing such cathartic songs that I know certainly helped me through everything and now they can help you.”
She continued, “In 2019 I was so close to giving up. I felt like every door was shut firmly and had no way of being opened, I almost accepted that no one wanted to hear a black girl from the uk play guitar n sing pop songs, I was ready to just find a job w more security. until my sister simply said 'yeah no, sorry this is what you're meant to do,' that's just one of the many many times my family showed unwavering believe in me, even when i didn't have it in myself. Fast forward to lockdown, I decided to post videos of me singing online because why not? had nothing to lose, then those videos started doing alright and I was like oop what is happening pls, it felt like the sign i needed, people did wanna hear me and hear my voice. From then until now there have been some incredible highs and some immensely low lows, got to experience love like no other & grief like no other, but that's just a part of life, it means i've lived. And this album showcases just that.”
The film consists of three music videos for “alone”, “end game”, and “met someone”, and explores the character's individual stories, from acceptance to anxiety, friendship and identity of being in their early twenties.
The films stars India Amarteifio, Sam Reuben, Aiyana Goodfellow, Melina Sinadinou, and Sam Bottomley.
Director Libby Burke Wilde said of the film, “Being asked to write and direct a short film based on an artist's lyrics and songs was a dream project for me. Mixing my love of music videos and narrative filmmaking in close collaboration with an artist was an incredible experience. The result is a film that was made with a lot of love and dedication and I am so grateful to everyone who made this possible.”
Cat Burns said, “From the beginning Ive always wanted to make short films alongside my projects and we've actually managed to pull it off. With the last 3 music videos we wanted them to feel cohesive n some of our lovely cast made cameos, I'm so so excited for you guys to see this film it's so beautiful. I feel so lucky to have been able to merge my deep deep love of TV and film with my even deeper love of music.”
Cat Burns explained about some tracks for the album via Apple Music.
“alone” “I wrote 'alone' with Steve Mac, who is a legend [he's had a hand in the 30 different UK Singles Chart-topping songs]. I was apprehensive about the session, because I don't really tend to write the best songs with people who have had massive hits. But we got along really well. I just started word-vomiting to him about my friends who have said, 'We're about to be in our mid-twenties; I'm enjoying life by myself, but everyone's talking about this romantic connection and love that seems to be really lovely, and I have yet to experience that.' I liked the idea of it feeling like a really dramatic song—I think Gen Z just are quite dramatic! I wanted the drama to begin and grip you and then take you on a journey.”
“go” “'go' probably will always be the most important song to me because it changed the speed and trajectory of my career. It's not a song that I ever want to forget. Every time I perform it, I'm reminded that it's not my song, it's the people who have listened to it, it's the people who've related to it. I wanted to put it quite close to the beginning just to be like, 'This is me and this is what you are probably waiting for. So here you go, now enjoy the rest.'”
“boy crazy” “I wrote this with Jonny Lattimer [songwriter, producer, and musician who's worked with Ellie Goulding, Tom Grennan, and Rina Sawayama]. He started playing the bass part on the guitar, and this song just flew out of me. I thought, 'This could be a really lovely love letter to my younger self in the style of this old-time, prom dance type of song.' My generation and maybe older queer people didn't get to have, really, that sort of prom night, where you're allowed to be with who you want to be with. I think it was quite healing for me. I wanted to make a really lovely, wholesome song for people to think back to their younger selves, but also for younger queer people to hear and think, 'Oh, actually I do identify with this.'”
“this is what happens” “I wrote it with [producer and songwriter] Yakob in LA. I was there for two weeks, and this was my last session and I was like, 'I miss working with the Brits. I just want to go home.' But we met and got on really well. I was in a new country, everything was loud, everything was big, everything was sensory overload, and I just felt so overwhelmed. So I was like, 'Why can't I make a song about being anxious?' It's such a fun song even though it's talking about something sad. Two things can be true at the same time: You can be really anxious and not want to leave your house and still want to have a dance to this song.”
“people pleaser” “I went into the studio with [producers and songwriters] Jordan Riley and Gerard O'Connell and said, 'I really struggle to say no to people.' Jordan started playing some chords and I was like, 'This could be quite fun.' The song just wrote itself. The lyrics and chorus are quite sad. But again, I wanted it to be a happy-go-lucky sounding song to have a juxtaposition to make it not feel like it's the end of the world.”
“live more & love more” “I went into the session with the same guys as 'people pleaser,' and I was like, 'I would love to make something that is just quite inspiring, that could get people to want to try something.' Essentially, what the chorus says, if there is something that you want to try and do, just do it because we only get one life to try things, so there's no point living with regrets. I wanted to do that in as non-cringe a way as possible.”
“jodie” “I wrote 'jodie' with an amazing writer called Simon Aldred. I wanted to write a timeless love song—a 'You've Got a Friend in Me' vibe. Simon came up with the chords and the lyrics flew out. I could draw upon my first love—I just wanted to make a really lovely love song for her because she was love personified for me, but also to showcase queer love, especially at the end where it says, 'Our love goes rings around the sun, and they try and slow it down.' This was a love song for the person—but also for the community, a love letter to queer love, and the beauty of how pure and natural it is.”
“you don't love me anymore” “It's actually not about anything specific, but a concept that I've always wanted to write about. I think the uncertainty of love is such a big thing for a lot of people. And I think a lot of people have that fear that someone will just leave them because they don't love them anymore—that swift change is really unsettling to think about. I wanted to make a song about that saying, 'I'd actually rather you have met somebody else than just saying you don't love me anymore, because I don't really know how to get closure from that.'”
“no more” “This is actually about a friend who came out of a longtime relationship, where he didn't feel seen at all, he didn't feel like any of his efforts were respected or valued. I thought that was a really interesting concept. It's going, 'OK, well, you didn't see that so you won't see me again.' It's a short and sweet song—only two minutes. Once I've said this twice or three times, that's it. That's the last time you'll hear from me and see me.”
“happier without you” “It's about a friend, again, who came out of a long-term relationship. I remember I was there for her quite a bit through her realizing that she did not want to be with him anymore and this was not the right relationship for her. I wanted to make a song that's sad and somber, but hopeful at the same time.”
“healing” (feat. India.Arie) “I've loved India's music since I was young—she's one of my biggest inspirations. I covered a few of her songs back in 2020, and she heard one of them and followed me, and said, 'I think you're really great. Anything I can ever do to help or just be a part of your journey, I would love to.' Nothing came of it until I wrote 'healing.' I could really hear India on it—she makes healing, purposeful, intentional music about feeling close to yourself and feeling centered within yourself. I sent her the song and she loved it. When she sent over her verse, I was like, 'This is the most perfect way to end the album.' People in their early twenties, we always end up getting advice from people older than us who say, 'You will be fine.' You find it really dismissive, but they have gone through this probably multiple times, and they've come out the other end each time. The fundamental thing is everything is going to be OK and it will pass, and we'll go into the next stage of our life. So that's why I ended it with that song.”
Deluxe tracks “I wanted to include as many of the songs that I've released because they all say something about my journey. 'Free' is the closest song to me, just because of how much it's helped people and the messages I've received about it. So it always will be really close to my heart. And 'introvert,' I wrote that pre all of my diagnoses [Burns has both ADHD and ASD] and so it has a different tone to it when I hear it because I'm like, 'Oh yeah, you were just very neurodivergent but didn't realize it yet, so you said introvert instead of maybe something else.' These are all songs that mean a lot to me, and I think all have shaped how I've come to be and the type of artist that I am right now. It wouldn't be telling the full story without them.”
