Caitlynn Roberta: "My Way Home" (Feature/Interview)
When did you first realize your ability to sing?
I have such vivid memories of blasting Christina Aguilera in my room and belting to the heavens. I cannot belt, but when I was 7 I thought I could. It wasn’t until I listened to Lily Allen for the first time that I started to find my voice because she had a softer voice like mine. She wasn’t belting or singing at incredible volumes, yet she still had this quality of power in the softness. I could sing along to Lily’s music and get all the notes right; I could feel that that type of singing was natural to me. I knew I’d never be a Beyonce or a Mariah or an Ariana, but I started to see there was a lane for my singing and my voice somewhere in this industry.
What is your music and message all about?
My music is all about being pretty observant: observant of my thoughts, my issues, the world around me, contradictions in conversations, and characters I see on the street. Most songwriting is just observing the world and writing a story about it. I’ve used songwriting to examine society and explore the depths of myself. All that journey of self-exploration stuff, you know? And society is so funny to me, people are so funny. We’re all just floating around trying to figure things out and there are so many hiccups and contradictions along the way. I find it so interesting, so I write about it. I want the message of my music to be that things will be okay, that life moves on, that you can move on too, and that you don’t have to take everything so seriously. I really don’t take a whole lot of things seriously outside of my career. I allow myself to be sad and heartbroken and pissed off, then I pick myself up and keep going. There’s too much fun to be had in life to take it all so seriously. Let the darkness teach you something - there’s a lesson in everything - and then go have fun. So even when the metaphorical shit hits the metaphorical fan, I know I’ll be okay, and I want others to know that too.
How would you describe your vocal style?
That’s a great question, and I’d love for you to have a listen and let me know because I can never answer this question. I’m really not sure where my voice should be in this industry. I hear a lot of early 2000s British influences in myself like Adele, Lily Allen, Kate Nash, The Noisettes. My vocal style is pop but it’s not diva, it’s jazz influenced but not jazzy, it’s folky and soft, but not quiet. Maybe indie pop or neo soul. There’s some musical theatre influence too, but I love good ol’ fashioned pop music, so I always come back to it. When you listen to it, let me know what you think.
What was the hardest part of making this song?
In all honesty, just letting other people into my world was the hardest part. You make music in your basement, in your own little bedroom studio, and you feel this connection and love for this thing you’ve created from start to finish, and you think, “yeah there might be something here! This is so fun! I love this!” But then when you’re in a professional studio with a group of people and they’re all listening to your song, it suddenly feels incredibly vulnerable and I want to melt into the floor and disappear for the entire session until it’s over. I’m not used to letting people see the artist side of me. Most of my friends and family have no idea what I’m working on. I work retail by day and write music by night, by myself. I’ve never let others into the process. As I continue making music and meeting more people in this community, I know I need to learn to let them into my world. So far it hasn’t killed me so I consider that a win.
What was the most enjoyable part of making this song?
I was in this really happy place mentally when I wrote the song, but I was also in limbo financially, personally, and professionally. It was a weird time of cautious optimism. I was excited about what was to come but scared of how I’d get there. Exploring those feelings and daydreams was the most enjoyable part. I enjoy reflecting on where I’ve been and where I’m going. Turns out I’m not as broken as I thought, I’m just a regular human like everyone else. Fantastic! Pairing those emotions with sounds and vocals really makes it all come to life - that’s really cathartic. I also wrote this song at the beginning of summer. Come on - the sunshine, the water, the people - summer just has that vibe that makes you feel like everything is going to be okay. I learned to be happy in that time of limbo.
What is one feeling you want to leave listeners with?
I want listeners to feel hopeful about their limbo time too. Whether you’re in the middle of a change, you’re ending a chapter, you’re beginning a new one, or nothing’s happening at all and you’re feeling stagnant - with all the unknown that comes with growing up, I want listeners to feel like no matter what’s happening, they’ll be okay. You’ll find your way home too.
How do you prepare for your live performances?
I do everything in my power to avoid thinking about it for as long as possible because as a new artist, performing is one of the most terrifying things I’ll ever do. Ask me again in a year!
