Inspired #420 - Cate
Canadian born - London based pop singer Cate has just released her country fueled acoustic track ‘One Hit Wonder’.
Drawing influence from early noughties country pop records, One Hit Wonder is an end of summer anthem which reflects on a past lover who emulates the same excitement and sudden abandonment as a one hit wonder does. Referencing Thin Lizzy’s ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’, Fountains of Wayne’s ‘Stacy’s Mom’, Toploader’s ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ alongside many more, Cate’s lyricism continues to flare with creative artistry.
Talking about the track, Cate explains: “I wrote One Hit Wonder with my friends last summer after making a joke that a man that I was dating was one. Then the joke went a bit too far when we wrote a whole song out of a whole bunch of one hit wonders. It’s about someone who only really gives you one good summer of fun, but never anything else. And as much as you want to get the song out of your head - you just can’t.”
She took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind her music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift. I’ve been a fan of these women since I started listening to music. I feel so close to them just by listening to their music and I love that. They all have written my favourite songs.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
Alice in Wonderland visuals always inspired me. It’s one of my favourite movies. Also Lady Bird, I loooove that movie.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
I love writing in my hometown. I grew up a little outside Vancouver in a town called Abbotsford. Every single time I go home and write in my bedroom it feels like I'm 15 again and writing songs about boys in highschool.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
My mom! She moved across the country from Newfoundland to Abbotsford when she was in her early twenties and I think she’s the one who inspired me to move to England - even though she was sad when I left.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
This song was so fun to write because the chorus came so naturally. It was a joke between my friends Elle, Corey, and I - we were in another session when we started singing the one hit wonder line. I just wanted it to feel nostalgic and silly, like the songs I used to listen to growing up.
How would you like to inspire people?
I’d love to inspire people to feel good in their skin and when they come to my shows to feel like it’s a safe space to let go. My early twenties is a constant mess so it would be nice to make people feel like they're okay to not have everything figured out.
