Catlea 'Why Them' Interview

‘Why Them?’ is an anthem of resilience and self-reliance. The contagious indie pop track is the fifth release from Catlea’s acclaimed concept album ‘Language Barrier’. Driving beats, infectious hooks, and sensual vocals propel listeners on a roller coaster of passion as Catlea fervently questions the wisdom of giving attention and affection to someone else when you desperately need to find yourself first.

Whether straight, gay, or still trying to figure it out, this gender-bending, genre-crossing (pop, indie, rock, R&B) song appeals to curators who love a powerful, well-produced track—and fits well on playlists that showcase themes of love, romance, bad relationships, breakups, heartache, self-discovery, personal empowerment, recovery and rising from the ashes.

We got a chance to interview Catlea, and are so excited to share more about 'Why Them'.

🎧The title Why Them feels deeply introspective. What inspired you to write this song, and what emotions or experiences fueled its creation?

I was inspired by a toxic relationship and an important question from a concerned friend. I had started to realize that I wasn't in a good relationship, but I still wasn't able to acknowledge that I needed to leave. All I could say was that I had faults and flaws that led me to the decision I made, while also making a reference to the fact that my pool of choice at the time wasn't exactly brimming with stand-up individuals.

🎧Your sound blends vulnerability with atmospheric production. How did you approach the songwriting and production process for Why Them to achieve this mood?

Honestly, it's all kind of a blur. I remember sitting on my bedroom floor with my guitar, writing most of the lyrics in one sitting, playing it for my best friend that afternoon, and their response was something along the lines of "This is a fantastic song! You can never release it," since I was still dating the person I talk about in the song itself. As for the production, my producer Jason Boshoff and I talked through the emotion and sound I was looking for and he handled the rest. It was one of those songs that didn't actually take too much time to edit and revise since Jason did such a good job of getting the idea out of my head for me!

🎧The lyrics seem to explore themes of longing and comparison. Can you share the message behind the song and what you hope listeners take away from it?

Question the relationships that aren't serving you. You deserve to be happy, to be loved completely and unconditionally by someone you can love just as much right back. And if none of your current options for a partner can give you that unconditional love, keep searching. Don't settle.

🎧Was there a particular moment or realization that sparked the idea for Why Them, or was it a culmination of different experiences?

I was honestly inspired by a text message I was sent. The message itself was pretty simple: "Why them?" But the context was a bit more complicated.

The person who sent me the message asked me not to give an answer. They didn't want to know. They just wanted to ask the question, to make it known that they didn't approve of the relationship I was in, and to make me think about it. Since I couldn't respond to them directly, I wrote the song as a response instead.

🎧How does Why Them fit into your larger artistic vision? Is this single a standalone piece, or does it hint at a bigger project or evolution in your music?

It fits into the concept album it comes from, "Language Barrier," which I just released on March 6th! The song itself focuses on the moment I started to question the relationship I was in at the time. It's the second song on the project, and if you listen to the album from start to finish, you get the whole story of what I went through and all the emotions and experiences that came along with it.

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