Caitlin Mae – Seasons Change

‘Seasons Change’, the new EP from Caitlin Mae, is a real paradox. For beneath the punchy chords and punkish vocals lie themes of loneliness and lost loves. Her style is more akin to the heavy metal genre; yet though she borrows elements of it, she shares her vulnerabilities through the familiar sound of Country-Rock. Pop also plays a part in her storytelling, thus softening the edges of four tracks that are hard-hitting emotionally.

Lead single ‘Fiona’ is particularly good at displaying Caitlin’s powerhouse vocals whilst simultaneously sharing feelings of isolation. Borne in lockdown, it is both frank and defiant in the face of personal struggle. The chorus is especially evocative thanks to its mythic imagery, borrowing partly from fairy tales (“My princess tower is taller than Fiona’s”) and partly from her Welsh heritage (“My fire-breathing dragon is deceiving”) to convey the distance and dangers in being alone.

The title track ‘Seasons Change’ takes this idea and approaches it from a different angle. It is nonetheless still charged with emotion as Caitlin reflects on the loss of her best friend. Its acoustically-led sound belies what could have been a painful experience, suggesting a coming-to-terms-with that makes this song perfect for a Songwriters’ Round. By contrast, ‘Love Story Tragedy’ feels raw and, as such, more visceral. The antithesis of ‘Love Story’ (Taylor Swift) even as it is Swiftian in nature, the central premise is that “I can’t love you / if I can’t love myself”. Honesty is Caitlin’s policy here, with some superb lyrical lines that embody a defensive (“I get in my own way / so I don’t get hurt”) and despairing (“everyone says I’m happy / Is that what a smile means?”) soul.

Final track ‘Curtains Closed’ takes that despair to new heights lyrically. It was once a situation that I could readily identify with, but now thankfully don’t as much. The loneliness that threads through this whole EP is underwritten here by a punkish moodiness that prevents it from becoming a wallowing ballad. For it conveys a truth that is relatable, and therefore conversely holds a faint hope. In this way, it does what her previous EP ‘Perspective’ achieved: positively affecting the listener by the very fact that those who “suffer alone with the curtains closed” find that, through this song, they are not actually alone in their experience.

‘Seasons Change’ therefore continues Caitlin Mae’s legacy of honest and mature storytelling. It seems loneliness is not so lonely after all.

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Featured Images (C) Caitlin Mae