”Crumbling” is a new song by Catlea, an artist from Cincinnati, who focuses on both, the pain and the process of recovering. Catlea sings vocal performance which is both delicate yet strong, her voice conveying emotion which is the heart of song. Dividing the timeline into two, “Crumbling” is quite punchy in the contrast during the chorus part thanks to the use of an appealing beat.
This swapping between a contemplative rap-like verse within a bass-heavy, melodic chorus guarantees that the listener does not lose sight of the song.
The bridge is used to create a build up to an emotional moment in the song and Catlea’s vocals reiterate that people endure so much stress. Composed by Claudia Mills and produced by Jason Boshoff, “Crumbling” is not only the song’s lyrics and the feeling that the track creates, but it has a message of hope and resilience.
Teaching the audience to embrace their flaws, it also makes people understand that no matter how shattered we are, we can begin again and find peace. The success of this single would be attributed to the works of Catlea in coming up with very sultry tracks that would engage the undivided attention of a listener.
Listen to Crumbling
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What is your stage name?
Catlea
Is there a story behind your stage name?
Well, my birth name is Dua Lipa but apparently that was already taken.
Where do you find inspiration?
I draw a lot of inspiration from real life. Everything is music. I never really know where it’ll come from or when, but once something happens that I feel the need to write about I’ll basically drop everything just to get my ideas down on paper.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
Music is and always has been everything to me. When I was very little I used to sing my sentences, just walking around the house as a toddler singing whatever I was doing as I went along. Music is also how I’ve always connected to people around me.
My dad made mixtapes of all the songs he and my mom loved so I could get caught up on all the cool stuff I missed while I was busy not being born yet.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
-Absolutely! Basically everyone in my family is creative in some way, music or otherwise. Both of my parents are writers and musicians, my grandfather could play any string instrument you handed him, and my brother taught me how to play guitar.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
-I basically always knew I wanted to be a musician. I was surrounded by music constantly growing up. My dad would make me playlists full of all his favorite songs, my mother would write lullabies for me, and they took me to concerts all the time as a kid. So I guess you could say every musician I’ve ever known has inspired me in some way.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
At first, I was self-taught. I would figure out how to play songs on piano by ear, sing along to every song on the radio, stuff like that. But I started singing lessons when I was only 2, piano lessons when I was 4 or 5 and like I mentioned earlier, my brother taught me how to play guitar on a half-size Taylor when I was maybe 8 years old.
I also went to a performing arts high school where I studied singing and piano. The truth is though, if you don’t have the resources to get traditional lessons, you can always teach yourself. I learn a lot of things either through trial and error or looking things up on the internet.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
-The first ever concert I went to was when I was around 3 years old. My parents took me to see Tom Petty. I don’t remember much, except – in my very tiny mind – the stage was about 5 million feet tall, everyone on planet earth was there, and I kept trying to take out my earplugs, much to my parents’ dismay. Eventually I learned how important protecting your hearing is, but 3-year-old Catlea was not thrilled to have foam in their ears.
How could you describe your music?
-I’ve taken to calling it “indie whatever” since I don’t always stick to one style, but I mostly make music that falls under the indie pop and singer/songwriter genres. Honestly though I’ll write in any genre if it fits the vision in my head for what a song should sound like.
Describe your creative process.
-The process is usually pretty straightforward. I experience something, I get inspired to write about it, and I lock myself away until I have a song. It isn’t until I share the idea with other people that the vision actually comes to life though, and sometimes that can be a very long process.
What is your main inspiration?
-I’m inspired by the world around me. Most of my songs are about my own experiences and my feelings surrounding them, in one way or another.
What musician do you admire most and why?
-That is a fantastic question, and I could give a million different answers. I admire so many musicians for different reasons. But if I had to just pick one musician who helps me get through each day and motivates me to be the best version of myself, the only reasonable answer is my friend and guitarist, Max Shirley. He’s incredibly talented and one of the best people I’ve ever met.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
-Of course! What I make now is far different from what I was doing when I first started out. I’m sure the stuff I create 5 years from now will be miles away from what I’m doing currently too. I hope it is. Each day I try to be a little better than I was the day before. That applies to every aspect of my life, honestly.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
-I don’t think of music as a competition. There’s infinite songs that can be written, and billions of people who can love as many songs and artists as they want. I guess that means my only competition is myself. I set goals, work hard to achieve them, try to acknowledge my progress, and then I set new ones. Rinse and repeat.
What are your interests outside of music?
-I love all kinds of art, reading, video games, learning languages, and a little bit of witchcraft. Y’know, the usual!
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
-Astrophysics. I know that sounds like another joke, but seriously. Astrophysics. I’m fascinated by the universe and its mysteries. If I wasn’t any good at that, then probably game design.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
-Honestly? Believing in myself. I’ve worked hard to have healthy self-esteem and I’ve proven to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to, but it hasn’t always been easy. By nature, external validation is a huge part of being a musician. Getting positive feedback is great! It means we’re doing our job right! But I’ve had to learn the balance between taking others’ feedback to heart while still believing in my own ideas.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
-Lots of people in this profession make a living by taking advantage of musicians. It’s enough of a challenge to succeed in music without having to constantly watch your back. That being said, if you double check any offers that seem too good to be true and make sure you surround yourself with trustworthy people, you should be okay.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
-I named the album Language Barrier because I felt that I couldn’t communicate with the people around me. I would try to express myself as best I could, but for some reason nobody seemed to understand. So I turned to music. I took all of my thoughts and feelings, wrote a story, and used my voice and instruments to communicate what I wasn’t getting across through words alone. I didn’t know if it would work, but I knew I had to try. And since I’ve started sharing this album, so many people have told me how much they can relate to what I write about. It’s kind of poetic; I felt unheard so I made a whole bunch of noise and ended up hearing a chorus of echoes in return.
What are your plans for the coming months?
-Performing, writing, and preparing for a trip to London and Barcelona early next year to record even more music.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
-I have a couple, but I can’t spoil them yet. You’ll just have to keep an eye on my work! I have done some great stuff in the past with STAR SEED on two songs, ‘Chemicals’ and ‘Angel’. And with Alex Dark in Bucharest on ‘Animis’ and ‘Love Isn’t Enough.’ They’re on Spotify and all streaming services.
What message would you like to give to your fans
-If there’s anything you want to be, whether that’s a musician, an astrophysicist, or maybe you just want to be heard: You can do anything you set your mind to if you just try to be a little better each day than you were the day before. It may take time, but the time will pass anyway. And even if you get lost somewhere along the road, you can always find your way again. I believe in you.
