Ōtautahi-artist CAITLIN is releasing her new indie folk-pop single "What You Love” on August 2nd 2024.
After completing degrees in business and music at University, Caitlin developed a heightened sensitivity towards stories about people and corporations that disregard the environmental impacts of their actions and the well-being of their people for the sake of money.
Exploring Aotearoa’s beautiful nature with friends while tramping, surfing, and running is a core passion of Caitlin’s, so she felt a massive wave of inspiration to write about environmental conservation and social inequality in decision-making power. She delivers her meditations with a stunning melody, haunting backing vocals, a driving acoustic sound, and strong lyrical imagery.
“As a kid, you’re told you can do anything and believe you can change the world - but as you become an adult, you realise that not everyone shares the same values you grew up on. It’s a tough realisation.”
“I guess this song is a realisation that you can’t just come full guns blazing into the workforce and expect to change the world. Change takes time.”
Caitlin recently embarked on her journey to learn te reo Māori, discovering more about her culture, whakapapa, and te ao Māori. Traditional Māori worldviews share that people are not superior to nature but a part of it and are responsible for protecting the environment for future generations. “What You Love” connects deeply with this core value.
The ‘What You Love’ music video contains symbolic themes of capitalism vs kaitiakitanga, with scenes featuring “nature’s office” where life is choked out by pine and blackberry bushes, and men in suits chasing down Caitlin as she flees to the native forest.
“I’m far from perfect but I think it’s important we talk about environmental conservation and continually be on the journey to decreasing our negative impact on the environment.”
But the rich man’s always coming to strip you of what you love - a harsh lyric, but an important call to organisations to consider their environmental impact.
What You Love by CAITLIN will be available to purchase and stream on all major platforms from August 2nd, 2024.
Link to pre-save/stream/watch: https://music.drm.co.nz/what-you-love
Extra information:
As a teenager, Caitlin released her EP “Call It Hope” as a fundraiser for the Cancer Society NZ - sharing stories of cancer experiences from New Zealand icons and her family. Collaborators included Stan Walker, Kaylee Bell, Jamie McDell, Jordan Luck, Rikki Morris, Lorraine Downes, and more. She has always been a strong advocate for protecting our environment and people.
Kaitiakitanga = guardianship of the natural world