Glittering Indie-Pop Rising Star Caylie G Releases Debut EP the trials and tribulations of a twenty two year old teenager
Through melodic pop compositions and a glittering artistic energy, queer-femme artist, singer, songwriter and producer Caylie G (they/she) serves as a charming and multi-talented indie-pop star. Currently residing in the Treaty Six Territory of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Caylie G has solid artistic and cultural roots in their musically inspired upbringing. Having established a musicality that shimmers with honest relatability and nostalgia-infused pop artistry, the music of Caylie G can best be described as personal, glimmering, and cathartic.
On June 28, the rising indie-pop icon released their debut EP the trials and tribulations of a twenty two year old teenager. A vast array of emotions can be found within the six-track body of work, including the fear of not being wanted, heartbreak, and the rollercoaster of navigating your early twenties. Through her personable and down-to-earth delivery of such vulnerable feelings, Caylie G’s new EP can be enjoyed by music listeners – and teenagers – of all ages and all walks of life.
Highlight tracks include “ohio,” a pillow-soft acoustic number with emotions of heartbreak and nostalgia further heightened by Caylie G’s delicate yet powerful vocals. “Eat bugz,” the record’s closing number, takes on a more cheeky and bubbly tone with slightly humorous and romantic lyricism.
Praise is deserved for the album’s opening number, “nauseous from existential dread.” For chronic overthinkers, drama queens, perfectionists, and those who tend to suffer from excruciating self-loathing, “nauseous from existential dread” is the quintessential track. Delivering an honest and accurate portrayal of anxiety and depression over ethereal and upbeat soft pop beats, the song shines a light on feelings that many people are all too familiar with.
Hands out, the window
Sad songs playing on the radio
I’ll cry the whole way home
Originally written as a flirtatious love song about a short-lived queer romance, a summer full of heartache caused Caylie G to rewrite the track completely. “Nauseous from existential dread” now serves as a cathartic, sparkling pop anthem for those who struggle with self-doubt. Recorded by JUNO Award-nominated producer Father Bobby Townsend and Mark Maclure and written by Edmonton locals, Caylie G, Mark Maclure, and Haidee Manansala, “nauseous from existential dread” is a beautiful reflection of Caylie G and their artistry.
What if everyone hates me and I die alone
What if it turns out I’m no good on my own
I’m so sick of maybe
Why do I hate me
Somebody save me
Caylie G is currently enrolled at MacEwan University, working towards a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music, majoring in Recording and Production. Now a full-time musician, 22-year-old Caylie G is fiercely paving their way as a pivotal rising star within the Canadian pop world.
Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
Hi! I’m Caylie G, I’m a queer indie-pop artist from Edmonton. I cry a lot, am very dramatic, and write a lot of songs about it.
How did your musical upbringing in Treaty Six Territory influence your unique indie-pop sound, and which artists have inspired you the most?
My songwriting is so heavily influenced by my environment, whether that be a physical space or social circumstance. I feel so grateful to have grown up in Edmonton on Treaty Six land. First of all, the talent here is ridiculous. Artists like Mariel Buckley, Wyatt C. Louis, Robert Adam are incredible Alberta-based artists that I’ve had the great privilege of looking up to. On a broader scope, Leith Ross, Roman Clarke, Boygolden, and Fontine are artists from across the country that have a caliber of talent and artistry I can only dream of being part of one day.
Second, this year my music has taken me all across the country and when I’m away from home is when some of my best writing happens. ‘Gravitron’ was written in Canmore, ‘nauseous from existential dread’ was partially written in Vancouver. This year I got to take part in Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Young Performer Program and so much writing came out of that weekend and the memories it created.
Many of your songs delve into personal and vulnerable topics. How do your own life experiences shape your songwriting?
I very rarely write about things that didn’t actually happen to me. This EP was originally supposed to be called ‘True Story’ because this collection of songs specifically is a perfect retelling of a very real year of my life. The first song I wrote for this record was ‘ohio’ and it is a painfully honest depiction of the ending of my first queer relationship. I find that oftentimes the best songs are the hardest to write. I never want to call anyone out or write something just to make someone feel bad, especially someone I had immense love for at one point. However, in the beginning stages of making this EP, I decided that there was no option other than to be completely honest in my songwriting. Sometimes I bend this rule for myself for the sake of whimsical wonder much like in the last track on the record, eat bugz.
Can you share the inspiration and story behind one of the standout tracks, “nauseous from existential dread”?
I don’t think I’ve felt secure or calm… ever. I’m constantly overthinking and overanalyzing. My life could be perfect and I will find a way to ruin it by convincing myself that everyone around me hates me. I’ve been known to make myself physically ill with worry and it’s exhausting quite honestly. Nauseous from existential dread was the last song written for the EP and as it was coming time to share music with people, I had dug myself into a hole of self-doubt and was adamant that I wasn’t ready to put the music out. I was sure that everyone would hate it and me. I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t terrified and once I settled into the fact that maybe this is just a human emotion I’m experiencing, the song wrote itself.
How has your education at MacEwan University influenced your music, particularly your major in Recording and Production?
I feel so incredibly lucky, I’ve always had access to some kind of music education whether it be lessons as a kid or the pursuit of a whole degree. I think that we as humans are inherently and instinctually creative. Sometimes my band jokes that I come up with big, whimsical ideas and they help ground me and bring a voice of reason to the execution. Formal music education has done a really great job of catching me up on the technical aspects of making music. It’s also introduced me to so many incredible people, many of which I work with almost daily, and have played an invaluable role in my career thus far. I met Mark Maclure (one of the producers on the record) at school and met Robbie Townsend (the other producer on the record) through Mark. If I’ve learned one thing about being a musician it’s that community and connection is everything. School taught me so much but truly I think the best thing that came out of it were the people I met while I was there.
How important is it for you to represent queer-femme identities in your music, and how does your identity shape your artistry?
I’m a musician, yes, but I’m a music lover first. I have been so continuously inspired by the artists around me and the vast majority of them are queer. I remember being a teenager and feeling so isolated and the one thing I could rely on to make me feel seen and heard was music. During this time I was listening to a lot of Phoebe Bridgers, King Princess, and Jessie Reyez (all queer artists). Being queer can be in and of itself quite isolating, especially in a province like Alberta (which is where I’m from). Our government has made it clear that a safe existence for queer folks is not something that is important to them. I think that as a collective we’ve decided that if our government isn’t going to be there for us, we have to be there for each other. My favourite part about being queer is the community I’ve been welcomed into. Queer folks show up for each other in a way I’ve never experienced in any instance before. I feel so incredibly grateful to be part of such a vibrant community and even more grateful to have a platform that represents and honours it. It’s a privilege and responsibility I do not take lightly.