Interview with: Caitlin Lavagna
We caught up with three-time BBC Radio Wales A-Lister Caitlin Lavagna as she released the heart-wrenching and incredibly powerful ‘October’
Lovely to catch up with you again, why don’t you tell us all, a bit about the inspiration behind ‘October’
‘October’ was inspired by an experience I went through this time last year. This time last year my career was bursting with excitement and opportunities were flowing. I was performing in a beautiful show I adored, making new friends, travelling to new places and I had someone special, who I felt saw me, to share it all with. Then I was left completely and utterly ghosted, left behind and vulnerable. I lost my sense of self, was in shock and couldn’t make sense of what was happening. By being able to write my feelings down, I began tending to a year of heartbreak and that’s how the song started to form.
Did you have any trepidation about writing and releasing a song that is so personal?
I think the more I let myself go, the deeper I dig emotionally and the more honest and raw I make my songs, the more I fear releasing them. With ‘October’ I felt scared. It’s personal and touched on exactly what being ghosted felt like for me. I think it’s especially hard because I know people must feel the same things as me, but singing can almost be more therapeutic for them to listen to, rather than for me to keep re-visiting. When you’re pausing time, putting lyrics and a melody to heartbreak and then having to consistently perform that heartbreak in front of live audiences, it’s genuinely difficult. As I have said before though, music is my therapy and writing about how I feel helps me process things, whether that’s at the time or on reflection.
What is your writing process like?
CHAOS HAHA!! I don’t think I have written a song in the same way, ever. I usually start humming a melody when driving long distances or in the shower. I voice record it when I get a chance and then eventually from free-writing or picking highlighted words or themes from lists or phrases I have documented, I will match them up and begin shaping the melodic idea into a rough structure with lyrics. I pride myself on being able to collaborate with musician friends on songs I believe they can help shape or will understand, and add to creatively. So much of my training through music has been through working with other people, it feels natural to do it that way. I also try not to put pressure on myself in terms of trying to keep a day free to write a song. I write when it comes and wherever it comes. Sometimes it’s sitting at a piano, sometimes I can be shopping or in the middle of a gym session. I will just pause and note down ideas as they come.
If you could compare your songs or your sound to someone, who would it be, and why?
That’s such a difficult question. I have huge inspirations and icons I look up to. I think naturally I have been compared to some of them as they are so influential in my writing. People like Florence Welsh, Marina and the Diamonds, Adele, Pink and Haim.
When releasing music as an independent artist, what are the main aspects to focus on to make sure you get your voice heard?
I think I am always pushing to produce a strong, rich, vocal hook and attempt to make rhythm and drums the centre of attention (because we all know percussion is the best!) I think as an actress, lyrics are very important to me too. Songwriting is an art form that is used to tell stories and so, I always want to make sure I have chosen the best way to say exactly what story I am aiming to tell through song. I think writing honestly and from experience is important because people like things they relate to. We’re all human so it makes sense to talk about my own experiences through song.
Have you got any exciting plans for the remainder of 2024?
I am just about to announce an Autumn/Winter Tour. This is being supported by and arranged through TIWN Media, who have been so amazing to me since I started working with them. I will be presenting headline shows as well as being on the line-up or supporting slots for other up-and-coming artists. The tour will also cover a few Christmas Light Switch Ons over South Wales. Alongside this, I am filming two live lounge sessions. The first is with the support of Radio Wigwam and the second is a Bloc Session. I hope to release these recordings together as my first acoustic EP on all major streaming platforms. I will also film and release the visuals on social media including full-length Youtube Films. Lastly, I have been asked to be the face of launching Jamma UK 2.0 and am in the middle of solidifying a headline, full band show at the big London Launch Party in 2025.
What can we expect from Caitlin Lavagna in 2025?
We have now taken the tour into January and February so I will be performing in more places around South Wales and London. Once I release my debut EP I will be arranging a big launch tour in four beautiful music venues in the Valleys, Cardiff, London and Gibraltar. All places that have formed me as a musician and person. I also have been re-cast in ‘Housemates - UK Tour’ which starts rehearsing in January and tours through to April. Busy, but, blessed to be thriving both musiclly and in the actor musicianship world. I’m very excited to get back on the drum kit working with the Sherman Theatre and Hijinx Theatre Company.
October is now out on all major digital platforms, plus a new music video is available to watch on YouTube.
EPK/WAV/MP3 of October for radio play
Email: info@tiwnmedia.co.uk or an interview
