My Friend Catie
IO:
You just debuted your newest single, "Big Talk" at Roxy last month. What inspired you when producing it?
My Friend Catie:
I wrote it last year when I watched our country dive headfirst into an authoritarian regime run by evil billionaires and a senile Cheeto.
We’ve become an oligarchy run by people who prioritize money over humanity, and I felt so helpless! So, I decided to use this song to regain some semblance of control. Although I can’t reinstate people’s food stamps or reunite their families, I can make a song that calls these people out for what they truly are: miserable and deeply insecure.
They’ll never be satisfied with more money or more power because what they truly lack is love, connection, and self-acceptance. I think we’d seriously all get along if these men just came out of the closet, got a therapist, and took a few theater classes. :)
IO:
What influences your music style?
My Friend Catie:
Everything! I feel like my music is a quilt of all the genres, experiences, and cultures that have impacted me.
Growing up, my parents played a lot of soulful rock, pop, jazz and disco that I can still hear in my sound today: The Bee Gees, Sting, Coldplay, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pat Metheny, Nat King Cole. In high school, alt-rock and electronic music took center stage (Two Door Cinema Club, Daft Punk, Avicii), and in my young adulthood, I got super into French Touch like Yuksek and Polo & Pan.
So, when I was finding my sound in 2023, I ended up just combining all of these genres into one thing. Looking back, they all overlap quite a bit – saucy instrumentals, dreamy melodies, funky drums and a badass lead guitar.
IO:
Can you tell us a little bit about "Best of Friends"? How did you start it and what's it been like putting on events showcasing female artists?
My Friend Catie:
Originally, to be totally honest, Best of Friends started as a way to get good at DJing and play music I wanted to hear at clubs. I was too green at the time for anyone to book me, so I went ahead and just booked myself! After my first event, I fell in love with the process and realized that I could do some good with it, so I decided to support my favorite cause – elevating women!!
Showcasing female artists is the fucking best. They will always show up on time, equipped with a USB filled with songs I’ve never heard before, wearing some fabulous outfit, ready to shake ass and have a great time.
IO:
What challenges have you faced while being a female DJ/artist in the music industry?
My Friend Catie:
Where do I start! This industry is not for the faint of heart. As a rule of thumb, people won’t be very nice to you when you’re just starting out. Maybe that’s an LA thing, but as I gained more traction, I got a lot more respect.
Also, unfortunately, there’s a lot of sexism. As a DJ, I was constantly underestimated. I’d receive backhanded compliments like, “you’re way better than I expected you to be” or “we booked you because we needed at least a female on the lineup.” One time, I was hanging a decoration when an unknown man offered to help, and when I politely declined, he said, “I just don't think women should be using ladders.” I really just have to laugh about that stuff.
Lastly, making art is hard. Period. I crash out at least once a quarter. I just have to keep moving forward, constantly reminding myself that my harshest critic is my own brain.
IO:
When did you take classes at IO Music academy, do you have a favorite memory from your time here that really stands out to you?
My Friend Catie:
Oh my gosh, I feel like IO changed the course of my life.
I took “Claim Your Sound,” designed to help us finish tracks and find our signature sound. Through that class, I made my first 3 songs (all but “Twisted” from the Technicolor Dream EP), which have accrued almost 9 million streams total and essentially jump-started my career in 2024.
I had been producing music for about 3 years before taking that class, and I’d never finished a song! It’s hard to choose a favorite part, as the class gave me confidence in my abilities, a structure for making my art, and some of my closest friends to this day. I definitely feel at home there.