Not long now until Cat Burns releases her highly anticipated debut album early twenties but if the wait still seems too long for you, we have some good news: Cat dropped her latest single ‘end game’ on April 26th, giving us a taste of what to expect.
If anyone could release an album about the early twenties, it’s Cat Burns. The British-Nigerian-Jamaican singer has proven time and time again that no one describes the experience of those years better than her. Growing apart from your best friend, struggling with anxiety, living life as a people pleaser, getting cheated on, feeling like you’re missing out – whatever you’re going through, whatever negative emotion you are currently feeling, be assured that Cat has written about it. That is not to say that she doesn’t know how to describe feelings of joy, too. Her single ‘Free’ is a touching, liberating coming-out anthem and is proof that the 23-year-old does know how to write happy songs. However, ‘end game’ is not among those cheerful tunes.
The track starts with a soft guitar tune, followed by Cat tentatively confronting her former partner. Throughout the song, she gains confidence and stands her ground in the argument. What makes Cat’s music so intimate is the fact that she writes as if she is talking to a close friend. There are no metaphors, it is straightforward and completely authentic, whilst Cat’s charming South London accent is clearly audible.
‘end game’ boasts a catchy chorus with beautifully layered vocals as well as lyrically rich verses. Cat’s voice is soft but solid and has a velvet quality to it, giving the song an even stronger sense of intimacy. Especially during the last part of the song, Cat lets her vocal abilities shine, stunning with beautiful ad-libs. After this release, the anticipation for early twenties is higher than ever!
Written by: Melanie Falkensteiner
Edited by: Ilse Muis
