Tabitha Wilson
American singer-songwriter Catie Turner has released her latest single, ‘Hyperfixations’ – and this soundscape is a blend of pop and rock that hits in all the right places.
The singer, who rose to prominence after participating in Season 16 of American Idol, grew her audience further by posting online, gaining nearly 400k followers on TikTok. Turner also went viral when her song ‘Prom Queen’ was used in the trailer of Shane Dawson’s 2019 YouTube series, ‘The Beautiful World of Jeffree Star’.
American Idol
Turner’s audition on American Idol, at the age of 17, gained widespread attention due to her performance of her original track, ’21st Century Machine’, and ever since her songwriting has shown her unique talent for crafting songs from personal experiences.
Turner made it to the Top 7 but was unfortunately eliminated alongside Jurnee – but this didn’t deter her. She continued to write and record music whilst performing across the USA, eventually signing with Atlantic Records in 2020. Turner continued to produce her first EP with the label, entitled ‘Heartbroken and Milking It’, which was released in 2021.
Explosion of emotion
However, since moving on from the talent show, the artist has gone from strength to strength with her new EP ‘Hyperfixations’.
This track is an explosion of emotion, with Turner cleverly weaving lyricism about her vulnerabilities and fears over an upbeat, pop-rock melody.
“Did I peak at 17, now I’m on the decline/Pull hair, grind teeth, hate how I write”
A hallmark of Turner’s songwriting, ‘Hyperfixations’ is incredibly intimate, and lines such as ‘Are my veins too purple, are my eyes too tired/Are they bored, should I ask, I don’t wanna know,’ and ‘Did I peak at 17, now I’m on the decline/Pull hair, grind teeth, hate how I write,’ give an insight into the inner workings of the singer’s mind.
Perfect soundscape
The crisp production by Ruslan Odnoralov adds a new dimension to the track, with sustained drum beats and plucky guitar riffs interlacing to create the perfect soundscape for Turner’s musings.
The contrast between the instrumental and lyricism is almost jarring at times, but Turner manages to get the balance just right, with the controlled chaos echoing the thoughts inside the singer’s mind, fighting to get to the forefront.
The new single is the first to be released from Turner’s upcoming project, ‘Comedy & Tragedy’, a two-part collection that she plans to release throughout 2023.
If you’re a fan of artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, dodie, and Cavetown, you will definitely want to listen out for Catie Turner’s music.
Featured image courtesy of Wendy Wei on Pexels. Image license found here. No changes have been made to this image.
Tabitha Wilson
Tabitha is an MA Journalism student at Sheffield University. She has previously worked as a maritime journalist, and studied politics at Durham University. She enjoys writing about music, culture, and travel.