Alternative Rock from Catherine Elms

Hailing from South Wales, Catherine Elms is a striking voice in the world of dark alternative music. A self-taught pianist with a flair for the dramatic and emotionally impactful, Catherine has created her own musical world where baroque pop and heavy rock collide with shadowy cabaret and confessional lyricism. Taking cues from artists like PJ Harvey and Tori Amos, her songwriting ventures deep into themes of transformation, power and vulnerability.

First sharing her sound in 2022 with her debut single “Frustrations,” singles two and three followed before her critically acclaimed first full-length record, I Have Seen It, I Do Not Fear It, arrived later that year. Followed up by her 2023 EP, ARCANA, a collaborative release with Mishkin Fitzgerald, Catherine took a brief hiatus from sharing her original material with the world.

Now she returns with “Medusa,” a darkly enchanting new single that serves as the first look into her forthcoming second album. It’s a bold reintroduction that draws on ancient myth and personal reckoning in equal measure. Built around a pulsating piano bassline, the track is an emphatic statement of intent; mesmeric, thoughtful and seething with emotion.

With mythological references, Catherine recasts the Gorgon as a symbol of feminine rage and reclaimed identity, transforming the ancient story into something modern and profoundly personal. Her soaring vocals hover over swirling instrumentation, conjuring a soundscape where seduction and fury entwine. According to Catherine, “Medusa is about finding empowerment in the parts of yourself you were told to hide, the messy, jealous, or dark emotions that make us human” and that core idea of embracing the so-called flaws we’re taught to repress becomes the bedrock of the song.

Set up by the ominous plod of bass piano notes, the rustle of drums adds a downtempo rhythmic anchor as Catherine’s hushed vocals enter to thread eerie melodic leads into the arrangement. Building with atmospheric instrumental touches, the energy surges with gritty guitar tones as her voice takes flight, resulting in a gripping slice of theatrical alternative rock music.

With smooth ebb and flow, the contrast between the stripped back verses and the anthemic choruses creates a thrilling listening experience, offering a spectacular showcase of Catherine Elms’ highly original songwriting and engrossing musical output. With her highly anticipated sophomore record on the horizon, Catherine Elms is set to continue her rise as a must watch artist in the alternative rock scene of the UK and beyond.

Listen to Medusa below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---