Catherine Elms releases new record

Coming out of Swansea in South Wales, Catherine Elms stands as a powerful figure in the alternative music world, bringing together baroque pop, heavy rock and theatrical gothic styling into a sound that feels at once intimate and grand in scope. A self-taught pianist and genre-fluid songwriter, she crafts music that lands in the spaces between shadow and light, daring listeners to confront the emotions they often overlook.

She first made an impression in 2022 with the release of her debut single “Frustrations” and that same year, she unveiled her first full-length album I Have Seen It, I Do Not Fear It, an ambitious record that drew praise for its profound songwriting and cinematic scope. In 2023, she expanded her creative world through collaboration, teaming up with fellow alternative visionary Mishkin Fitzgerald for the ARCANA EP.

Throughout her journey, Catherine’s work has carried a steadfast determination to examine emotional layers and transform them into art that’s fiercely impactful. Following a brief period away from the spotlight, Catherine returned this year with two singles, “Medusa” and “Brutal Heart,” tracks which served as a reintroduction to her dark, dreamlike universe and opened her next major chapter.

That chapter arrives in the form of Bring In The Wild, her brand new twelve-track sophomore record that’s instilled with self-discovery, informed by the lens of Jungian psychology and able to wade into the murky waters of emotions often cast aside. From start to finish, the album embraces anger, desire, jealousy and self-pity as vital teachers to be understood.

“Bring in the Wild is about making peace with the parts of myself I used to suppress and learning to hear what they have to teach me. It’s about the wild power that comes from self-acceptance,” Catherine explains.

Set up by the soft piano plinks and hushed vocals of opening track “The Darker Half,” the album starts with an atmospheric alternative pop intro that builds with the rattle of percussion and intricate piano-led arrangement, surging to a gripping rock-inflected crescendo. Recent single “Brutal Heart” follows with the muted plucks of acoustic guitar and subtly lively vocals before launching with the crunch of guitars and uptempo beat of drums as Catherine’s voice takes flight to craft a thrilling alternative rock anthem brimming with memorable melodic hooks and dark aesthetic.

“Medusa” arrives with the pulse of bass piano notes and quiet yet intense vocals, flowing through brooding rock scenes to craft a downtempo outing of dramatic songwriting and truly original arrangement. Following the transportive interlude of “Sinister” with its swelling instrumental textures and whispered spoken word vocals, “Things To Keep Hidden” sees Catherine lean into a delicate sound of graceful piano backing and elegant vocals, which builds to an epic sound of orchestral instrumentation and overlapping vocal layers.

Other highlights on the record include songs like “Ritual” where the crash of guitar riffs and punch of drums give way to Catherine’s dynamic vocal performance which bends from quiet delivery to belted melodies. Closing the album with “Shadow,” she casts a dreamy slice of melancholic alternative pop with airy vocals and immersive arrangement to conclude her sensational second album with a memorable and highly unique listening experience.

Listen to Bring In The Wild below