Congrats on the release of ‘Desert Rose’! What was it that inspired the idea for the song?
Cati Landry: “Desert Rose was inspired by a longing I was feeling for both escape and sanctuary—I guess I have never really felt like I belonged in the world I grew up in, and I always have been a searcher, so I carry all these dreams within me about what might lie out along the horizon. Especially as a young woman too—there’s all this pressure to bloom, but you need the right conditions for that. Sometimes life gets in the way, so I’d been feeling really stifled and uncertain—and I knew I needed to reconnect with that feeling of possibility. Every once in a while in life, you find someone who wants to dream with you, and live in that dream together, and that’s maybe the most beautiful type of sanctuary because they can give you a sense of understanding and home wherever you go. Like in the song, that’s the ability to flourish and thrive in the desert, no matter the conditions. So I wanted to write something that spoke to that feeling—of trying to shed all of that fear and heartache and uncertainty and being in the moment again with someone you really love.”
I’ve heard that you’ve been performing music from a young age. What you do love most about performing and what made you want to pursue it as a career?
Cati Landry: “Yes I grew on stage really—and I think tracing it back to that feeling that I never quite belonged, I actually had a very dark time in my childhood. In Jungian psychology they call it the orphan wound—I’m not an orphan and have a very loving family, but it was forces outside of their control that made my life very confusing and painful for a long time. The orphan wound means parts of you feel neglected and abandoned, like the world has no love or space for you. So it’s very tough, but it also makes you a seeker. I can remember the first time I got up on stage, I felt like I’d found a home, a place where I could connect to my spirit freely without any interference or any need to try and explain myself to other people. It was automatic and I just lit up inside. As I grew up in that world, I did a lot of training and took a more traditional/classical route for a long time, but I started feeling like I needed something more. My other great love was always writing, and I fell in love with the idea of being a songwriter and getting to use my voice to tell my own story. So that’s what’s led me on this path.”
What was it like studying songwriting and how has this impacted your music?
Cati Landry: “Studying songwriting at Berklee was amazing—I think the biggest impact came from the people I met in my time there, particularly Bonnie Hayes who mentored me. I think being around a writer who’s so experienced and so sure in her instincts & voice—and who believed in mine and encouraged me to really lean into and honour my own perspective, she uplifted me and taught me so much. “
You’ve carved out a dreamy, atmospheric sound for yourself, amongst strong vocals. What advice would you give to artists on finding their niche?
Cati Landry: “I would say think of your work like you’re directing a film—every director will make it look and feel a little different, even if they’re telling the same story, and most art touches on the same eternal themes but in subtle, unique ways. That’s where your perspective lies, and it’s the thing only you can bring to a story—that’s the most important thing as a songwriter. The good thing is, you already have it, so it’s not about finding something so much as it’s about exploring it.”
What does your dream collaboration look like?
Cati Landry: “It looks like me and Stevie Nicks sitting on stage, maybe in some beautiful old venue like at The Ryman in Nashville, side by side, singing together, surrounded by white candles. No one else even has to be there.”
Is there a lyric from ‘Desert Rose’ that you feel best encapsulates the song?
Cati Landry: “In the middle of nowhere, baby, it’s you and me.”
What are your musical goals for 2025?
Cati Landry: “Well, my life is always intertwined with my music, and it’s transformed a lot lately since I moved to a new city… I feel like I’ve had a breath of fresh air, and I’ve had the time to sit with myself and reflect in a way that I hadn’t in a while, it’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re always working or always on the run in some way… it’s given me the chance to reconnect with my inspiration and creativity. As much as I adore the work I do, this path is sometimes challenging and there’s a lot to navigate, so I really felt like I needed the change.”
“I think I’m in a bit of a transitional moment, but I have some long term ideas that are starting to crystallize and take shape for a project I’ve been dreaming up and carrying with me—an album I want to make. And I have so many songs written and recorded that I love and want to share. I also would love to write a book or a show, maybe, and I have some ideas for that. In some way, I write everyday, and so I think my goal is really just to invite people into that world with me more and more. Because of some of the experiences I’ve had, I’ve developed a tendency to withdraw somewhat and not feel comfortable sharing much, and I feel so grateful that in spite of that, my songs have made their way to some of the best and most beautiful people, who see and understand and really care. Someone also recently gave me the advice that I need to see my sensitivity and vulnerability as my greatest strengths, and so this year, it’s important to me to lean into that in my pursuits in music and life. “
You can listen to Desert Rose here: