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Just last year, she was in the crowd for Olivia’s GUTS tour at the O2 Arena. Now she’s supporting Olivia - playing to thousands on a stage that champions colour, confidence and rising talent. And for Caity - who made her Hyde Park debut two years ago opening for BLACKPINK alongside worldwide superstar Sabrina Carpenter. Now she’s back - with more confidence, more chaos, and a whole lot more Caity.
Ahead of BST Hyde Park's opening night as well as her next heart wrenching single 'Story Of Her' , Music Is To Blame caught up with Caity to talk, all things Olivia Rodrigo, growth on stage, new era and what it means to be part of a lineup that’s rewriting the rules for pop girls everywhere.
This is your second time performing at Hyde Park - what does it mean to return after supporting Blackpink alongside Sabrina Carpenter two years ago?
It means the world! You know I love performing - festivals are my favourite thing, apart from tour… and apart from you guys. It’s like festivals are amazing, I never used to really get to go to any festivals because I had no money growing up, and now I'm going to them - but I'm performing! And then I get to go have fun afterwards. It’s iconic!
Are you going to watch Olivia?
Ugh, duh! Olivia, I'm coming for you - like, I can't wait. I’m gonna try and say hi to her.
You saw Olivia Rodrigo on the GUTS Tour last year - how does it feel now supporting her at Hyde Park?
Ridiculous! Sometimes I forget that I do what I do - When things come to lodge, like: ‘Do you want to support Olivia Rodrigo at Hyde Park?’ I'm like, ‘What? What do you mean? I just saw her at the O2. What do you mean?’ So yeah, it’s very cool and I'm very grateful. I'm very, very excited.
How have you been preparing for this show - mentally and creatively (we’ve seen a few behind the scenes rehearsal photos through your team/Louis/Emma)?
Emma (her photographer & best friend), my queen! I’ve been training my leg… Watch this- ready? (Caity squats) Look at that! That movement - are you kidding? I’ve not been able to do that for a while! I’m going to have to wear tape so it stays in place, but I've been training. I’ve been building my muscles up.
How do you feel your live performances have evolved since your first festival set at the start of your career?
I feel like they haven’t changed - still been the same excitement, bundle of ridiculousness. Every time i performed, no matter how i’m feeling - i could feel like sh*t, and i have felt like sh*t before - and then i go on stage and i’m like, ughhhh, this is why i live and this is why i breathe. But yeah, I think I've not changed one bit. I’m just the same girl.
Has any moment on stage ever surprised you or changed your perspective as a performer?
Oh, don’t wear latex, okay? Because there was one time when i was doing - what was it? - Y Not Festival, and it was a very hot day, and I wore latex. It was a tiny little latex top, i got sweaty and started jumping around, and as you can imagine, i turned round to Ollie (her drummer), and he was - (demonstrates him covering his eyes) - and then by the end of it, my whole outfit just had fallen off, and i was running around in boxers and a jumper. Don’t wear latex.
Your lyrics have built such a strong connection with fans - how does that emotion show up in a live setting?
Ummm, I don’t know - it’s crazy to me. I make songs in a room and I'm just Caity, and then I go and perform it, and you know the words. I feel like we’ve all been through the same thing together. If I feel so alone with something - there are some things I've felt so alone with - I'll make a song about it, and then we all sing it together, and I'm like, ughhhh, it’s beautiful, right? It’s like you're there for me as much as I'm there for you. It’s a real, reciprocated thing.
You’ve recently switched up your whole aesthetic and sound - what inspired this transformation
Being in love! Being in love, being in love, being in love! I’m just like, I don't know - growing up! Everything that I've done made so much sense to the era I was in at the time and what I was going through, but now I just feel so at peace, still insane!! But I just feel more like… more me! I don’t have to put on this whole haha - even though I always will. I can just be myself. Not that I've not been myself, but you get what I mean. Like I don't want to keep making songs about how much I hate boys if I'm snogging my boyfriend every night, do you know what I mean? It makes no sense. I can’t lie to you, I can't. Period.
What can fans expect after Hyde Park- new music, more shows?
Definitely new music - I'm working on an album. I’m also singing new songs tomorrow. Um, so yeah: new music, an album at some point, and more shows, songs and dances.
If you got to hand-pick your dream BST Hyde Park lineup, who would be joining you on stage?
Okay - Sza, right? Doechii, Queen but with Freddie Mercury, i will resurrect him, Dolly Parton and omg Sab Carp, Sabrina Carpenter.
Chloe Ridgley
@chloeridgley
Image: Emma Lucy
