Early Twenties by Cat Burns (2024)

Early Twenties is the debut album for London born singer Cat Burns, released on 12th July 2024. It peaked at No ‘7 on the UK Albums Chart, and generally received positive reviews.

~

This was without a doubt my favourite album of 2024, so I had to ask my Nan to get it me for Christmas that year. Cat is such an incredible talent and her wisdom is undeniable, as the whole record explores relationships, love and loss in a way that is very self-aware and honest.

~

It’s always surprising how transformative vinyl is, because I approached listening to Early Twenties on this format with a clear idea of which songs were my favourite, but it’s given me an appreciation for others I’d overlooked before. I’m also very grateful to own this green colour disc, and I think the sleeve artwork and insert photography is really lovely.

~

It opens with ‘alone’, which already hits hard as Cat sings about the fear of always being on your own, but its impact is heightened under the needle as the heavy beat and choral elements compliment Burns powerhouse vocal. This is followed by ‘go’, one of her most popular hits that was a TikTok sensation. It’s easy to see why it was so well received, because Cat’s spoken style feels very personal and approachable, as if you could be having a conversation with a friend.

~

Next up is ‘endgame’, swept in by beautiful acoustic guitar and piano as Cat mourns a relationship that isn’t certain to stand the test of time. ‘boy crazy’ feels like a lullaby, the lilting melody weaving a tale about a guy who’s naive in love, while ‘this is what happens’ uses short phrasing and a repetitive chorus to convey what anxiety feels like when it consumes us. It also showcases the gorgeous deep tones in Cat’s voice, which are utilised so perfectly on the pre-chorus.

~

The delightfully bouncy ‘people pleaser’ follows, the mouthpiece for a generation uncomfortable with confrontation and sitting in their feelings. ‘met someone’ was the first track from the album I really resonated with; it captures how love can make your whole world feel brighter, and that melody will be stuck in your head for days. ‘live more & love more’ is next up, astute in its philosophy about the important things in life, and I think it showcases the best of Cat’s writing.

~


‘jodie’ unfurls slowly like a warm sunrise, delicate as it navigates the apprehension of letting love in again when you’ve been burned before. Track 10, ‘low self esteem’, continues on from this and feels like a companion in its vulnerability about not feeling worthy of someone’s affection. A big portion of the album reflects on romance, like the next song ‘you don’t love me anymore’ that pleads for explanations when relationships don’t last, and ‘false hope’ which searches for clarity amongst mixed signals.

~

The storytelling of Early Twenties is laid bare with the next song ‘no more’, as any reservations are put to rest when Cat cuts off a lover that has been taking her for granted. ‘happier without you’ sits in the midst of heartbreak, when the realisation dawns that parting ways might be for the best. One of my favourite tracks, ‘some things don’t last forever’, is deeply contemplative as it acknowledges that an ending can be beautiful thing. It’s also one of few songs on the album that is written in the third-person, adding to its retrospective quality.

~

Our penultimate track, ‘know that you’re not alone’, is an antidote to the opener, instead suggesting that we’re never alone because we’re all dealing with our own trials in life. The final song ‘Healing’ feels very fitting, considering it’s hard not to come away from the album without feeling like you’ve been through kind of therapy. It’s enriched with the vocal talents of India.Arie, who is expertly chosen as the only collaboration in the mix.

~

Early Twenties is an album that I will always hold dear to me now. It’s hard to believe it’s Cat Burns debut, given that the whole musical experience feels so cohesive and skilfully crafted, as if it could have been made by someone who’s been active in the industry for decades. It’s a project representative of an artist who knows how to write a solid song - many tracks feature similar structural elements, including complex rhythms and repetitive phrasing, but Cat somehow makes it feel fresh and new every time. In the current landscape where shallow pop hits are often favoured, it’s a welcome change to see music with real depth and meaning, and I can’t wait to explore more of Cat’s work in the future.