Cati Landry Blooms on New Single, “Desert Rose”

Cati Landry’s latest single, “Desert Rose,” blooms with vulnerability and resilience. Her vocals sweep you into a world of infinite possibilities, inspired by the courage to break free from life’s constraints and seek a brighter path. Symbolizing rare beauty in a harsh landscape, the song celebrates the transformative power of love and connection, honoring the person who stands beside you through life’s storms and allows your spirit to thrive. Ethereal and evocative, “Desert Rose” is both a journey and a celebration of blooming against the odds.

Prior to the release of “Desert Rose,” I had the chance to chat with Cati about her first two singles, “Mind’s Eye” and “Riptide.” From connecting about the music we love (spoiler alert: we’re both Arctic Monkeys and Lana Del Rey fans) to sharing journaling practices, our conversation touched on a variety of topics. I had an absolute blast chatting with Cati, keep reading for the highlights of our conversation!

Emma Zoe Polyak: I think the best place to start would be at the beginning. What drew you to music? What sparked your initial interest, and how did your songwriting journey begin?

Cati Landry: Well, I didn’t grow up in a musical household, but my family are huge music lovers. Music was always around me. I have vivid memories of my mom burning CDs of all our favorite songs, and we used to have to drive a lot, and we’d spend a lot of time listening to those CDs. My dad was also a big music lover. Every Sunday morning, he’d listen to jazz radio, and I’d ask him, “Who’s that? What’s this song about?” I loved learning about the history of music.

I didn’t start performing until I was older, around seven years old. Even though no one in my family had a musical background, they were incredibly supportive. From then on, music became my North Star. I trained as a singer and thought I’d follow a traditional performance path. I studied jazz, classical voice, and even Broadway-style show tunes.

But as a teenager, I discovered my love for writing. I had an amazing English teacher who introduced me to Leonard Cohen and other poets. That’s when songwriting clicked for me, it was this perfect blend of music and poetry. I started writing songs, playing in bands with friends, and performing anywhere I could.

During COVID when I was looking for something to do I enrolled in a one-year songwriting program. It was mostly remote, but I later went to LA to record my portfolio with a producer that I met through the program. We recorded four songs together, and the first song I put out, “Mind’s Eye,” was from those sessions. It was so much fun, and from there I just kept writing songs and being introduced to people and meeting people.

Photo by Sophia Borchers

EZP: Besides music and poetry, do you draw inspiration from other mediums like movies or books? “Riptide,” in particular feels very cinematic to me.

CL: Definitely, I love movies! I think the way cinema and music are intertwined is so powerful and beautiful. Hans Zimmer is one of my favorite composers. I remember being deeply moved by his score for Thelma & Louise. Filmmakers influence me hugely – I love all the ones I’m sure everybody mentions like David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino and Sofia Coppola.

When we wrote “Riptide,” my co-writer Bella and I envisioned it like a scene from a movie. We imagined a transformative moment, where you meet someone and feel your life shift. It’s the kind of song I’d love to see in a film or TV show someday.

EZP: Releasing music comes with a lot of challenges, especially as an independent artist,  could you talk about how you’ve navigated those challenges and been able to push forward?

CL: It’s a tough road, especially starting out. I’ve been lucky to have supportive friends and mentors who’ve guided me, I’ve had some opportunities come to me just through the wonderful people I’ve met along the way. I was also lucky that the school I went to had so many great musicians around, and I learned a lot just from watching them. A lot of them came from musical families as well, so they knew the road, and I would just ask them a lot of questions.

But putting your music out there is incredibly vulnerable, and I’ve had to learn to sit with myself and be able to say that this is something I really believe in. One thing I’ve learned is to trust my process. Once I feel a song is complete, when it’s something I’d genuinely listen to, I know it’s ready to release. It’s about staying true to yourself despite all the noise about “going viral” or following trends. And I think that the right people will see what you’re doing, and you just have to keep pushing forward with that.

I’ve learned that you need to pursue and keep looking for authentic connection with fans and listeners and pursue your ambition and desires as an artist from a genuine place.

EZP: That’s such an important mindset. It’s not easy, but knowing when a song is ready is a huge leap for any artist.

CL: Absolutely! That balance between perfectionism and trusting your instincts is something I’m constantly working on. And I do torture myself about that sometimes. I think when I know a song is done is when I can just listen to is – usually on a drive – and just have my editor brain shut off and just fully immerse myself in the experience of listening to the song.

I’ve also had to learn not to overdo it. I have a high standard for myself, especially when it comes to vocals. That was the area I have the most training in as a musician, and I can sometimes do a hundred vocal comps, and then I’ll be like “the third one was fine, why did I do that to myself?”

EZP: I wonder if you could expand a bit more on your songwriting and creative process. Is there a specific moment that sparks creativity, do you try to set time aside and think, “I’m going to write something this week,” or is it more of an intuitive, free-flowing process?

CL: Oh, yeah! A lot of times, the spark of an idea will just come. I actually had one this morning while I was on my walk, which was exciting. Sometimes, I’ll just be walking, and things will pop into my head, and that’s always great. But when it comes down to sitting down and writing, you have to really check in with yourself and ask, “What am I trying to say here?” It’s about getting to the heart of what I want to express.

For me, the entry point to a song is usually a lyric or a lyrical idea, unless I’m working with other people. When I’ve played with a couple of my friends in bands, then they might play a riff, and we just start jamming. I’ve written a few songs that way, which is freeing because you don’t have to worry about coming up with chords to match the lyrics. But usually, the spark for me starts with a lyric.

Once I have that initial idea, it’s about clarifying it and really understanding it. Sometimes, I’ll picture a scene, and the rest of the song just kind of falls into place. But it’s different every time. For example, with “Mind’s Eye,” I heard that phrase, wrote it down, and saved it for a while because I loved it and wanted to use it in a song. But I didn’t know exactly how it would come together until later.

Every song has a different approach, but for me, it’s all about getting honest with myself and checking in with where I am emotionally or energetically in that moment.

Photo by Sophia Borchers

EZP: Switching gears a bit, I always like to ask about the songs you’re listening to. To start off simple, what’s the last song you listened to?

CL: This morning on my walk, the last song I listened to was “Atomic” by Blondie. I really love the way it combines a surf rock, Jame Bond-like energy with Blondie’s signature sound. It’s so good, it’s got such a fun vibe, but with this driving energy underneath it too.

EZP: I feel like that’s a perfect song for a walk, definitely an energizing way to start the morning! If you could take three albums to a deserted island, what would they be?

CL: My first one would definitely be Bloom by Beach House, that album changed my life. A friend of mine told me to listen to it during the first week of college, and I had just gotten my driver’s license, so I’d drive around listening to it, and I was like, “Wow, this is a whole other world for me.” So that one would have to come with me.

The second one would be Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves. If I were alone on a desert island, I’d need some musical company, and she’s just the right person to keep me company while I ponder life.

For my third pick… what’s coming to mind is Grace by Jeff Buckley. That album is so beautiful. But, you know, if I’m going to be on a desert island having an existential crisis, maybe I should throw in something a little more upbeat too. True Blue by Madonna is another option, I love that album and it’s fun and cheerful. So maybe I’d go with that one as my third choice.

EZP: What’s a controversial music pick you have – either a song you like that others tend to dislike, or one that you don’t like but others love?

CL: There’s a song I’ve loved for my whole life called “Brand New Key” by Melanie. It’s this old folk-country song, and I think it’s so fun and cute. My mom’s friend actually made us a CD, and she included that song, and it drives my mom crazy. I’ve played it for a couple of friends and musicians I’ve worked with, but it’s a bit like cilantro – people either really love it or they don’t.

It’s kind of an old folk/country song, and it’s got this yodeling thing in the vocals that makes it unique, but I think country music is like that: people either love it or hate it. There are classics, like “Jolene,” that everyone loves, but this one’s a deeper cut. I just think it’s fun, and every time I hear it, it reminds me of being a little girl riding my bike. So, it holds a special place for me.

EZP: I’ll have to check it out now. That’s actually part of why I ask these questions – selfishly, I get new music recommendations! What’s your go-to karaoke song?

CL: If I have a duet partner, I love doing “You’re the One That I Want”fromGrease. It’s always so much fun. If not, I’d probably go with something by Rihanna, like “Diamonds” or “Umbrella,” I just love Rihanna so much. Or Britney – something everyone knows just to keep the energy up and fun like “You’re the One That I Want.”

EZP: That’s such a fun choice! For the last question what, in your opinion, is the best song of all time?

CL: Oh my gosh, that’s a huge question! But right away, what comes to mind is “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys. I think it’s such a perfect love song. It’s simple, but so profound at the same time, which I think makes it one of the best songs.

Another one that I love, and might even be my favorite pop song, is “Like a Prayer” by Madonna, it’s just so incredible.

Listen to Cati Landry’s music below!