Words by Cristi Barco
If you’re walking on the street after a breakup–face sticky with tears, baring your soul to the public–and some dude cat-calls you “the prettiest girl of heaven,” there are a number of ways to respond. You can flip him off, yes–or, you can write the last single of your debut EP. Caroline Strickland‘s response, the latter, led to the song, “Prettiest Girl of Heaven,” officially released on January 16th, 2025.
The single, now featured on Spotify’s Official Fresh Finds Playlist, was celebrated on 1/18 at NYC’s Union Pool with a special bill featuring local NYC female artists, Lucky Daughter & Alana Markel. Alana Markel’s ambient folk, coupled with Lucky Daughter’s experimental and high-energy pop-rock, primed the sold-out house for Caroline’s performance of her lyrically deft and melodically stimulating originals. Like many developing artists still on the rise, Caroline found her footing performing to five person crowds. Today, she celebrates her latest single release at a “dream venue”, the historically significant and beloved Union Pool, with people spilling out of the back door to watch her dreamy performance.
For those lucky enough to be in attendance, Caroline showcased her unique brand of indie folk at the former swimming pool supply store–polished soft-rock chord progressions and reverberating vocals–accompanied by the nimble drumming of James Paul Nadien with producer/collaborator Cole Robert on bass and Sharif Mekawy on guitar.
Photo by Andy Gomez
Caroline’s vocals and syncopated percussion have a way of echoing in your mind like a prayer, repetitive and sober. The lyric, “You are one of the prettiest girls of heaven” repeats, gaining nuance each time until it unravels into an amorphous combination of sounds (which is really what any cat-call should be reduced to!) carrying listeners through the song with strategic momentum. Its smooth lyrical cadence, pensive and even, leads into swoops and turns and uplifting Alice Phoebe Lou-style instrumental breaks. The journey is soft, and scary, like a soul-soothing water slide.
I wondered if Caroline intended to create this experience, or if her music was just a way of reckoning with a feeling? So, we shared a beer after the show!
Do you go into a project hoping to make people feel something specific?
CS: I don’t go into any writing project hoping to get something out of somebody, but I know what I want to give them.
All my songs have to do with two poles within someone, like someone’s arrogance and then their tenderness, falling in love then falling out of love. Two stark emotional points and the spectrum in between. I like to play with that idea.
Does “Prettiest Girl of Heaven” have those same two stark points?
CS: Someone cat-called her and said that. It was awful because I was bawling my eyes out—I had just broken up with my ex. In the beginning of the song, it’s about really wanting something, and thinking of wanting to give this thing everything you have, and the second part of the song is about pulling away. “You lay the knife in my hand but this is not what I want.”
*Cue in Caroline’s friend, Leyla, who stopped by*
What’s your favorite Caroline song?
Leyla: I love all of Caroline’s songs. “Martha’s Calling” for personal reasons.
CS: Leyla made the video for Martha’s calling.
It’s by the water, right? I notice there’s a lot of water in your imagery…Are you a water sign?
CS: No, I’m a Libra! I’m a Pisces-Rising though.
So you seem like a water-sign, that’s enough.
CS: Really.
Leyla: Are you on Co-Star?
CS: I’m on Pattern.
Pattern is good…
[Indistinct conversation about co-star and pattern]
It’s refreshing to see a performer grounded in their own sound. Although you’re part of the community, you don’t seem particularly influenced by any other local artist.
CS: When I see other people, I definitely am able to draw distinctions between my sound and theirs and elevate the parts that feel authentically my own.
What was your favorite class?
CS: Irish literature and playwriting.
Do you read or have an artistic ritual to get into the brain space of vulnerability?
CS: Usually someone just cat-calls me and I go from there! Just kidding. I’m either inspired by real-life experiences like my song called “Chinatown,” and other than that, I’ll be like “Oh, emergency exit”, and write a song about it later.
Is there something right now that you’re trying to get into or get better at as an artist?
CS: What I search for is a metaphor that isn’t too lofty or too easy. Finding that balance. I struggle with articulating what it is I want to say, which I think is the case for most artists.
It’s different when writing starts from an idea or an emotion. You can express an emotion but you have to explain an idea.
CS: It’s about being able to find the metaphor that’s at once relatable but also could have only come from me, brought down to earth in a consumable way.
Simple.
CS: Simple.
In what moments of your career did you find the most growth as a musician?
CS: I worked really hard. Played in other bands. Recently I did music for a play. It’s called Lost Grrrl Found.
Do you feel like there was a moment where you felt, “this is it, I’m really doing it now?“
CS: After the last EP, which was three songs. I also took work and wrote and played a lot. I worked with Cole and we came up a lot together. He’s just a good friend and I love his music. He’s influenced me as a person and musician.
Anything in the future coming out that you’re excited about?
CS: The EP comes out March 7th. I’m excited to keep writing stuff. Hopefully my next project is longer.