Each Measure Feature: Catherine Landeta

FEATURE

Catherine Landeta’s latest EP, “Desires,” is a sparkly 5-track package of nostalgic beats, minimalist production, and pop at its finest. As a multi-talented artist from New York City, this latest release comes after five years of hard work and a range of experiences as an artist. It is her first solo music project and proudly dives into her individuality as a medium to revisit her background in musical theatre, test and stretch her experience in production, and showcase her overall growth and individuality as an artist.

From the track list alone, listeners can get an idea of what kind of sassy is in store with this EP. The opener “Are You Playing?” doesn’t disappoint with its finger-snapping frustration that anyone who’s been left on read can relate to. Landeta’s voice is the first thing we hear, easing in and building melodic, ethereal layers of sound. Coming from a strong performance background, she holds back from swinging big; instead, her verses ring with a minor edge. She weaves a story with her smooth voice but gives those oh-so-relatable exclamations on repeat, “You must be tripping, boy! Be tripping, boy!” She delivers those satisfying choruses, building layers of vocals to a mounting climax of drama. Here her experience hits big with an elastic voice soaring above and beyond for a grand effect! This was one of my favorite songs on the EP and sets the stage beautifully, promising to revive some of our deep-seated thirst for the 90s and Y2K pop heaven we miss so dearly.

Bop after bop, “Desires” rolls along with confidence and grooviness. My personal favorite? That problematic middle child, “Lo-fi Letter,” brings all the angst relenting over the monotony of the moment. Like a daydream or notes app come to life, this track gets all those snarky feelings out against the gentle tinkle of keys. With a surprising upbeat interval, the track feels like those rare gems of early days—musicians before getting too tangled in the world of producer and listener expectations. Catherine herself was the lead in production for this EP, and I look forward to hearing more from her both as a vocalist and as a producer. Courageous, playful, and thoroughly herself, this is definitely the future I’m pushing for, pop!

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