INTERVIEW: Rubberband Girl on her debut single 'South Suburban Weekend': "This project has been my secret baby for so long, it’s lovely to finally share it to the world."

Published May 9, 2024

British band Rubberband Girl - founded and led by Caitlyn Scarlett - first revealed their artistry earlier this year by releasing two tracks ‘Taller’ and ‘How High?’ on SoundCloud, and at the end of April they officially launched their career with the debut single ‘South Suburban Weekend’.

Written by Scarlett with Grammy, BRIT and Ivor Novello award winner Jonathan Quarmby, and produced by Quarmby, the song is a gorgeously laid back, summery track that brilliantly merges soul, pop, trip hop, jazz and R&B. Throw in some addictive melodic hooks and Scarlett’s wonderfully flexible voice that conveys multiple moods and you have an instant classic

The song’s lyrics expertly evoke the feeling of being a teenager in a small town in summer, with big dreams and waiting for your life to begin in the big city. “We’ve moving up to the city as soon as we can,” Scarlett sings.

‘South Suburban Weekend’ was the first Rubberband Girl song ever written. It’s a love letter to my youth, growing up in a typically English riverside town with ambitions of escaping to ‘big city life’’,” Scarlett says. “Having since lived over a decade in London, I now look back with great nostalgia at how and where my friends and I spent our teenage years; hanging around those local parks and high streets, drinking, skating, causing trouble and waiting for our lives to really begin. ‘South Suburban Weekend’ is my way of capturing and celebrating the romance and simplicity of that time.”

‘South Suburban Weekend’ is an incredibly strong debut single and Rubberband Girl are showing they have everything it takes to be the UK’s next breakout stars. We recently caught up with Scarlett to chat more about the band and her musical journey.

Hi Caitlyn! So good to chat with you. How is everything in your world right now?
Thanks for having me! Things are pretty lively at the moment, I just got back from a long writing trip in the States and spring has finally arrived so I’ve been in my garden pulling weeds frantically.

You have recently released your new single ‘South Suburban Weekend’, and it is absolutely incredible. It has touches of soul, jazz, pop and trip hop, it is incredible. Can you tell me a little about the inspiration behind this one?
‘South Suburban Weekend’ was actually the first Rubberband Girl song ever written, it was a pretty effortless write, one of those days were everything just flows. It’s about my childhood/teens growing up in a small town neighbouring London, the hazy and glittering years of longing and leisure.

You have a really special talent for lyrics, you really capture the feeling of being young in summer with big ambitions and plans even though you may be stuck in a small town. I’m curious to know if this song started with the lyrics, or the melodies, or was it a combination of the two?
I think the beat came first, that horn groove was feeling really good, and once I’m inspired the the lyrics tend to pour out. I started at the beginning with the first verse line ‘summer’s in the air and I don’t care where…’ and immediately knew it was gonna be a nostalgic song. Often melody comes altogether with lyrics for me, but I’ll do some tweaking once I have all the words.

You have said the song is a love letter to your youth growing up in a small town, which I love. The emotions we experience as teenagers are often dismissed because it is “just kids”, but I think they are such important experiences we should celebrate more. How do you think your experiences as a teenager in Bray shaped you as an artist?
It’s impossible to overstate how our early years affect us, they dictate our futures, our dreams, our insecurities. I was privileged to grow up in an environment which was both  comfortable and beautiful, whilst also inspiring me to reach for more and dream big. Bray is a small village so I would often take trains and buses to neighbouring places to meet friends and that instilled a sense of adventure in me from a young age.

This is your first major release after you dropped a couple of songs in Soundcloud, how does it feel to have this debut release out in the ears of the world?
Scary, honestly, and relieving. This project has been my secret baby for so long, it’s lovely to finally share it to the world, but also a little intimidating after such a long and loving gestational period.

Can you tell me a little about your musical journey? How did you get to where you are now?
It all started with writing poems as a kid, which quickly evolved into songs during my teens, I began putting stuff online when I was 17 and a dubstep song I made did the rounds on SoundCloud, next thing I knew I was deferring university and being flown to LA. I’ve spent the last 10 years releasing music under a few different banners whilst also working as a songwriter on a wide range of projects. I was experiencing major industry-related burnout in 2020, and during lockdown had the idea of starting a new project as an outlet for my truest sound, and because I felt the world needed more bands and less ‘main character energy’ solo acts. That was the birth of Rubberband Girl.

What part did music play in your upbringing?
It was integral, I’m from a family of music nuts, although I’m the first to pursue it as a career. It was my first language. I was exposed to all different genres growing up via my grandad’s rock and country vinyls, my mothers’ CD collection ranging from Kate Bush to Jamiroquai, and techno and New Romantic fuelled car rides with my dad.

‘South Suburban Weekend’ is of course your first single, but do you have any goals or ambitions with your musical career?
Yeah for sure, I wanna keep expanding, releasing, tour and make more albums. I recently co-wrote a musical which is expected to hit Broadway next year, and am keen to lean more into that kind of work also.

The music industry has notoriously been a difficult industry for women to exist in, due to entrenched sexism and the pressure put on women to look a particular way, or to fit a particular music box. What are your thoughts on gender (in)equality in music?
It is prevalent in all areas of society and music is no exception, I’d like to focus on the positive and say that there is definitely progress being made. I’d love to see more career longevity for women as well as a wider range of roles.

‘South Suburban Weekend’ is out now, what else is coming up for you in 2024?
I’m told this year is my ‘Saturn return’ and am feeling lighthearted and optimistic. I’ll be writing and creating as always. The Rubberband Girl debut album is finished and coming to your ears soon. You can keep up via socials on @rubberbandgirlband

‘South Suburban Weekend’ is out now. You can buy and stream here.
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