Cat Burns is making a bold statement with her latest track, “Girls.”
The song marks a departure from her more serious records, reflecting her desire to create the kind of music she lacked while growing up—especially as a queer woman.
“I feel like I never had a song like that for me,” she shares, emphasizing the importance of representation for queer girls.
Confidently embracing her sexuality, the 24-year-old singer is stepping into a new era where she celebrates her identity through her music.
Burns has experienced a meteoric rise in the industry, with her 2020 single “Go” becoming a viral sensation on TikTok in 2023.
The song climbed to number two on the charts, earning her a Brit Critics’ Choice award nomination.
She believes songs like “Girls” are vital for young people discovering themselves, offering reassurance that they are not alone.
“It’s nice to know that people like you exist and exist freely,” she says, adding that the song’s fun, carefree nature challenges stereotypes and humanizes queer relationships.
Recent years have seen queer women dominating the charts with authentic stories of same-sex love.
Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” spent 16 weeks in the UK Top 10, narrating the struggles of coming to terms with one’s sexuality.
Billie Eilish also explored her attraction to women in “Lunch,” a track described as “a glorious queer awakening.”
Yet, despite these breakthroughs, mainstream pop has historically offered little depth when it comes to lesbian representation.
Cat reflects on Katy Perry’s 2008 hit “I Kissed A Girl,” calling it a brilliant pop song but acknowledging that it only scratches the surface of sexual exploration.
For Burns, the growing presence of artists like Reneé Rapp and Chappell Roan signals a shift toward more nuanced and varied queer storytelling in music.
She wants to add her voice to this movement, showing that the LGBTQ+ community is diverse and multi-faceted.
As someone who has spoken about her ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, Burns embraces the intersections of her identity and hopes to challenge misconceptions.
“What you know of something might not always be true,” she says, advocating for a more inclusive and honest portrayal of queer experiences.
She credits social media and trailblazing artists for making it easier for today’s musicians to be openly queer.
“Safety-wise, before it was harder. There’s so many icons that have paved the way,” she says.
With “Girls!” being widely embraced, Burns is grateful to contribute to this evolving narrative.
She also highlights the unwavering support of the LGBTQ+ community, which has long championed mainstream artists and is now amplifying queer voices.
“It’s nice that in the last five to ten years, we’re seeing more queer artists being loved and championed by our own community,” she says.
With her latest release, Burns is proving that representation matters, and she’s ready to take up space in the ever-growing queer music landscape.
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