Celicia Castleman hails from Franklin, Tennessee, and both of her parents are musicians, but if you assumed she would be performing country music, you would be wrong.

Her label states that her vocals soar over Pop and Americana melodies with lyrics that are equal parts heartbreaking and joyous. She was influenced by artists like the Beatles, Brian Wilson, Fleetwood Mac, J.J. Cale, and Bonnie Raitt, but the voice I immediately compared her to was Evanescence’s Amy Lee.

This October, Castleman supported Ashley McBryde in Colorado and has also performed alongside Hozier, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Teskey Brothers, Inhaler, Patrick Droney, Brett Dennen, and Sister Hazel in her hometown of Nashville.

I met Castleman at an event for Fender Guitar, where she was named part of Fender Next's Class of 2023. Even though her music leans more pop than country or rock, her guitar playing is exquisite, and it is exciting to watch her perform. You can see a sample of her skill in her massive single, “It’s Alright.”

She shared, “Both of my parents were songwriters. And so there was always a guitar within reach around the house. I just grew up loving music and obsessing over records and the backs of records, the credits.

Even though she was raised near the heart of Music City, when it came time to record her debut record, she chose L.A. as the best match for her sound. Because she read the record/CD credits, she quickly honed in on the producer Don Was as the person she wanted to help her create her music. The renowned producer has worked with everyone from Willie Nelson to the Rolling Stones.

Castleman admitted, “I had really never been out of Nashville and so the thought of spending a month in L.A. with my favorite producer of all time was such a dream to me.”

Additionally, while recording in California, she ran into John Mayer, who praised her for her “dynamic guitar playing.”

“I don’t think you ever go back to normal after experiencing something like that,” she surmised.

Castleman is not only a gifted guitarist with a beautiful, haunting voice but also a prolific songwriter. Unlike many of the songwriters from Nashville, she prefers writing alone.

She confirmed, “I just grew up writing by myself. With these songs, they’re just so personal to me. I’m a very quiet person. I like being in my room and getting all my feelings out.”

Although her debut album was recorded at the Henson Studio in L.A. when she was 21, Cecilia Castleman is releasing her self-titled debut album today on the eve of her 24th birthday.

Not only that, most of the songs were written alone. She got some help from Daniel Tashian on “Thought I Was In Love,” “Lonely Nights,” and “Waiting On You,” while Hank Crompton helped co-write “Looking for June,” but the remaining nine songs were composed entirely by Castleman.

But what surprised me most was how deep some of the lyrics were. Most were written before she was 21, and I wondered how she had lived long enough to have those heavy experiences.

She explained, “I always gravitated towards Stevie Nicks' style of writing, and some of those lyrics are very vague. But I’ve been in a relationship for five years and never really experienced a break-up, so much of that stuff is about my parents (who divorced when she was 11). I just flipped it to make it first person.”

She continued, “[The record] is about me being a young girl and trying to figure out my life and better understand it. And I do that through writing. You can tell in my record that it's me trying to figure out what's going to happen, what's going on, and what I can make of myself.”

The song “You Go Through Girls Like Cigarettes” was based on her observations of her friends. “Everyone is hoping they can find someone they really love. It’s a culture song,” she stated.

Castleman wrote the songs “You Don’t Know Me Right Now’ and “Cadillac” to prove her worth. The song “Lonely Nights” was written during COVID and released early on and resonates strongly with her fans.

“Looking For June” was based on her parents and how they were often on different wavelengths. But the cleverly written “Pick and Lose” is her most personal song on the record. You can tell that she is trying to figure things out with the lyrics But will I run out of breath if I take too many steps?/ Will my head get tired of turning?/ ‘Cause you can't pick and choose, but you can pick and lose/ Guess you'll find out what's worth saving/ But all I want in my life is still saving me.

“It's like all my secrets in one song,” Castleman confessed.

Castleman has labeled herself as a shy person. As a teen, she spent many hours in her room, fooling around on the guitar and writing alone. Only a few artists whom I’ve featured fit this description. These are the ones who chose practicing over socializing. With these “guitar nerds,” there is something extra special about their music. Their unmatched effort is evident once they present music to the world.

In Castleman’s debut album trailer, she profoundly stated, “Everyone is chasing a feeling. No matter who you meet, they are thinking about something they want, or something they are sad about, or someone they love.”

As she continues to carve her path in the music world, Cecilia Castleman remains a beacon of authenticity. Each song serves as a heartfelt letter to herself and her listeners alike.

All Castleman has ever wanted to do is write great songs. Everything else is secondary. With her impressive debut self-titled album, she has done just that. Come listen and lose yourself for a little while.

You can follow Cecilia Castleman on her website, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.

    – – –

Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.