Amsterdam native singer and songwriter Celine Cairo made her debut with 2013’s self-released Follow EP, produced by Ninja Tune’s Fink. It led to support slots in her homeland with artists including Asgeir, Dodie and Haevn, and to her first international tour in 2014.

Her long-awaited debut album Free Fall was written in Amsterdam, New York and Los Angeles with producer Bill Lefler and her long-time band. The record explored themes of travel, inspiration, and preserving your sense of identity and sanity, and has racked up more than ten million online streams. 

Having worked with British producer Tim Bran on the followup, Cairo released the first single from her new album earlier this year. Bird Song documents some of that period. “I barely remember writing it, just that the song came pouring out and that it sounded a bit like a hymn,” Cairo says on her official website. “I remember Amsterdam being greener and having many more birds when I grew up. I think about how we're losing touch with the natural world a lot.”

Now Cairo has released the next track from the upcoming album. Famous is a beautiful acoustic affair, albeit one with a very serious message. Writing on her official Facebook page about the song, Cairo said: “It’s a song about our relationship with the internet, how it has warped our perspective on ourselves and the real world. So many of us feel the pressure to ‘do well’ on social media, to be noticed, to be seen (I am no exception) and I think it’s coming from a basic human need, a longing for connection and community. But somehow, in our quest to connection, we often end up feeling more estranged from ourselves in the process.

“Famous came to life after a long conversation with two amazing guitarists, Danny and Dave, in their studio built in between horse stables half an hour north of London. Leaving the city, riding the train into the green lands that day cleared my head, it made me more aware of the two worlds we live in – the digital and the real one. Over coffee and acoustic finger picking we started talking about how the internet has taken over more and more of our daily lives, and this was in 2019, months before the pandemic hit.

“As an artist I’ve had to learn how to stay mentally healthy and feel whole on social media. Somewhere between wonder, love and – not hate – but reasonable fear I guess – I try to do right by my values and share my music in a way that feels real. So from my brain to your ears, I hope Famous will connect with you and bring some comfort/joy/light to your day.”

Listen to the official audio for Famous here.

Find out more about Celine Caire on her official website.

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.