Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
KTJ & CARLY mark a new beginning with a burgeoning reflection on innocence and the perils of growing up on their new track “Forever Young,” out now. The pop singer/songwriter and producer duo known for their introspective songwriting and unforgettable melodies are currently working on their debut full-length album due out later this year.
The poignant “Forever Young” starts as a somber reflection on losing your innocence in a world that forces us to grow up long before we’re ready. A soft piano solo launches the track and allows the silky, soulful vocals to pull the listener toward the precipice of acknowledging the inevitable—growing older. The undercurrent of uncertainty undulates alongside sweeping synths and harmonic movement as they beg to preserve the essence of youth, singing, “I talked to wisdom, aged with grace, she laughs like she hasn’t lost a day and she told me to stay forever young. “It’s in this epiphany that they realize youth is elusive. As the rhythm pounds like a heartbeat, they come to the conclusion that despite the inevitability of aging, the most important thing you can do is stay young at heart.
Ladies welcome back to OLC! We love having you here how have you both been, what new and fabulous things have been happening for the both of you?
Thank you for having us and for your continued support! Lately we have really been hunkered down, producing and writing nonstop for this album. It is some our favorite works of art we have created and it feels very honest. We are excited to share it with the world.
You have a brand new single on its way, so what inspired you to create “Forever Young,” and what message did you aim to convey through the song?
This song was inspired by our personal experiences transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. We wanted to capture the essence of youth and the journey of self-discovery that comes with growing up. The song is about our desire to maintain a connection with our youthful spirit amidst the complexities of adulthood. Through its lyrics and melody, we aimed to convey a message of resilience, optimism, and the enduring power of youthfulness. We wanted to remind anyone listening to embrace the present, cherish their memories, and approach the future with an open heart and a sense of wonder, always staying forever young at heart. Wonder and curiosity makes life so special, so why is it mostly kids that have it?
How does your songwriting process typically unfold, especially when tackling
themes as introspective as those in “Forever Young”?
Our writing process is different every time. Our songwriting process for Forever Young particularly started off as a collaboration with our good friend, Elise Howard. We wrote this song acoustically on the piano. We began by exploring melodies and chord progressions…we really wanted the beginning to feel like the pain that comes with adulthood. We wanted to capture the essence of youth as the song progressed. Once we had a solid foundation, we delved into the lyrics, drawing from our own experiences. From there, KT and I transitioned into production to bring the song to life. Together, we layered instrumentation and vocals. We did a lot of experimentation with this one, and did not want to stay inside any box. It felt right to slow down the tempo in the hook, to really hone in the message to stay forever young. – CARLY
“Forever Young” is the first single off your forthcoming debut album, which is quite exciting, what can you tell us about the album? Who helped you create it, and what can your fans expect from it?
This album is so special to us. We have many collaborators on it… Elise Howard, Ella Collier, Sarah Underwood, Jamie Gelman, Fran Litterski, Maggie Szabo, LeyeT, Chloe Doucet, and more. This entire album was crafted by women. All I will say now, is that our fans can expect to be surprised in a good way. It is all about the trials and tribulations of being in your 20s. We really tried to step outside the box with this project, and we are excited for the world to hear it.
The piano solo in “Forever Young” sets a poignant tone for the song. What was the
creative process behind incorporating this element?
We originally wrote this song on the piano and when we started producing, it felt important to keep that ambient piano melody in the song. To us, that piano in the verses felt similar to the feeling of uncertainty in navigating adulthood.
In what ways do you think your individual musical backgrounds contribute to the
unique sound of KTJ & CARLY?
Both of us grew up in the musical theatre landscape and were classically trained… it wasn’t until high school when we sorta went off and did our own things. KT really delved into production with this R&B, hip-hop, left of center pop fusion. While I had stuck with more classical, pop, and jazz vibe. When we came together to make music for the first time, that molded into all into one. However, as we have gotten older, so has our inspirations and taste. Right now, I have been really into indie folk and the left of center pop genre. Mazzy Star, Regina Spektor, Billie Eilish, Raye, David Bowie… KT has been really inspired by hip-hop and R&B lately, and I think our background and our current taste has molded our brains together to create the current sound of KTJ & CARLY. – CARLY
The lyrics of “Forever Young” resonate deeply with listeners. How do you ensure that your music connects with your audience on an emotional level? Do you often try to derive stories from your own personal experiences?
A lot of our music is from personal experience in this album, which we don’t do all the time. Writing from personal experiences feels more honest sometimes. I believe that the topics we write about in Forever Young is a universal feeling. We all have to grow up at some point or another. So as far as ensuring that our music connects, all we can do is create the song and hope that it can make our listeners feel heard and understood. I’ve come to find as a music consumer myself, my favorite songs are the ones that feel like a diary entry… you have to dig deep into every aspect of the song and decide what it means for the listener.
Could you share any memorable moments or challenges you encountered while
working on your debut album?
There are always challenges that come with making music.. But this was particularly challenging because it is our debut album, which can feel scary. We want this album to be right… and we are sisters, so we fight like sisters do. For a second, we couldn’t agree on anything. At the end of the day, we came together and created something magical.
What do you hope listeners take away from “Forever Young” and your upcoming
album as a whole?
To never stop listening to your inner child just because you have to be an adult. On our deathbed, we won’t ever regret the times in our life when we had fun like a kid.
Do you have any plans to tour, or do any live shows?
We do! We are currently planning out a fall tour with dates on the east coast, west coast, and the south! We are so so ecstatic to get back up on stage.
What’s the next goal your hoping to achieve in your careers? Is there any places you’d like to perform or any one you’d love to work with?
Our next goal is to really take our live shows up to the next level. We want it to be a whole production that leaves the crowd feeling better than when they came in. We also want to collaborate with more artists as whole. One day we would love to collaborate with Billie Eilish or Raye… that would literally be a dream come true.
Ladies as always it’s a pleasure, and an honor and we love you here at OLC! So
please come back. Before you go, is there anything you’d love to say to all your fans
and OLC! Followers?
Thank you so much for having us 🙂 Go stream Forever Young and remember to stay
youthful at heart.
Social Media
Website: https://www.ktjcarly.com
IG:@ktjcarly https://www.instagram.com/ktjcarly
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ktjcarly
Twitter: @ktjcarlymusic https://twitter.com/ktjcarlymusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ktjcarly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KTJCARLY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rHyIyvEXaXtHCCMEhhN4M?si=on3KlA-7QBmNg0VRn5p15A
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ktj-carly/1467519546
