New Zealand singer-songwriter CAITLIN has released her new single ‘You’re Only Good To Calm Me Down’, the latest preview of her upcoming EP Guardrails. The track explores themes of self-discovery and denial, self-produced with assistance from Will McGillivray. She is scheduled to perform the EP at Electric Avenue 2026 on the main stage.
CAITLIN, born in Te Tihi-o-Maru and now based in Ōtautahi, continues her musical evolution with the single ‘You’re Only Good To Calm Me Down’. This release follows her earlier tracks ‘Wash’ and ‘Outline’, delving into the tension between comfort and personal growth. As she describes it, “It’s a song about self-discovery, playful denial, and finally calling things out.” The single is part of her fourth EP, Guardrails, set for release on April 10. This project reflects a year of grappling with an early-to-mid twenties identity crisis, where, in her words, “a lack of self-determination sat quietly underneath everything in my life — I knew something needed to change, but I kept avoiding it. I was grappling with the realisation that time was passing and I was not the person I wanted to be.” Guardrails captures emotional tension through songs that evoke movement and change, built over a decade of writing, recording, and performing in New Zealand.
Accompanying the single is a music video co-directed by CAITLIN and Naomi Haussmann, with Haussmann handling filming and editing. Shot in contrasting settings—the expansive landscapes of Lake Lyndon near Arthur’s Pass and the urban streets of Ōtautahi’s city centre—the video highlights a narrative of structure versus natural flow. CAITLIN notes, “I love implying this narrative and visual contrast between structure and city imagery, and flowy natural landscapes which is a common thread throughout my work.”
Known as Caitlin Bradley, CAITLIN has gained recognition in the alternative music scene for her sharp lyrics, energetic performances, and live appeal. Her 2024 EP Legacy included the Alt-charting ‘Light Leak’ and ‘What You Love’, which reached number one on NZ Student Radio Charts. The indie-rock single ‘Wash’ marks her recent direction. She has headlined shows across New Zealand and appeared at festivals such as Nostalgia, Single Fin Mingle, and Tea Party. Future performances include opening for artists like Jon Toogood, Jordan Luck, Hollie Smith, and Jamie McDell, with Guardrails debuting at Electric Avenue 2026’s main stage. Her work has received support from Spotify and Apple Music playlists like New Music Friday AUS/NZ and EQUALS, along with NZ on Air funding, APRA AMCOS mentorship, and a songwriting camp at Joel Little’s Big Fan studio.