Interview: Looking For June With Cecilia Castleman

Interview by Lindsey V. Britt

With her latest song “Looking for June”, Nashville’s own Cecilia Castleman is gearing up to release her self-titled debut album on January 24th 2025.

What’s the story behind your new song “Looking for June”?

I wrote it with a friend of mine Hank Compton here in Nashville. It was one of the songs that I had with a title. Normally I don’t start with titles but that was one that I had the title for. I originally saw it as a person but Hank was like, “It’s about a season and changing seasons” and that made the picture of the song so much broader. “Looking for June” is just about two people being on different wavelengths and growing in different ways. It’s not a negative song. It’s just a coming-of-age song about that kind of stuff happens and it’s totally normal for us to grow.

What is your songwriting process like?

It’s different every time, I have a song called “It’s Alright” that came with a little riff first and I wrote it around that. But normally it’s all guitar, I start on guitar first and try to come up with something melodically hooky or keys. And then I’ll just try to mumble some words and hopefully they’re good enough to be the lyrics, haha!

I’m sure your fans are wondering if there’s an album or EP in the works?

An album is done, it will be out soon. I made it with Don Wes and we recorded it out in L.A. I’m based here in Nashville so that was very fun to get to go out there with my Mom. It’s my first record and it’ll be out soon!

You’re opening for Ashley McBryde next month, how excited are you for the shows?

I’m so excited. She’s such a great songwriter and singer. I’m very, very excited it’ll probably be one of the biggest venues that I’ve played so far. Mom and I will be heading out to Colorado to do those, I’m super excited.

You’ve toured and open for artists such as Inhaler, Melissa Etheridge, and Brett Dennen, just to name a few incredible artists, how does it feel?

I feel very lucky to get to share the stage with those kinds of artists I’ve dreamed of. I got to play Webster Hall, and it’s so funny I’ll look at tours online of people that are going on tour, and I’ve been lucky enough to say I’ve played at a couple of those places. Everyone’s been very, very nice. It’s nerve-racking. I mean the first show I did I remember my Mom and I we went to Indiana and it was an amphitheater and I wore lip gloss and it was super windy and I was opening for Sheryl Crow. And I just remember I was trying to play guitar and just the wind bringing all my hair up to my mouth and I couldn’t sing, but you learn. It’s those kinds of stories that make me crack up. But I’ve been very lucky to open for some of my favorite artists.

What is it like getting praise for your music from artists such as John Mayer?

I mean, it’s such a compliment. I’m a huge fan of his and I have been for so long. I had six CD placeholders in my car and three of them were Mayer, and the other one was Fleetwood Mac, and the other ones were Tom Petty and Michael Jackson. He was very kind, and I’ve probably never felt better than getting to talk to him at the studio. He’s just so sweet. That was such a dream come true, I’ve probably never been more nervous in my life, haha.

Is there an artist you would love to collaborate with one day?

Sure, gosh anyone. There’s so many incredible artists, I love The 1975, but I love Chris Stapleton, and I love Chappell Roan she’s incredible. I mean anyone who would have me, haha. I would love to do something with Zedd or Calvin Harris, or some kind of super pop stuff. That would be very, very cool, so maybe someday.

What’s it like being born and raised in Nashville and now having a career there?

It’s changed so much, they call us the unicorns if you’re born here. It’s like the term. I’ve seen it grow, I’ve seen it change. It’s sad, I’ve seen some of the studios are getting bulldozed down to put up apartment complexes. But I was lucky to grow up with such a high level of musicianship around here, and I can drive a mile down the road and be with some of the best players and songwriters. I think it forces you to get your chops up really quick and to know what you’re doing, and I think that’s super helpful. I love growing up here, I think if I left I would probably end up coming back here just cause everyone is talented. It keeps you in check and you’re always growing which is I think important, I love it here.

Do you have any hobbies that most people don’t know about?

I love to paint, I love to take pictures, I shot my own album cover. I painted in Italy for a month I got like a scholarship to do that. Those are my two main, music is pretty consuming and it’s like all I think about, it’s hard to think about anything else at the moment. I love fashion, I love clothes, makeup.

I know you love vinyl records, but is there a record you love that surprisingly isn’t on vinyl or you don’t have in your collection yet?

I don’t know they probably make it on vinyl, but I’ve been listening to an Eric Johnson record on Spotify. It’s great, it’s him live playing in Austin and there’s a great song on there called “Trail of Tears” that I’ve been obsessed with. And I’m sure they make this but Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys came out with this vocal only like a cappella recording of all of their vocals, just separate. I’ve been listening to that on YouTube and it is just phenomenal. It’s insane how talented they were, so probably one of those two.

Lastly, do you have a recommendation? This can be anything from a book to advice, a place to go, movies, etc.

Oh gosh that’s hard, a place to go. It’s like that quote “I fall in love with places I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met.” That’s kind of like how I’m feeling right now. I’m itching to go back to New York, that would be fun, I miss New York. Music, I’m going to see mk.gee tonight, he’s incredible, he is such a killer guitar player. Any of the Patti Smith books are great, she’s a phenomenal writer. It’s getting fall out, just get outside and take a walk and get grounded with the earth. I feel like I need to do that. I’ve been here just working all the time on songs and I feel like I need to get out more instead of looking at Logic on my computer.

You can stream “Looking for June” now and pre-save Castleman’s debut album here, and check out the album trailer here.

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