Up-and-coming Toronto artist Katie Mal has been steadily releasing singles since October of last year. Her most recent release, “Caught Up,” is her favourite single to date, with its emotional lyrics yet upbeat vibe. We caught up with Katie to chat about her new music, how she deals with writer’s block, and what’s coming up next.
From The Strait: Tell us about the new single, “Caught Up”.
Katie Mal: Caught Up came from a really personal place—those moments when even the smallest things, like rain on a window or a box of their stuff, can keep you from moving on. I think it’s something a lot of people can relate to.
The lyrics to ‘Caught Up’ were actually written about 3-4 years ago when I was going through my first real, hard breakup and trying to move on. It was one of those times where writing helped me process everything I was feeling. I refined the melody and guitar parts later on, and it all started coming together. I really wanted to release this song because I love how the final product turned out—it feels raw and real, and I hope people can connect with it.
From The Strait: What’s next for you?
Katie Mal: So much !! I will be releasing my very first whole album in the summer, so stay tuned for that! This EP is just the beginning.
From The Strait: Do you get nervous before playing live? If so, what do you do to combat that?
Katie Mal: Yes I do! I combat it by preparing as much as I can and focusing on the music and not what people in the audience might be thinking about.
From The Strait: You had a busy 2024, and a busy 2025 so far – what moments have stood out the most?
Katie Mal: Releasing my very first EP as a new emerging artist!
From The Strait: All artists (save for the exceptionally lucky ones) experience writer’s block from time to time. How do you battle through a block when songwriting?
Katie Mal: Sometimes I journal or experiment with writing prompts to get the creative part of my brain flowing!
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Check out “Caught Up,” the latest single from Katie Mal!
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Follow Katie Mal on Instagram