Unplugged Lounge Conversations with CA in LA
From discovering their harmonies while singing along to Zedd in a Mustang convertible to building a sound shaped by artists like PVRIS, Daughter, Paramore, and Evanescence, CA in LA have spent years turning personal experiences into music that connects. With their latest single “Waking Up,” the duo explores the difficult process of breaking destructive habits, choosing self-care, and finding clarity on the other side. Their music is deeply rooted in catharsis, vulnerability, and community, offering listeners a reminder that even in our most complicated moments, we are never truly alone. We caught up with CA in LA to talk about their musical journey, the women who inspired them, the stories behind their songs, and their hopes for what comes next.
Thanks for chatting with us at Sonic Sisters Magazine! Can you share a bit about how your journey into music began?
Thanks for having us! Our journey began back in 2013 as a duo, but we both grew up singing in choir and at church. A couple of months after we started hanging out, we were driving in Ashleigh’s Mustang convertible, singing “Clarity” by Zedd. When Courtney heard Ashleigh harmonizing, she turned the volume down, yelling, “YOU CAN SING! We should sing together!” We started singing covers and found our voices blended magically. We spent a lot of time in Courtney’s bedroom listening to different songs, trying to make them our own. This led to us getting a gig at a restaurant twice a week, singing for hours. We got tons of practice in, creating unique harmonies around familiar arrangements of popular songs.
Who have been some of the most significant influences on your musical style?
We’ve always had a blend of influences since our music taste really depends on the mood we are in. PVRIS and Daughter are currently our biggest influences for our musical style. We were always drawn to their complex lyricism, musicality, and vocal melodies.
And which female musicians or women in the music industry have inspired your journey?
We both grew up listening to Hayley Williams (Paramore), Lacy Sturm (Flyleaf), Amy Lee (Evanescence). They have always been an influence vocally and musically for us. Ashleigh loved the singer-songwriter scene, and was very influenced by Rosi Golan, Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor, and Colbie Caillat. It wasn’t until 2013 that our love for Lynn Gunn (PVRIS), and Elena Tonra (Daughter) really started to take shape. All of these women and their artistry have heavily influenced where we are today.
How do your personal experiences shape your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners take away from those connections?
Music has always been a form of catharsis for us because it's a foothold in our emotions. There is always a song for what you’re feeling. The biggest way we learned to navigate through our pain has been through our music and art. We hope when people listen to our music, they understand they aren’t alone. Relationships with others and ourselves are incredibly complicated. We try our best to put some of those feelings into words, and we hope they help you heal, fight for yourself, and know we’re all in this together.
Congratulations on your brand-new single “Waking Up,” what inspired this particular song?
Thank you so much! Society tends to glorify the artist struggle. Convincing us that in order to work hard to achieve your dreams, that means you have to, in some ways, self-destruct. When really, there is a balance for working hard AND taking care of yourself. It was in the years of self-destruction that we turned to alcohol to cope. Alcohol to stay awake, alcohol to be entertaining, alcohol to be sociable, alcohol to wind down. It took years of us saying, “we gotta knock this off" before it finally stuck. A few weeks later, it felt like waking up. It felt like we could see everything so much clearer. That's what inspired “Waking Up.” We needed a song to express the fight to be better, and to acknowledge why we started drinking as a coping mechanism.
What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?
This is such a tough and excellent question! In 2014, we drove cross-country to live in Los Angeles. Under the California sun, we discovered PVRIS’s Acoustic EP and instantly fell in love with “Mind Over Matter.” From the lyrics to the simplicity/complexity of the guitar tone, we felt this song in our soul. Our hearts were in such a state of wandering, and Lynn Gunn’s voice connected with us at such a beautiful moment in our lives. When we started seriously playing music together in 2019, we built so much of our live sound around this guitar tone and the stripped-down beauty of this song. It taught us to nail the emotionality in the vocal performances and keep the instrumentation simple for maximum impact.
Is there a song in your catalog that holds a special personal meaning for you? We'd love to hear the story or inspiration behind it.
Our original song “Erase You” holds a lot of meaning. It’s currently the last track on our album Hindsight. When you go through the journey of hoping, wanting, and fighting for someone to care and prioritize you, there comes a time when you simply let go. There’s a well-known phrase that says leaving a relationship and staying in a relationship that aren’t good for you are both painful. It’s all about which kind of pain you’re willing to deal with. “Erase You” is when those scales finally tip and staying in that relationship is more painful. It’s trusting that at the end of the day, your peace is more important. Your growth is more important.
What are some of the aspirations you have for your music moving forward?
Since we have lived on both coasts, we would love to do a full West Coast and East Coast tour (Canada and Europe too, please!). Getting to play at venues where we saw our favorite bands growing up: Merriweather Post Pavilion, The Recher, 9:30 Club would be iconic. A full strings and orchestra album is also a big dream. We believe that building community is the most important. Through our community, the Ohana, we’ve had amazing opportunities to create life-changing memories. We hope our music brings people together to celebrate and create third spaces.
What advice would you give to emerging female artists who are just starting out in the music world?
Start putting your songwriting and music-releasing reps in now. Things won’t be perfect, but you have to start figuring out what workflow is most sustainable for you. Finding it early when the stakes are low better prepares you to know your boundaries. In any industry, boundaries are paramount for self-preservation.
Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
Stay curious and whimsical. Your world will heal when you heal your inner child. Be kinder to yourself and the people around you. We are in this mania together, let’s make the journey fun.
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