BIOGRAPHY
Caroline & The Lights is unapologetically melodramatic with her goosebump-inducing vocals, beautiful soaring melodies, and dynamic bold instrumentation. The self-made and self-managed 26 year old has been taking the UK by storm since 2014 - Releasing 6 singles, 3 Eps, and regularly touring up and down the country with her backing band, formed in 2016.
As a woman who has been diagnosed with Endometriosis and having struggled with her own mental health, Caroline strives to use her platform and her music as a way to reach out to and speak out for those who aren't being heard, particularly focusing on mental health, ableism, and body positivity. Caroline also ran an anti-bullying campaign with youth charity Ditch the Label in 2016 on the back of her single, Ready Aim Fire. Caroline spoke out about her own issues with bullying and pledged to keep the conversation going and to keep all these conversations going!
"The world has a funny way of reprogramming us to feel like we can't celebrate ourselves. As a child I was a show off, I was loud, bold, excitable, and strong but somewhere along the line, I was made to feel that wasn't okay, and I very quickly learned to reign it in. Well... f*ck that! BE LOUD. BE BOLD. BE BRILLIANT. Embrace what you bring to the party, and BRING IT because being your own biggest fan is a wonderful wonderful feeling, one we should all be free to feel" - Caroline & the Lights
“Inspiring self-referential wonder that makes you want to stop writing, step outside and savor the fresh air in your lungs. It is beautiful and it is everything I love about Caroline & The Lights”
– Design A Gig
Things that matter to me:
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Mental health - Listening to my song 'Can You Tell' is the best way to explain my connection with it
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Anti-bullying - Campaigning with charity 'Ditch the Label' during the release of 'Ready Aim Fire'
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Body positivity and debunking diet culture - I have struggled with body image and diet culture throughout my whole life and decided to take a stand against it. "No I'm not working on my beach body, cause all I need for that is to go to the beach" - Lyrics from my song End The Con
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Feminism - Women are flawed, vulnerable, messy, strong, emotional, powerful, intelligent, outspoken, sexual, funny, talented, and so damn tired of being pigeon holed.
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Campaigning for disability equality - I have endometriosis and use my platform to speak out about the mistreatment of disabled people and those with invisible illnesses and chronic pain.
MUSIC
Once or Twice, released on 26th February, is raw and emotional, something we are often made to feel is weakness. But if this song shows you anything, let it show you that there is power in your emotions. Own them and turn them into your story, your truth. To be emotional and vulnerable is to be strong and alive.
The amazing team of creatives I worked with made it possible for me to finally hear the musical monologues in my head and we couldn’t be more proud of the result. Special thanks to Paul Tuff for producing, mixing, and mastering the track to a gorgeous standard and to the band – Liam Hill, Tom Caunt, Joshua Steven, and Mike ‘Cello’ – for their professionalism and wonderful talent.
PHOTOS & MEDIA
VIDEOS
The official Ready Aim Fire music video played an important role in Caroline's campaign against bullying in 2016 and 2017, when she partnered with Ditch the Label to spread awareness and speak out about her own experiences.
Fun facts about the Ready Aim Fire music video:
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Filmed by Joe Daniels, directed and written by Caroline.
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The children featured in the video are from Sheffield Performing Arts School. A very talented young girl named Daisy plays a young Caroline at the end.
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It was made on a £0 budget, purely by asking favors of friends and the generous people of Sheffield.
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The battle scenes were filmed at Harrogate Paint Ball Centre.
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The park scene was filmed a Ponderosa, former home to Tramlines Festival.
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The other soldiers are played by Caroline's friends and creatives from the Sheffield music scene
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The video was shot in the blistering heat mid July at Burbage Edge in the Peak District - Not the best weather for wearing head-to-toe army gear!
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The live performance shots were filmed in Sheffield City Hall's Irwin Mitchell Oval Hall, where Caroline was an employee at the time
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The dress in the video is the same dress Caroline is wearing on the Once or Twice artwork and press photos (Gotta get that money's worth!)
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Getting prepared for battle in the military's setting is a metaphor for getting ready for school, which is revealed at the end when the camera pans round to a younger Caroline, shedding a tear in the school playground while she is excluded