Jacksonville artist Caitlin Mahoney is known mainly for her indie pop sonics, but is expanding her musical palette with the EP Live at Retrophonics Studio: a project of reworked folk-inflected singles. “West for a While” is a standout single featuring Howdy (Landon Gay) on pedal steel, which captures a raw moment that only an acoustic live recording can.
After releasing a full-length pop album in 2024, Mahoney goes back to her roots on the stripped-back live recordings. Drawing inspiration from her home base of Jacksonville, we see collaborations with other local artists in the scene, as well as a hint of Southern Floridian charm creeping up on the EP.
“West for a While” is a track off of Mahoney’s first ever EP of the same name, spanning back to 2013. Lyrically the track is about carving your own path, doing what you need even if it goes against everyone else in your life. Years later, the refrain “I’m going West, but not forever / I’m moving away from the sun / I just need a little time to find a joy that’s mine” is still relevant. The track becomes a raw, sincere reflection of Mahoney’s musical journey as well as her journey as a person.
Stream “West for a While below and check out Caitlin Mahoney’s new EP Live at Retrophonics Studio.
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