Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
Perth-born rising music artist Castle Hughes has released FairPlay, the follow-up to her 2021 debut single Moving On, which was a finalist in the WAM Song of the Year Awards 14-17-year-old category in 2021. It was also the winner of the Youth Week Songwriting Competition for CALM, nominee in the International Songwriting Awards – Teen category, finalist in The UK Songwriting Contest – Teen Category and a semi-finalist in the WA Listen Up Music Songwriting Prize 2021. Castle Hughes’ new release reveals a maturation of her extraordinary talents, blending organic, retro and electro elements to create a spellbinding contemporary pop track with hooks, heart, and integrity. As Castle says about her latest release, ‘This song was written during my last year of high school (2021). I was really struggling, seemed to be in conflict with everyone and felt not good enough. I had another argument with my mum, and this song kind of spewed out post-argument. I won a song- writing session with Ilan Kidron last year, and this was the song we worked on during our session. I recorded the song with Chad Blondel at Blondel Studios in July 2022.’ The song’s lyric explores the nuances of relationship dynamics, with an emphasis on relinquishing control. This theme is explored in the accompanying music video, which Castle worked on with collaborator and friend Ben L’Aiguille. As Castle says, ‘The story is about a girl who has a fight with her mum and runs away from home. She burns her childhood teddy bear during the argument, and as she drives, she keeps seeing people arguing whilst holding her burning bear.’ FairPlay merges a hypnotic rhythm with swathes of melodic magic, all highlighted by Castle’s incredible vocal performance—controlled yet enticing. FairPlay outlines more than just a personal awakening but a creative one and is sure to resonate with many.
