THE mere mention of the word is met with defiance. No longer will it be wielded as a means to denigrate or single out that which is simply different. After all, we are all just a little bit… weird.

Carla J Easton has come to terms with her own individuality and her joy in that realisation is palpable. She feels in full command of her life and that freedom has been a major influence on her latest album, which is due to be released later this week.

The aptly-titled Weirdo signals a slight departure from her previous work as the singer blends her pop roots with her penchant for exploring the unknown. It is a quirky collection of tracks to be sure, but the path to here has been anything but. From battling homelessness and anxiety to shedding the fetters of harmful influences, Easton has discovered a new side to herself that has brought peace and renewed self-confidence.

She tells The Weekender: "I had never really thought of myself as a weirdo until someone said it to me in a bad way. Then I started thinking about my friends and how they are all different and wonderful; and the 'weird' things about me are what makes my friends and family love me. And that's the same for everyone, I think.

"I found myself in a situation where I had someone in my life who I thought was supportive of me, but they weren't. Comments were then made that became an attack on my personality and my passion for music and various things.

"And if you look at the origins of the word – it's more about empowerment and controlling destiny. Obviously, language can change over time, but if you're going to call me a weirdo – and you're saying it because of things that I love and things I am passionate about – then you're just not getting me. I understand myself and would hope that people I surround myself with and work with all understand those parts of me too."

The singer continues: "A lot of this album was written when I was homeless last year, and I was trying to work out where I was going and what I was doing. I had also been diagnosed with anxiety and had low self-esteem and I was working through that. So, in places, the album is quite angry – but, hopefully, with a defiant outcome.

"It was also important for me to have Weirdo as the name of the album because 'weird' is used in such derogatory terms all the time. When actually, something that makes me 'weird' to someone else is the idiosyncrasies of what makes me who I am."

The singer has come along way to this point, having started out with Futuristic Retro Champion around 15 years ago before forming Teen Canteen. She also put out a solo album as Ette before then releasing under her own name in 2018.

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The Carla J Easton debut album – entitled Homemade Lemonade – was truly a marker set down. While admitting that she felt some trepidation as she goes full-pop on Weirdo, she was certainly encouraged by the response she has had so far.

"I always thought that fans of my other album – Impossible Stuff – maybe wouldn't like the newer stuff on Weirdo but the response to the singles have been incredible. I think Impossible Stuff was more my 'songwriter's album' whereas the lyrics on Weirdo are a little more direct. But there is still the same care and attention that goes into the arrangement and writing.

"Homemade Lemonade was my very lo-fi, garage-pop, 'what am I doing album' and Impossible Stuff was an album that really had to be made. Weirdo is just me having a lot of fun and exploring and seeing how far I can push different elements of sound and style.

"Impossible Stuff did so well and I hope people that liked that album will stick with me as I go exploring my full-on pop roots."

Easton has been pulling on a number of genre strings since starting out and not having to please anyone but herself has been liberating, to say the least. But she is by no means a closed shop – the singer was keen to recruit many other talented artists to lend a hand, or voice, to Weirdo.

"I'm a big music fan," she adds. "My record collection is filled with so many different genres. For me, I've got a broad definition of what pop music is. And I am in the position now where I can experiment with genres and no one tells me not to.

"It's been such a collaborative album to make; there are quite a few songs that are co-written – including Scott Paterson from Sons and Daughters; and there is a duet with Solareye from Stanley Odd as well. It's been so nice to include friends and it's nice that friends want to work with you."

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The title track features the voice of Honeyblood singer Stina Tweeddale. The tune is unique when compared to others on the record, but, as such, stands as a testament to individuality.

"Weirdo is the weirdo song on the weirdo album – it sticks out like a sore thumb," Easton says.

"I had written this song and thought it sounded like a guitar banger and we went into the studio and played it live off the floor. We just went for it and the recording we have is the first take of the song. We just overdubbed the guitar solo and Stina did some backing vocals on it.

"But it was just so undeniably her vocals that made it. When we managed to play it live, those few times before lockdown, we had the boys from the band saying: 'When we play it, I'll sing Stina's vocals' and so on. And it's become a bit of a Take That – Relight My Fire thing where everyone wants to sing Lulu's part.

"It's still pop, and it is still hooky as anything, but there's a crunching bassline on it and a guitar solo from Paul Kelly that is amazing. But it's just the essence of the album."