
Okay so I just had to tell someone about this one. I was scrolling through my playlist this morning and Cat Burns dropped a new track called "End Game" and I have not stopped thinking about it since.
Cat Burns released "End Game" on April 26, 2024. It's an acoustic ballad that hits you right in the chest.
The song comes through Since '93 and RCA Records. It's also a preview of her debut album called Early Twenties, which is a big deal for her.
If you liked "Go," you're going to feel this one too. Maybe even more.
If you don't know Cat Burns yet, let me fill you in. She's a singer-songwriter from Streatham in South London, born in 2000.
She went to the BRIT School in Croydon. Yeah, the same place that gave us Adele and Amy Winehouse.
She grew up surrounded by gospel music thanks to her mom. You can really hear that in how she arranges her vocals. There's so much texture and emotion in everything she does.
She started putting out music as a teenager back in 2017. But her real breakthrough came with "Go." That song blew up on TikTok in 2022 and hit number two on the UK Singles Chart. Double platinum status. Not bad, right?
Since then she signed with RCA Records. She opened for Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith on tour. She got nominated for three BRIT Awards. And her debut album Early Twenties landed in the UK Top 10 and got a Mercury Prize nomination.
She's also a huge voice for young Black British queer creatives. That representation matters and she wears it proudly.
"End Game" keeps things simple. It's mostly guitar and Cat's voice, which is exactly what makes it so powerful.
The production comes from Jordan Riley, who she's worked with before. He knows exactly how to let her vocals breathe.
The song is about realizing a relationship has run its course. But it's not dramatic or messy. It's more about setting boundaries and accepting that sometimes you have to grow apart from someone.
There's this line that goes, "I shouldn't have to tell you a thousand times how to love me." Like, ouch. That one hits.
It's mature. It's honest. And it captures that weird feeling when you know something is over but you still care about the person.
There's also a music video directed by Libby Burke Wilde. It has a cameo from Sam Bottomley, who is a BAFTA-nominated actor. The video is part of a bigger short film project that ties into the themes of the Early Twenties album.
If you're into raw, emotional R&B with a folk edge, this is for you. Think early Adele meets Jorja Smith, but with Cat's own unique spin.
It's the kind of song you play on a rainy day when you need to feel something. Or when you're driving home late at night. Or honestly, whenever.
"End Game" is out now on all major streaming platforms. Give it a listen and let yourself sit with it.
Trust me, Cat Burns is only getting started. You're going to want to say you were here early. Go stream "End Game" right now on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen. You won't regret it.
© Freshman Hype