Unveiling FLETCHER’s Vulnerability: More Than Just Chaos
Previously, many characterized FLETCHER’s image with two words: chaotic and queer. Her music’s unruliness and her predominantly LGBTQ+ fanbase, particularly lesbians and queer women, solidified this perception. The 2022 song, “Becky’s So Hot,” which publicly addressed her ex-girlfriend’s new partner, further fueled this image, associating the artist with drama. In her own words, “chaos” was the most frequent descriptor fans offered.
However, the singer, whose real name is Cari Fletcher, is launching a new chapter. While elements of chaos and her unapologetically queer identity remain, her latest album, Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?, reveals a softer, more compassionate side. The artist explains a shift in her approach to performing, moving away from the intense, highly charged experiences she previously provided towards a different kind of engagement.
This new “party,” consisting of twelve introspective songs, presents an unprecedented level of personal revelation. While her music has always drawn from her life, this album offers a unique rawness. The themes extend beyond romantic relationships, exploring her struggles within the music industry and her evolving sexuality. The final song, “Would You Still Love Me?”, poses poignant questions to both herself and her audience regarding self-acceptance and external validation.
The album’s lead single, “Boy,” which details a relationship with a man, sparked significant controversy, particularly within her LGBTQ+ following. The singer’s decision to archive some previous Instagram posts, suggestive of a shift, fueled the discussion. Responses ranged from outrage to critical articles questioning her actions.
Despite the reaction, Fletcher maintains her firm stance on her queer identity and commitment to inclusivity for her LGBTQ+ fans. This album represents authenticity—an unfiltered depiction of her life and journey of self-discovery. She explicitly states her enduring queer identity, embracing all facets of herself, from the chaotic to the tender.
This interview delves deeper into the making of Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?
A More Personal Project
The artist considers this album her most personal project to date, surpassing previous works in emotional depth. While her previous music has been open and honest, this album adds another layer of vulnerability. Unlike previous albums focusing primarily on romantic relationships, this album explores her identity as an artist and public figure, touching on various facets of her life.
The album’s intensely personal nature stems from its exploration of her self-perception as an artist, a public figure, and her relationship with numerous aspects of her identity. The artist didn’t expect to surpass previous levels of vulnerability, yet this record has achieved exactly that.
FLETCHER: Persona or Extension?
The artist discusses her stage name, FLETCHER, in the third person, explaining its origin in her childhood sports experience. She used the name to overcome performance anxiety, embodying strength and confidence that she felt Cari lacked. This persona served as a protective layer, shielding her more vulnerable aspects. FLETCHER represents the resilience she needed, while Cari encompasses other, more vulnerable traits.
The Speedy Creation of a New Album
The album’s rapid creation followed a particularly challenging year. Extensive touring, coupled with personal struggles concerning mental and physical health, led to a desperate need for creative expression. Music served as an outlet to process intense emotions, providing a means of self-understanding. The album flowed effortlessly from this need for self-expression, with no extraneous tracks included.
The album consists of just twelve songs, each one integral to the whole. It honestly explores her complex relationship with the music industry, her role as an artist, and the experience of being a public figure. She intentionally avoided overthinking the creative process, maintaining the raw emotion of the initial recordings.
The artist’s experience with extensive touring has deeply impacted her. She contemplates her future involvement in touring, expressing a desire to prioritize personal space and rediscovering her love for music creation. She intends to sing again for audiences, but wants a break after releasing this album.
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Addressing the Controversy Surrounding “Boy”
The release of “Boy,” a song about a relationship with a man, was a deliberate choice, despite potential backlash. The artist chose to include the song upfront rather than hiding it within the album’s narrative. Despite being nervous, she believed in her message of self-acceptance and felt compelled to share her experience. She felt that hiding it wouldn’t be true to the experiences she had been openly sharing for years.
The response to “Boy” was intense and involved a complex emotional journey, testing the artist’s trust in herself and in the ability of others to accept her. The experience taught her to let go of needing universal approval and acceptance.
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Clarifying the Archived Instagram Posts
The artist addresses concerns about archived sapphic content, explaining that it was part of a regular practice before album releases to signal a new chapter. She affirms her unwavering pride in her sapphic identity and previous self-expressions. The act of archiving was intended to signify a transition and not represent erasure of any part of her identity.
She released a song called “For Cari” in 2022, demonstrating her continuous desire to share every aspect of her experience. She views the album as granting herself permission to evolve, reminding others that change is acceptable in all aspects of life.
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A Message to Critics
The artist acknowledges the varied reactions, including criticism, anger, and even harassment, while affirming the validity of all emotions. She underscores the importance of mutual respect and understanding within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, hoping for increased empathy and compassion for the complex journeys people embark upon.
Finding Calm Amidst the Chaos
The artist reflects on her journey, marked by significant challenges from the outset. Early career success was followed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health issues, including a Lyme disease diagnosis. The accumulation of these events shaped her public image, associated with “chaos”. The new album visually and thematically reflects her desire to showcase her gentler, more vulnerable self, promoting balance and self-regulation.
On Sexuality and Identity
The artist emphasizes the fluidity of sexuality and gender, countering the notion of being “born this way” as a rigid definition. She highlights the importance of acceptance and understanding for individuals whose identities may evolve over time. She underscores her own queer identity while acknowledging the potential for future changes.
The artist explains her perspective on how sexuality becomes intertwined with personal branding, often leading to limited portrayals. She highlights that she writes from the heart and does not need universal approval to remain true to herself.