CATBEAR’S “WHO CARES?” IS MELODIC ALT POP THAT ROCKS OUT

If “Who Cares?” is the question, then the answer would be the fans of CATBEAR and potential new ones. The Brighton-based duo features best friends Zoe and Sarah. The big news is that this single is the first of 2025. It won’t change the face of music as we know it, and there’s nothing earth-shattering about it, but it’s likable enough, if kind of lightweight.

The track has touches of synth pop and electronic sounds that echo bygone eras of the 80s, 90s, and 00s. “Who Cares?” sounds upbeat and earnest.

The zesty single has buoyant energy, driving, fun guitar work, and grit. Yet there is a juxtaposition between the light and dark of the song. One is exposed to a fragile vulnerability due to grappling with social anxiety.

The expectation is to have things under control, be happy, take life in stride, and simultaneously feel completely overwhelmed and unsure of how to cope with those pressures. The idea or message here is that when faced with these challenges, you surrender to your fears and let go of what others think about you and don a mental suit of armor, going out into the world and basically say to everyone with the proverbial middle up in the air and metaphorically proclaim: Who Cares!