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photos: Thomas Alexander Groom

While sporting events in the US feel like they are at a lull post NBA and NHL seasons, things are seemingly heating up in Australia thanks in part to athlete-turned-musician: CAITLE. 

Making huge waves online due to the goth-inspired makeup they wore recently during an NBL (National Basketball League) game, the basketball player known as Caitlin Mary Cunningham has quickly become an alt-icon.

Not afraid to be themself out on the court, the tall and lanky, vampire-toothed sharpshooter has turned their attention to music as of late with the release of their debut solo single, "My Bike Needs Oil."

Taking inspiration from the likes of everything from Placebo to Siiickbrain, CAITLE's newest track is fitting for a back alley dive bar filled to the brim with leather-wearing, electro-obsessed hooligans looking to have a good time.

Spanning deeper into their newest song plus the recent attention they've garnered online, The Noise caught up with the soft-spoken Cunningham to get to know them and their goth/emo influences a little bit better.

To see who Cunningham choose as some of their favorite artists -- as well as fellow athlete musicians -- be sure to read more below. Afterward, make sure to follow your new favorite basketball player here.

First off, how are you with all this new found attention you’ve received lately?

It’s wild. It’s cute, its weird but I’m here for it and I love the space people have found to connect with me! It really means a lot that people are sharing how I’m helping them be more themselves, or like my style, or like my vine. It’s really cool and wonderful and so many incredible people are reaching out. It’s special.

When did you start to realize things online were starting to spread about you and the makeup you wear during games?

The photos got posted and it was just a regular no-thinking post to Instagram like everything I post. Then I remember I started to get a trickle of comments and likes from people outside of my regular orbit and I thought "this is cool" but the beast kept growing then I realized it had turned into something else probably a week after the initial post.

You clearly take a lot of inspiration from the goth/emo world. Who are some of your favorite bands?

Gosh, it’s a huge part of my life -- emo bands, goth music, being [alternative]. It shaped me when I was younger. It made me feel [like] I wasn’t alone -- the communities, the music, the emotion, the style, the scenes. It’s hard to name a few bands when there are so so many. Placebo, My Chemical Romance, Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park, Underoath, Jimmy Eat World, La Dispute, POD. The list goes on and on.

You also make music of your own. What can you tell us about the music you make?

Yes! One of my older bands is an electronic goth-y sounding band -- think Nine Inch Nails/Crystal Castles vibe. Then another band called Free Entertainment is an emo pop-punk/rock/mod band -- very fun! Then my solo music I’ve been working on all year is a completely new genre I feel. It takes from everything -- nu-metal, rap/hip-hop/trap, club -- I actually don’t know how to explain it. It’s good though. It's fresh, it’s exciting.

You've recently released your debut single “My Bike Needs Oil” which has moody electronic undertones with a twisted Siiickbrain vibe. How did that song come about?

I was working with my producer and we made a beat and we put it on ice to come back to. We had to name the idea of the beat to save it under something and I just thought what we had made sounded like a bike needing oil. So I called it “My Bike Needs Oil.” Then one night, I went for a walk and I got really obsessed with the beat and starting writing the lyrics, melodies and song structure and strangely enough it linked right back to a true story of my childhood when I was too sick to go outside and ride my bike because of my asthma.

Writing music while also playing basketball in Australia, does it get tricky trying to balance both passions?

Yes it does -- and on top of working a job. However, I’m an extreme person and once I lock into things, I really go down the rabbit hole and commit. I’m a workaholic and struggle to rest. My brain never really settles so I’m always doing something.  

How would you best describe your basketball game?

I’m a streaky basketballer. Very athletic, can run, can jump and am quite long and agile. Defs not a bulk strong physical player. I rely on athleticism a lot. But I have a strong post game, I’m a good shooter and I love rebounding -- ohh and blocking people! Maybe I am a bit Rodman in a Kevin Garnett body.

There have been a lot of athletes, especially basketball players, who have pursued music. Like Shaquille O’Neal aka DJ Diesel, for example. Do you have any favorite athlete musicians?

OMG SHAQ! That was a time! I remember reading that Tyler Joseph from Twenty One Pilots was an incredible basketballer at the college level. That was cool! I think any athlete who crosses talents and is super committed is just so inspirational. I love obsessed and passionate people -- it breaks ground! It shows we can all do anything!

Last question, is there anything else you want to tell the world?

Dream big. I have goals and dreams to make music that connects people and I create a world for fans and people to feel seen, have fun and be in a community that shapes them, empowers them [and] helps them! If I can do that, gosh it’s my fucking dreams come true. I want to be that musician/person I needed when I was looking up to my favorite bands when I was younger to inspire to be anything.