There’s something quietly radical about telling someone they’ve already arrived, especially when so much of modern life insists we’re perpetually in transit. Brighton and South London alt-pop duo CATBEAR understand this tension, and their new single “It’s Okay,” released October 8th, speaks directly to it. The 3:17 track doesn’t promise future validation. It offers present-tense permission.
Zoe Konez handled the writing, recording, and production on “It’s Okay,” crafting a sound that balances pulsing synths with driving beats. The track opens quietly before building into euphoric choruses that work equally well through headphones or on a dance floor. Konez’s vocals float above the instrumentation with a complete ethereal vibe that never sacrifices clarity for effect.
The lyrics get straight to the point. “No more fake smiles, no more compromise” isn’t subtle, but it works. There’s a confident simplicity to lines like “It’s okay, you made it, you don’t have to prove yourself to anyone” that lands without feeling preachy. The song addresses something specific, conversations about being queer in your late 30s and beyond, but the themes translate broadly.
“This song is about reaching a point where you stop apologizing for yourself,” Konez explains. “It’s inspired by conversations about being queer in your late 30s and beyond, belonging, visibility, and being proud of the lives we’ve built. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to take up space, and to show the next generation that we’re still here, thriving.”
What stands out here is the juxtaposition between the message and the production. The vocals deliver intimate, direct affirmations while the beat maintains an upbeat, almost chaotic energy. That contrast keeps the track from veering into overly sentimental territory. It’s a dance song that happens to carry weight, not a heavy message awkwardly dressed up in pop production.
CATBEAR, comprising best friends Zoe and Sarah, pull from indie, synth-pop, and electronic influences spanning the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s. You can hear echoes of artists like Robyn, MUNA, Shura, and Christine and the Queens in their approach, though “It’s Okay” maintains its own identity. The production feels contemporary without chasing trends, grounded in classic synth-pop aesthetics but updated for current ears.
The timing of this release carries additional significance. “It’s Okay” serves as the final preview before CATBEAR’s second album “For Now, For Ever” arrives on October 24th, 2025. More notably, this will be the duo’s first physical release, available on vinyl, CD, and cassette. For a project that’s built their sound over time, committing to physical formats signals intent. It’s one thing to stream your music. It’s another to press it onto vinyl.
But the context matters less than what happens when you actually press play. The song opens with fluttering synths before settling into its central message about forgiveness. “Forgive yourself, for now, forever, for everything gone, it’s not fatal.” For anyone navigating questions of identity, belonging, or self-compassion later in life, the track offers permission to stop performing and exist without justification. The song doesn’t pretend self-acceptance arrives neatly packaged at any particular age. Instead, it acknowledges the ongoing nature of that work while celebrating the moments when you finally feel comfortable in your own skin.
CATBEAR has managed to craft an anthem that works on multiple levels. It’s dance-worthy, lyrically substantial, and unafraid to address queer visibility directly. “It’s Okay” doesn’t hedge or soften its message for broader appeal, which gives it authenticity that resonates beyond its specific subject matter.
Maybe the real power of a song like this is that it asks nothing of you. It doesn’t demand transformation or promise enlightenment. It simply suggests that wherever you are right now, however you got here, you’re allowed to call it enough. In a culture obsessed with becoming, CATBEAR offers something rarer: the grace of already being.
Connect with CATBEAR through their website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Bandcamp.
