Caroline van der Leeuw, known professionally as Caro Emerald, has reverted to her given name, Caroline, marking a significant shift in her artistic identity at age 45. This administrative and psychological change allows her to dissociate from the strict expectations of her previous persona and explore her music with greater freedom. [1]
During the height of the Caro Emerald era, Van der Leeuw experienced severe disconnection, often waking up unsure of her location due to constant touring. She described the persona’s required aesthetic—red lips, satin dresses, and eccentricity—as an obligation that conflicted with her natural self, leading to a loss of control over how she was perceived as a human being beyond her music. [1]
Van der Leeuw openly discusses the 'crab bucket effect,' a concept explored in the book *Krabben* by Milou Deelen and Daan Borrel, which describes how societal structures condition women to hinder each other’s success. She admits to feeling anxiety that her achievements might burden other women, particularly those she feels professionally jealous of. However, she is working to reframe this sentiment into pride, recognizing that when one woman succeeds, she clears the path for others. [1]
Her creative process has shifted from polished glamour to a raw aesthetic, citing David Bowie’s evolving visual style as an influence. Van der Leeuw views fashion as a vehicle for storytelling rather than a constraint, stating she is willing to wear anything, including a space suit, if it serves the narrative, provided it does not control her. [1]
Asserting that material possessions are transient, Van der Leeuw believes her body and voice are her only true constants. 'If they take everything away and throw me naked into a dungeon, I can still sing. They cannot take that from me,' she said. This resilience underpins her current project, the album *Returning to Innocence*, which features the singles 'I Can’t Win' and 'The Guy Bangs'. [1]
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