Caroline Cotter is passionate advocate for her local community and women everywhere. Whether it’s performing small shows for the Cook County Jail in Chicago or working closely with New Hope Midcoast, she uses her passion for songwriting and storytelling to continuously uplift those around her. Make sure to look out for her upcoming album “The Answer” this October.

Where are you from?
I grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, but I moved to Maine for college and have spent the last couple of decades calling Maine home.

How has your hometown influenced you and your art?
Providence is a really artsy and culturally diverse small city — thanks in part to RISD and Brown University. Growing up in public school in Providence gave me curiosity about the world, and being surrounded by the art scene inspired me to live a creative life.

With all of your experience traveling the world, what does the idea of home mean to you?
Home is people, so where there is love and welcoming, there is home.

What inspired you to get into music?
I come from a musical family, I sang in chorus at school, choir at church, had piano lessons and played trumpet in the school band, but music as a profession wasn’t something I understood as an option until I was out of school and saw other people my age doing it. I think watching my peers make it work in a DIY way inspired me to try it as well.

How would you describe your sound/genre of music?
Acoustic indie folk — singer-songwriter

Who are some of your biggest inspirations for your sound and storytelling?
I grew up listening to a wide variety of music that inspired my sound. The big ones are The Beatles, Tom Petty, the Indigo Girls, Bob Dylan, John Denver, The Grateful Dead, but I also really loved musical theater, so I think that played a role in inspiring the storytelling aspect of my music.

Your new single, “Grounded In Love,” just came out on August 14. What can you tell us about the song and what it means to you?
I travel for a living, so I can't put down roots the way most people do. For me, staying grounded is a practice: connecting to wherever I am, in whatever moment I'm in. Walking in the woods and hugging a tree (literally). Jumping in the saltwater. Feeling the sand or dirt beneath my feet. Laughing and learning from the people I'm with that day. This is what reminds me of the energy that connects us all.

“Grounded In Love” is the lead single off of your upcoming album, “The Answer,” that drops in October. What made you want to release another collection of music so soon after “A Quiet Song of Hope,” your June 2026 release?
I recorded “A Quiet Song of Hope” in late Dec. 2023 and early Jan. 2024. It was a recording project without a release plan, just something I knew I wanted to record as a way of releasing some of the feelings and associated topics in the collection, so that I could move on in my writing. I sat on the recordings and wasn’t sure how or when to release them. 2025 was a very full and inspiring year for me musically. I toured extensively and wrote a lot of new music.

At the beginning of 2026, I was ready to record my new collection of songs, and that collection became “The Answer.” In my excitement to release the newer collection, I also wanted to honor the work that came before it, so I released “A Quiet Song of Hope” in June so that I could then release “The Answer” in October. I wanted to keep them separate, so not a double album, though in some ways they are companion albums. I consider “A Quiet Song of Hope” to be more of a dark, inward look, while “The Answer” comes from the light and looking out.

How do you cope with industry pressures to stay on a certain release schedule? How do you formulate your own strategies for your career amidst that kind of noise?
I tune it out. Operating as an independent musician gives me the freedom to work on my own schedule, and I do.

We love that you perform for charity concerts a lot! Why is this important to you?
I find a lot of fulfillment in sharing my music, but even more when it’s for a good cause. I think, given the chance, anyone would do the same.

Can you tell us a bit about New Hope Midcoast?
New Hope Midcoast is a Regional Domestic Violence Resource Center serving Midcoast Maine since 1981. They serve individuals affected by domestic abuse, dating violence and stalking.

Why is domestic abuse, dating violence, stalking, etc. a cause that is close to you? What advice do you have for young women who need to rely on resources like that?
Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes, in their bodies and in their relationships. So many people, especially women, can get trapped in these abusive situations, but help does exist, and groups like New Hope Midcoast can really help to change lives. Keeping something quiet rarely makes it better.

Can you tell us a bit about your work with the women in custody at the Cook County Jail in Chicago? What inspired this connection?
It was actually a random email from the special events coordinator at the Cook County Jail that made this happen. But I do feel like it was an answer to a prayer. I often pray that I can be of better service, and this invitation felt like an answer to that prayer.

He asked if I would come perform for the individuals in custody and asked if I had a preference between the men and the women. I was open to either group, but I thought I would start with the women’s group since we might have more in common. It was a very touching and connective experience, and I look forward to doing it again soon.

You’ve also worked with The Peace Flag Project, Loaves and Fishes, THAW (To Heat A Winter's Home), and The Dolly Fisher Fund. Why are these organizations important to you?
The wealth gap in this country, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, actually sickens me. That we have so many billionaires and still so many living without the basic necessities makes no sense at all, and I think this is the bare minimum I could do to help those who are less fortunate than I am.

It has been a crazy last few years, and we expect at least three more. How do you stay positive in general about the unknown and motivated as an artist?
When the headlines make us feel hopeless, creating peace in our daily interactions, in the communities and circles we have access to, can help with a sense of agency and hope. Also, remember that with all of the bad news we are fed, there is always good news to be found as well. (Listen to track 12: “Good News”)

What is your motto in life?
Do good, be good, It’s all good. And… Love is the Answer.

To learn more about Caroline Cotter, please check out the links below:
Website: www.carolinecotter.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/carolinecotter
Instagram: @carolinecottermusic
Facebook: @carolinecottermusic
Twitter: @ccottermusic
Spotify: @carolinecotter

'Do good, be good, It’s all good:' Caroline Cotter Uplifts Her Community Through Song