By Jessica McCormick
2020 was not an easy year for most of us. Nine times out of ten, I was curled up on my couch, acting as furniture for my cats, probably playing Animal Crossing, and definitely listening to music. While many of us were waiting for a sense of normalcy to return to our lives, self-styled “sad music boy” Cail was working on his music, culminating in the release of his latest single: “better than that.”
Drawing from many genres, Richmond, Virginia native Cail describes his aesthetic as indie bedroom pop. The lo-fi ambience carries a tender melancholy that doesn’t tell you how to feel, but gently suggests that things will be okay. Some days call for action, while other days find us eating ice cream and watching our favorite movies. Fans of Vertical Horizon will identify with Cail’s music.
Like Cail, maybe you need to take a break from social media to spend time with your “many animals” (check out his Instagram for a treat!), and to paraphrase the musician himself, learning to do the things you love unapologetically.
In “better than that,” Cail hopes to inspire comfort among listeners. Upon its release, he wrote, “This song is all about learning self-worth and getting over your past…” neither of which is an easy feat.
How often do we dwell on past mistakes, rather than using the blunder as a point of reference? Moving forward may be just as painful as dwelling, but it’s a productive pain that can move us to something better. We may even produce something that helps others on their journey to self-worth and acceptance. What could be better than that?
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Jessica McCormick is an Army brat currently residing in Silicon Valley. With a decade of experience in communications, she appreciates the transformative power of music. She has spent over two decades singing with various choirs, and has enjoyed 8 years with the San Jose Metropolitan Band playing alto saxophone. In her free time, she loves reading speculative fiction.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
