by alex grainger
photo courtesy of caye
Caye recently released his single “LOSE SLEEP.” He notes how “LOSE SLEEP” is the “only real soulful balled” he’s released, one that’s rooted in his “jazz foundation” he explored while in high school. The emotional track shares the vulnerable story of addiction to “everything that tastes, looks, and feels so good, yet is so bad for you.” It’s about the consciousness of knowing you’re “drowning,” but being unable to rid yourself of the starving emotions of addiction. To sonically translate the polarizing mask of addiction, Caye contrasts warm melodies with painfully sad lyrics.
Independently releasing his debut album We Love has allowed Caye to generously give listeners a “constant, reliable stream of content.” We had the chance to talk a bit about the album’s latest single “A DOOR” released on January 6th. The track was “written to be a meditation itself.” The anchoring and soothing sounds were written throughout the process of his own meditation. A truly unique song revolving around inner peace, is a true testament to the incredible talent and artistry of Caye. Read more about “LOSE SLEEP,” “A DOOR,” and Caye below.
Can you tell us what your single “LOSE SLEEP” is about?
Caye: “This song is about addiction. Casinos, drugs, alcohol, sugar… everything that tastes, looks, and feels so good, yet is so bad for you. It’s about being in an unhealthy relationship, whether that's with another person, with yourself, with drugs or alcohol, with your habits, or with social media. It can feel like you’re drowning and although it’s getting worse, you can't seem to get out.”
Having written and produced “LOSE SLEEP” yourself, can you tell us about the creative process behind the single?
Caye: “This one took a bunch of different forms over the years. The production started on more of a distorted, almost EDM wave. I always had the chorus melody in my head, but the verses have changed drastically. Eventually I got back to the basics and started singing the chorus over stripped back piano chords. I wrote the first verse over those chords and then almost just capped it at that, but I wanted to explore where else I could take the song. At one point, I experimented going double time on the drop, but ultimately it didn’t feel right. Eventually it turned into the wavy, soulful drop with the slide guitar leads.”
What type of growth, if any, occurs with writing and producing each song you create? How have you grown as an artist specifically through the creation of “LOSE SLEEP?”
Caye: “Every finished song teaches me something new. This one really taught me the importance of being patient and always being free with a song. As I said earlier, it took so many different forms over a long period of time, but there was always something in that chorus that spoke to me. Holding onto those special moments when you find them and not letting them get lost in the process is really important.”
You experiment with so many different genres to create a sound that is uniquely yours. How does “LOSE SLEEP” work to support and develop your signature sound?
Caye: “Throughout high school I was deep in the jazz scene in Boston. I was playing a lot of steel pan, drums, and piano in a bunch of different jazz bands around the city. I think LOSE SLEEP draws from that jazz foundation. It’s also special to me because it’s the only real soulful ballad I’ve ever released.”
How do you feel the specific sound you crafted for “LOSE SLEEP” drives the narrative of addiction?
Caye: “All of the sounds and melodies are warm, beautiful, and alluring, while the lyrics are sad and painful. With a lot of addictive things, they make you feel great while you’re using them, but the aftermath is even more painful than before. I loved that contrast.”
This single shares the story of “being addicted to something you know is bad for you.” Did the writing and producing process aid in combatting these types of addictions you have experienced?
Caye: “Every song I write is its own healing experience. I always find that if something is really bothering me, it helps to write it down in my journal. The next step of that process is meditating on those feelings. Ultimately, they often turn into songs. For me, nothing helps me move on from something more than putting it into a song. Music to me is really just the expression of emotion in the form of sounds, so putting any type of feelings into a song most definitely helps soothe and heal the soul.”
You’re starting the new year off strong with the release of your next single “A DOOR.” Can you tell us what the single is about?
Caye: “‘A DOOR’ is about inner peace and meditation. The song was actually written to be a meditation in itself. That constant ringing piano drone is there to anchor your attention, while the rest of the sounds are basically just softly coloring and filling in the spaces. The lyrics start with ‘As I shut my eyes, I see more,’ meaning, when you meditate and look inward, you’re actually able to notice a lot more about why you feel the way you do, and why things are happening the way they are. The last lyric is ‘inside your heart, is a door.’ To me, that means when you do look inside and begin to explore your own inner world, there is often an answer there. For me, this is where I’m able to become unstuck, and this is where I’m able to find my own path forward.”
I think this is the first time I’ve heard of trying to find a door within your heart — it’s incredibly interesting. Can you take us through the writing and production process for “A DOOR?”
Caye: “It came out relatively quickly for me. I found that piano sample and wrote chords around it and then all the vocal stacking and padding too… it all happened in a single session. It was a very natural song. I think it took about two hours to get the full idea, chords, melodies, lyrics, and basic production out. Again, creating this song truly was a meditation for me. I started putting these sounds together and just went through my process of meditation and sort of documented that process in the form of a song.”
photo courtesy of caye
“LOSE SLEEP” and “A DOOR” are tracks off your upcoming debut album We Love. Why did you decide to release “LOSE SLEEP,” “A DOOR,” and the accompanying album tracks as singles?
Caye: “I’ve always wanted to release an album as singles to provide a constant, reliable stream of content to anyone tuning into my art. I released this project independently, so I had total control over every aspect of the release process. It’s been a really fun experiment.”
You said how We Love is “best experienced when improvised live.” Going into the new year with the release of your debut album and your first headlining tour, what can we expect from you?
Caye: “I’ll finally be playing this music live, which I’m incredibly excited about. I’ve spent months on the live set… you can expect a really immersive experience that builds around the streaming releases but takes them to a whole new level. Tickets are on sale now and I’m hitting the road March 1st!”