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Ethel Cain

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Ethel Cain
Ethel Cain for W Magazine
Ethel Cain for W Magazine
Background information
Born (1998-03-24) March 24, 1998 (age 26)
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • artist
  • producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
Years active2017–present
Labels
  • Daughters of Cain
  • AWAL
Websitedaughtersofcain.com

Hayden Silas Anhedönia (born March 24, 1998),[2] known professionally as Ethel Cain,[3][4] is an American singer-songwriter and artist born in Tallahassee, Florida and living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[5]

In mid 2017, Cain began experimenting with writing, recording, and producing her own ethereal style, inspired by Christian music and Gregorian chants. After releasing various mixtapes and EPs on streaming platforms under the moniker White Silas, as well as sites like SoundCloud and Tumblr, she adopted a more alternative sound and began using the Ethel Cain moniker in mid 2019.[6] Cain's lyrics focus on nostalgic and Southern Gothic themes, such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, death, and transgenerational trauma. Her music has been associated with the ambient, alternative rock, and dream pop genres.[4]

In 2022, Cain released her debut studio album, Preacher's Daughter to widespread acclaim from music critics, many of whom called it one of the best albums of the year.

Early life

Cain was raised in Perry, Florida,[7] the eldest of four children in a Southern Baptist family.[2] Her father was a deacon and she was involved in the church choir from a young age.[2] At age eight, Cain began studying classical piano, and her early musical influences included Karen Carpenter, the Steve Miller Band, and a variety of Christian music.[8]

She came out as gay to her family at the age of 12, and left the church at the age of 16.[2] On her 20th birthday, she publicly came out as a transgender woman.[2] Reflecting on this, Cain recalled: "It was made clear to everyone that I was not like other people. Whenever I started to develop, I started to come into my own as a trans woman. We were a house divided—it was me versus my whole town."[8]

Cain finds inspiration from gospel music, country music, classic rock and alternative music.[9]

Career

2017–2019: Career beginnings

In 2017, while considering enrolling in the Florida State University film school, Cain began experimenting with creating reverb-heavy choral inspired music on GarageBand. From 2017 to 2018, she released her works to a small following of friends and followers on Twitter and Instagram, under the names White Silas and Atlas. In 2019, following the release of her debut single as Ethel Cain, titled 'Bruises', she connected with artist Nicole Dollanganger through social media, opening for Dollanganger on the artist's 'Heart Shaped Bed' tour in Chicago.

In September 2019, she released a small collection of songs titled Carpet Bed, her first extended play under the Cain moniker.

In December 2019, after the release of her Golden Age EP, she was backed by artist Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, who praised Cain for her "mature songwriting and understanding of melody".[10]

2020–2021: Inbred

In January 2020, after recommendation from Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Cain was discovered by rapper Lil Aaron. While headlining a show with Edith Underground, Girlfiend, and Lil Bo Weep in Los Angeles, Cain was invited by Aaron to meet with the publishing company Prescription Songs and signed with them soon after. In August 2020, Cain moved from Florida into a refurbished church outside of Richmond, Indiana, where she would finish recording her first EP with Prescription Songs titled Inbred. In February 2021, Cain released her first single under the new publishing contract, titled "Michelle Pfeiffer" featuring Lil Aaron.[11] The song was premiered on Paper and featured on Pitchfork, Billboard, Nylon, and The Fader.[12][13][14][15] A second single, "Crush", followed on March 18, and a third, "Unpunishable", premiered on Apple Music Radio 1 with Zane Lowe on April 15, 2021. Inbred was released on April 23, 2021. The EP explores Americana, ambient-folk and slowcore.[16]

2022–present: Preacher's Daughter

On March 17, 2022, Cain released the single "Gibson Girl", subsequently announcing her debut album Preacher's Daughter, released May 12, 2022.[17] Cain went on to release singles "Strangers" on April 7, and "American Teenager" on April 21, the latter receiving a music video on July 21. The album was released via her own Daughters of Cain label and features thirteen songs.[17]

Personal life

Reflecting on her religious upbringing in a 2021 interview, Cain commented that she still considers herself a Southern Baptist: "Whether I like it or not, God always has and always will be a huge part of my life. Whether He's being used as a comforting figure or a threat, I've always been surrounded by it. It's not really something you can walk away from. And I'd rather just sit with it than be like, 'Fuck the church!'"[18]

As she says in a 2022 Tumblr post, Cain does not consider herself a Christian nor as someone who cares about religion. However, she "still abides by the values [she] was raised on".[19]

Cain is bisexual[20] and autistic.[21]

Discography

Ethel Cain discography
Studio albums1
Music videos5
EPs3
Singles7

Studio albums

Title Album details
Preacher's Daughter

Extended plays

Title EP details
Carpet Bed[23]
  • Released: September 13, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Golden Age[24]
  • Released: December 1, 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, CD, cassette, streaming
Inbred[25]
  • Released: April 23, 2021
  • Label: Daughters of Cain
  • Format: Digital download, CD, cassette, streaming

Singles

Title Year Album
"Michelle Pfeiffer"[26]
(featuring Lil Aaron) 		2021 Inbred
"Crush"[27]
"Unpunishable"[28]
"Everytime"[29]
(Spotify Singles) 		2022 non-album single
"Gibson Girl"[30] Preacher's Daughter
"Strangers"[31]
"American Teenager"[32]
"Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters)"[33] non-album single

Music videos

Title Year Director
"Fear No Plague"[34] 2021 Hayden Anhedönia and Salem Anhedönia
"God's Country"[35]
(featuring Wicca Phase Springs Eternal) 		Hayden Anhedönia
"Crush"[36]
"Crush" (stripped)[37]
"American Teenager"[38] 2022

References

  1. ^ Daw, Stephen (March 11, 2022). "First Out: New Music From Chloe Moriondo, Corook, Awfultune & More". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2022. folk singer-songwriter Ethel Cain's...
  2. ^ a b c d e Dombal, Ryan (April 20, 2021). "Ethel Cain Fears No Darkness". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "Experience The Dawn of Ethel Cain's Golden Age". Underground Underdogs. December 10, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Song, Sandra (February 11, 2021). "Ethel Cain Debuts 'Michelle Pfeiffer' with Lil Aaron". Paper. Retrieved February 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ https://at.tumblr.com/mothercain/omg-did-u-move-to-pittsburgh-412-repping/keczxtv8pc5p
  6. ^ "The Gospel According To Ethel Cain". Underground Underdogs. March 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (May 11, 2022). "The Most Famous Girl at the Waffle House". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Wally, Maxine (May 13, 2022). "Ethel Cain's America". W. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (April 21, 2021). "Artist Spotlight: Ethel Cain". Our Culture Mag.
  10. ^ "Wicca Phase tells us his top 10 LPs of 2019; tour w/ Glitterer, Creeks, Anxious begins". Brooklyn Vegan. December 5, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Kent, Matthew (February 11, 2021). "Ethel Cain reflects on the freedom of LA with revelatory new single "Michelle Pfeiffer"". Paper Mag. Retrieved February 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ ""Michelle Pfeiffer" [ft. lil aaron]". Pitchfork. February 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "First Out: New Music from Rebecca Black, Big Freedia, Syd & More". Billboard. February 12, 2021.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Soundcheck: The 10 Best Music Released The Week of February 15th,2021". Nylon. February 15, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "10 songs you need in your life this week". The Fader. February 15, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Chodzin, Devon (May 11, 2022). "On Preacher's Daughter, Ethel Cain's Jarring, Beautiful Vision Comes to Life". Paste. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Minsker, Evan (March 17, 2022). "Ethel Cain Announces Debut Album Preacher's Daughter, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  18. ^ Hudnut, Conor (April 25, 2021). "God's Country: Ethel Cain's music is an unforgiving portrait of Southern Baptist America". Hero Magazine. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022.
  19. ^ "Do you still consider yourself a Christian?". Tumblr. October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  20. ^ Thomas, Zora (September 13, 2022). "Ethel Cain delivers delectably dark performance at the Bowery Ballroom". The Pace Press. Retrieved November 25, 2022. Her lyricism depicts the existence of being a bisexual, transgender woman raised within a southern church.
  21. ^ Cain, Ethel. "tired of being autistic, i'd like to have my hair not tucked behind my ears for once". Tumblr. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  22. ^ Johnson, Jamilla (June 10, 2022). "May 2022 Release Rewind". AWAL. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Carpet Bed EP by Ethel Cain". September 13, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  24. ^ "Golden Age by Ethel Cain". December 1, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  25. ^ "Inbred by Ethel Cain". April 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  26. ^ "Michelle Pfeiffer (feat. lil aaron) by Ethel Cain". February 11, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  27. ^ "Crush - Single by Ethel Cain". March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  28. ^ "Unpunishable". Spotify. April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  29. ^ Everytime - Spotify Singles, March 8, 2022, retrieved May 18, 2022
  30. ^ "Gibson Girl - Single by Ethel Cain". March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  31. ^ "Ethel Cain - "Strangers"". Stereogum. April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  32. ^ "Ethel Cain – "American Teenager"". Stereogum. April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  33. ^ Rettig, James (November 24, 2022). "Ethel Cain – "Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters)"". Stereogum. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  34. ^ Ethel Cain - Fear No Plague (Official Video). Ethel Cain. January 1, 2021. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ Ethel Cain - God's Country (feat. Wicca Phase Springs Eternal) [Official Video]. Ethel Cain. June 22, 2021. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via YouTube.
  36. ^ Ethel Cain - Crush (Official Video). Ethel Cain. August 3, 2021. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ Ethel Cain - Crush (Stripped). Ethel Cain. August 24, 2021. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via YouTube.
  38. ^ Ethel Cain - American Teenager (Official Video). EthelCainVEVO. July 21, 2022. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via YouTube.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethel_Cain&oldid=1125359982"