Ethel Cain reflects on the freedom of LA with revelatory new single "Michelle Pfeiffer"

"Everything's easier way out west," Cain murmurs as the fuzzy guitar makes way for her confessional lyrics and velvet crush vocals. A duet with famed songwriter and enigmatic Kim Petras and Rico Nasty collaborator lil aaron, the pair spar off each other's pain as they figure out which path to take.

Florida-born and raised, the story of Ethel Cain's journey into music-making began in 2017 with some dreamy bedroom pop demos. Inspired by the rural landscapes surrounding her and her religious upbringing, Cain's music filters rock, country and pop influences through her soaring vocals and raw lyrics. Following a string of singles and EPs including the noteworthy "Golden Age" and her sprawling opus "A House in Nebraska", "Michelle Pfieffer" is the first taste of her forthcoming EP Inbred.

"This song was just a breath of fresh air from a fresh start,” Ethel explains. “It was my first time ever in LA, in a studio for the first time ever with Aaron, and it felt like I was finally being seen for the artist I'd been trying to be for years. I've always idolized Michelle Pfeiffer and thought she was a picture perfect bombshell so when I was in the back of my Uber with the windows down, headed to the studio bright and early that first morning and humming a little chorus melody to myself, I felt like a bombshell of my own. It felt like my life had finally started."

Lifted from her 5-track EP Inbred which is set to feature a collaboration with emo trailblazer Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Cain's music is often paired with a rich and gritty visual aesthetic she creates through her companion video content. Steeped in symbolism, Cain's performance at the daine-curated virtual club night Nocturne really showcased her flair for world-making.

As Cain's latest path winds out in front of her, the spirit of "Michelle Pfeiffer" (and her idolised vision of the actress) is set to be a shining light leading new followers into her arms.