SOTW: Cal in Red – “Kitchen”

July 30th, 2024 by Liz Kosik

by Liz Kosik ’25

Song of The Week: Cal in Red – “Kitchen”

Released: June 22, 2024

Rate: 8/10

RIYL: The Shins, Tame Impala, Electric Guest

Cal in Red just dropped their new single “Kitchen,” featuring James Mercer, and it’s a taste of their debut album Low Low coming out August 30th. The track premiered on Brooklyn Vegan and holds a special place for brothers Connor and Kendall Wright. Mercer, who first discovered the duo when they were in their old band Mertle, had them win The Shins’ 2017 Van Contest with a cover of “Painting a Hole.”

“Kitchen” can be viewed as the duo’s “country song,” and I think it’s a refreshing change from their usual style. It’s a breakup song, but what makes it interesting is that it’s told from the perspective of someone watching the relationship fall apart. Their inspiration came from living with two friends who were in love and then seeing their relationship crumble, which must have made writing the song feel very natural for the brothers. Mercer’s smooth harmonies really add an extra layer to the song’s dreamy vibe, making it stand out even more.