Today, we’re diving into the shadows with Caden Stone, a rising 22-year-old artist whose music fuses darkwave, blues-rock and indie-rock into something both haunting, defiant and unapologetic. With roots in small-town Tennessee, this artist channels his Southern Gothic upbringing into songs, warping a culture stepped in religion and mystery into something loud, angsty, otherwordly and strangely beautiful. His latest single ‘For The Devil’ confronts religious hypocrisy with the cadence of a rural preacher, which turns personal trauma into proud rebellion. It’s a cathartic meditation on control, shame and the toxic weight of belief systems that force conformity and hatred on its members. Packed with distorted, swamp atmosphere, this track speaks directly to the disillusioned and those looking for an escape. For On The Record, Stone opens up about his unique influences, his ethos of authenticity and how being “the shadow you can’t shake” might just be his most powerful act of resistance.
Welcome to Unrecorded! For those who aren’t already familiar with Caden Stone can you introduce yourself?
I’ve been making music my whole life, and my songs are loud and dreamy at the same time. Angry, but in a way that is articulate and says something. Decayed, but intentional. I want to be the shadow you can’t shake.
Your new single ‘For The Devil’ dives into themes of manipulation, fear, and religious hypocrisy. What inspired you to write this track?
Growing up in the south, Christianity was everywhere. More often than not, I found myself on the wrong side of the law so to speak. The things I wasn’t supposed to do, listen to, or like, were the things I fell in love with. In everyone else’s eyes, I guess they thought I had been seduced by the Devil. This song is a simplification of the experience of small town Christianity for people like myself. To put it simply: hypocrisy & suffocation.
As a 22-year-old, how do you see your ethos of authenticity in relation to the rest of your generation?
I was bullied as a kid for being different, for being myself. For a long time I tried to fit in and be normal, but I felt like people could see through that facade. The truth is that I’m weird, and that’s okay. I think it’s very important not to suppress yourself for anybody or anything, because people can tell when you aren’t being genuine and honest with yourself. Whether you like me or not, I’m myself.
How has your upbringing in Tennessee influenced the Southern Gothic vibe here?
I am from a tiny southern town, and there’s a lot of ways to scare its small-minded inhabitants. I like to search for the things that frighten them because those same things are beautiful to me. Maybe there’s someone else out there who finds them beautiful too, and I would be happy knowing I inspired them to revolt. Things like decay, freakishness, violence. Also, I’m not a country singer or anything like that, so it’s a way for me to represent where I come from.
Connected to that, how did you craft your sonic identity of bluesy, darkwave and indie textures?
I like to think of myself as a sponge sometimes. I know that sounds odd, but I soak up a lot of things—my influences, surroundings, and so forth. And it all just spews out in the form of music and visuals, but I really feel that I am just a product of my environment.
Was the haunting quality of your vocal an intentional choice for this song or something that has emerged naturally?
I wanted my vocals to sound like a preacher spitting out holy bitterness. It was something that felt natural and true to the song.
Who are your biggest inspirations, whether that’s in the music world or beyond?
I consume a lot of different music, but the artists I hold closest to my heart are: Nick Cave, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, Gary Numan, Siouxsie Sioux, Ghost, and The Cure.
If ‘For The Devil’ had a visual counterpart, such as a music video or short film, what would it look like?
I was lucky enough to film a music video for this song with a dream director of mine, Hannah Gray Hall. I played a pastor in this tiny wasp-ridden chapel, and spoke the gospel to my congregation. We took a lot of inspiration from Appalachian snake churches and southern Baptists, and it’s really about the idea that darkness can be nurtured in holy places.
On the topic of belief and manipulation, what are you hoping listeners will take away from the track?
Always be yourself, and think for yourself. Disregard your environment, your upbringing, your crutches. I want those who listen to take a step back and question some of the concrete beliefs they’ve been told to have faith in. Maybe they’ll discover that they’ve been hiding themselves from the world just because a few words on a page said it was a sin.
What’s next on the horizon for Caden Stone?
I am very stoked that my first EP, “Halogen Heart”, will be releasing August 8th. I started working on this record a little over a year ago, and I’m glad it is finally going to find its place in the world.
You can listen to ‘For The Devil’ in our Indie Rockers and Outsiders Club playlists.
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