You’ve heard of Appalachian mountain music…but how about the Cascades? That’s how Yakima, Washington native Cascade Cody describes his music. On “In Lieu of Love,” you’ll hear a huge Americana influence, but Cody throws in some breezy pop influences to remind you that this isn’t your great-grandpa’s country music. Cascade Cody sat down for 5 rounds with Adobe & Teardrops, describing his influences, favorite albums, and the story behind “In Lieu of Love.”
Who are some of your musical influences?
Paul Simon, and The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) come to mind. The story telling in both of their bodies of work are amazing, I still listen to the album “Fly” on repeat in my car for long road trips! I admire Simon for his usage of language in regard to the personification of landmarks as characters, all of that seems text book as your “songin’” skills develop. The Chicks maintain their strength so well in their records and I feel as if I feed off of a similar energy. I love learning and covering their records, something about them just feel like home. Another unusual influence would have to be the late great Shel Silverstein and his contribution to folk music! Simplicity at its finest, there will never be another like him!
Explain the title of your song.
The song stems from a relationship I had about a year back. She was recently out of a long standing thing, and I was looking, but didn’t realize how deeply I was falling for her. Six months in I was in full on speeches to the balcony mode. Once I had shown desire to commit, she was gone. Growing pains, and at my age I feel like this is the point in life where it is time to really get hurt again. You get hurt when you’re wayyy young, and I’ve been there and done that! But this one was different, it was humiliating. And where I was in love, she was substituting me for something she didn’t know how to live without, just being out of a long relationship. So, In Lieu of Love, I existed as her crutch to take off the edge of heartbreak I suppose. The song is about having your guard up while still getting hurt.
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
Write what you know.
Start with something small, a moment in time (like washing the dishes, standing in line at the grocery store,) and expand on it. Explore those perspectives that aren’t yours while personifying them as yours and be ready to rewrite! Stay away from dead phrases. Anecdotes in songs are a good thing, I feel. However, some verbiage and imagery is just dead, and everyone will know where you got it from. Try to be you, but also try to expand what you are!
What 5 albums are you going to make your kid listen to and why?
Kids? Haha maybe one day.
I think I could die a happy man with these five albums with me on an island.
Simon and Garfunkel, was an album my parents and I listened to together. A really positive memory growing up, one of the few things we all loves collectively.
Tracy Chapman’s debut album hits you in the chest, and doesn’t stop until you have to shut it off and reflect. Goes to show you that injustice is common among all generations, it’s an album from before I was born and still rings true in its message. How far have we come?
The Chicks: Every song on this album is good. Songs that were instant classics for me growing up, and not to mention the strength in the delivery! “Goodbye Earl” is the number one murder ballad for me, and it’s not even a ballad.
Kanye West: okay…hear me out on this one. This album is intelligent hip hop gold. Every song back to back, composition, sampling, features, and formulation make this one of my all time favorites. Kanye revolutionized hip hop, and I know he’s gone pretty far in a world where he is a walking contradiction. But at this time, Kanye was the hottest thing in music, and rightfully so.
Hank Williams SR: The man knew how to write a song. The howling country tunes never stop for me, and there is no one better than Hank Williams as example!
What’s the best way a fan can support you?
The best way is to go to Cascadecody.com and buy something! But, you don’t have to do that if you don’t want to, and going to my socials, following and subscribing so you can follow me on my journey would more than suffice for me.
Cascade Cody —