23-year-old Los Angeles-based Cate Tomlinson is diving into deep figurative description in her newest single, “The Ring of Fire.” This single marks the final release before the release of her sophomore EP, The Side Effects of You, releasing December 6th.
“The Ring of Fire” is a hauntingly immersive track that blends dark electronic tones to create a dramatized demonic atmosphere, similar to the energy created in Billie Eilish’s debut album. These tones are intentional to complement the messaging present in the track. This dark pop song was inspired by Barbara Kingsolver’s book Demon Copperhead, a tale of an at-risk boy’s resilience through his absent father’s inherited good looks and his copper-colored hair, or “hair of fire.” This book prompted Tomlinson’s creativity, leading her down to the narrative idea of a girl being lured in a trance by the devil disguised in the form of a normal boy.
This track dwells on the seductive nature of manipulation in relationships from being love-bombed and deceived into commitment. Tomlinson sings, “‘cause he’s just sweet enough to suck me in / Demon, would you show me what it’s like to sin?” The singer’s captivating storytelling captures vivid psychological disillusionment with the way the narrator describes being taunted into submission. She sings, “His eyes glow red when they look in mine / We can be together in the afterlife.”
The track follows into the feeling of being devoured by this manipulation, so as to lose all sense of agency by submitting to the trance of desire. Tomlinson describes the uncontrollable urge to follow this demon into dangerous territory for the sake of being in love, but given the hypnotic temptations, she will go as far as “follow[ing] him through the ring of fire” to spend her afterlife with him.
She inevitably gives in, losing all defenses: “Cross my heart and hope to die / … He’ll wait on the other side / Baby it’s you and I.”
This track is only one of many that showcase Cate Tomlinson’s well-honed creative songwriting abilities. “The Ring of Fire” is exemplary of the allegories she crafts to capture the essence of navigating complicated emotions and relationships, while reflecting on the nature of agency and growing up. She hopes to continue to reflect on these themes in her upcoming EP, The Side Effects of You.
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