Six years ago yesterday, on Dec. 1, 2019, Ethel Cain released her sophomore EP Golden Age.
Composed of 30 minutes of emotional euphoria in only six tracks, Golden Age confronts the tumultuous experiences of navigating a complicated first love.
With themes ranging from conflict in the title track “Golden Age,” devotion in “Lillies,” insecurity in “Casings,” and exploitation in “Knuckle Velvet,” Golden Age serves as a display of what pain can do to an individual; throughout the EP, she expresses personal hardships as an outlet to bring herself closer to healing.
Hayden Ahnedönia (the artist behind Ethel Cain) went further in depth about her creative process of her early work in an interview with Pitchfork: “Everything I do through my art is a way to get my thumb on top of what’s happened to me in the past, because now I’m in control and I can’t be hurt by it again,” she says, “So for me, living here, I can walk around the sanctuary and there’s no bad vibes. It’s this weird, bittersweet comfort. It’s just me and the quiet.” (Ahnedönia, 2021).
Years later, Daughters of Cain (Ethel Cain’s fans) can look back on Ahnedönia’s work and see the growth of the talented artist who is on the rise to fame.
Golden Age is available to stream on all digital platforms.
Keep up with Ethel Cain: Instagram // Facebook // Youtube // Spotify // Apple Music // Soundcloud // Website
