Cavetown, the moniker of UK-born artist Robin Skinner, unveils his album Running With Scissors that’s an introspective look at the thin line between adolescence and adulthood. It's a story that's told through hyper-pop and dream pop sensibilities that intertwine with the poignant lyrics, creating a sonic journey that spans 13 tracks.
In today’s modern world, being a youth trying to take a step into the next natural stage of adulthood can be a tricky feat. Responsibilities and expectations change although you feel the same, confusion runs rampant, leaving you desperate to figure it all out. On the lead single ‘Cryptid’, Robin portrays this evolution into adulthood through his perspective of being a transgender person in today’s societal landscape.
In the music video directed by Eden Mili, he tells a cathartic story through the cinematic visuals. The “cryptids” in the video are forced to be shunned away from the world, living underground, until they finally emerge and stand proud despite what those above the surface think about them. They rewrite their story in a beautiful tale of empowerment and beating the odds. Told through the lens of trans experiences, the video also stands as a tribute to black, queer, immigrant, and disabled communities historically pushed to the margins.
“In allowing myself to love,” Robin says, “I’ve also allowed myself to feel anger about things I would usually ignore. I hope this feels empowering for people to sing back.”
This album feels like a personal journal filled to the brim with distinct yet remotely relatable sentiments, from Robin’s first time falling deeply in love with someone, to the birth of his first sibling and navigating the tricky 26-year age gap. The album is an introspective look into freezing life’s fleeting moments to understand and accept them, focusing on themes of family history, masculinity, and responsibility. The record reflects on reparenting, choosing which parts of your past to keep or let go to show up better for loved ones.
The reflective album opens with ‘Skip’, a delicate love song complete with reverent lyrics that capture the quiet devotion in each and every memory when you’re in a relationship. Robin describes this love song as “the first I’ve written with genuinely positive overtones,” tipping his hat to the two-year healing process that was part of the journey to birthing this collection of tracks. ‘Skip’ melts into the heart of the album, ‘Cryptid’, which emphasises how important anger is when it comes to fighting for your right to love and simply exist.
The track flows seamlessly into the glittering 8-bit textures of ‘Rainbow Gal’, while ‘Baby Spoon’ tenderly reimagines masculinity through care and softness. ‘NPC’, ‘Reaper’, and ‘Straight Through My Head (DO IT!!!)’ confront dissociation, burnout, and the struggle for survival. Meanwhile, ‘No Bark, No Bite’ and ‘Micah’ wrestle with the ideal image of family, and the sibling and son Robin hopes to be.
In addition to the personal themes that this album reflects, it stands as another landmark moment for Robin as it features several talented collaborators, including Chloe Moriondo, Underscores, Ryan Raines, David Pramik, and Couros, who contributed to the creation of the delicate world that Running With Scissors is based in.
The album closes with ‘Running With Scissors’, a bold metaphor for adulthood’s mix of risk and exhilaration. “There’s fear, but also so much fun, don’t miss it by overthinking,” Robin advises.
Alongside the release of Running With Scissors, Cavetown will be headlining shows in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn, while $1 per ticket goes to local LGBTQ+ support organizations through PLUS1.
Cavetown’s Running With Scissors marks his step into a new era, not only in music but in his own life as well, keeping fans close as he moves forward. “I don’t want this to feel like it’s for kids,” Robin says. “Because I’m not a kid anymore. I want it to feel like we’re moving forward together.” Cavetown presents a heartfelt chronicle of growth, self-discovery, and connection with this record. From intimate reflections on love, family, and identity to bold, experimental sonic textures, he invites listeners to step alongside him into adulthood with courage, vulnerability, and joy.
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