Ethel Cain is back and making waves, but this time, she’s bringing a dreamy swirl of nostalgia, haunting melodies, and heartfelt storytelling into the spotlight. With her upcoming album Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You dropping on August 8, Cain has given fans an early taste through her latest eight-minute single, "Nettles." And boy, does it carry emotional weight — with a little vintage synth magic sprinkled in.
🎹 Twin Peaks Vibes? Absolutely.
If “Nettles” gives you Twin Peaks vibes, you’re not alone — and it’s 100% intentional. In a candid Instagram story on one of her art accounts, Ethel Cain let fans in on the behind-the-scenes inspiration for the track. Turns out, she fell down the Twin Peaks rabbit hole thanks to Angelo Badalamenti, the mastermind behind the show’s moody score.
“Also fun fact,” she shared, “To everyone saying the song reminds them of Twin Peaks — late last year I watched that video of Angelo Badalamenti explaining how he wrote Laura’s Theme and loved it so much that I hunted down the synths he used for Twin Peaks and bought them. Those are the ones I used for ‘Willoughby.’ That video is also the reason I decided to watch Twin Peaks, lol.”
And she wasn’t kidding. In a follow-up story, Cain even got technical for her music gear fans:
“For those asking, the specific keyboard I used for the Nettles intro (I call them my Angelo synths) was a Yamaha DX7s.”
That’s a serious level of commitment. Sourcing the exact keyboards used by Badalamenti? Now that’s a true homage.
🌲 A Legacy of Sound — and Influence
For anyone unfamiliar, Angelo Badalamenti was not just any composer. He worked closely with Twin Peaks creator David Lynch and the ethereal singer-songwriter Julee Cruise to craft that unforgettable soundscape. Their iconic song “Falling” became the heart of the show’s 1990 soundtrack Music From Twin Peaks, eventually snagging a 1991 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Cain’s nod to Badalamenti isn't just a creative decision — it’s a spiritual one. Her use of these synths anchors “Nettles” in a legacy of surreal, melancholic beauty while bringing her own Southern Gothic flavor to the table.
📝 A Story That Wrote Itself — Then Grew
But “Nettles” isn’t just about sonic nostalgia. There’s a deeper emotional pull woven into its lyrics and soundscape. In a statement, Ethel Cain shared that the song came to life around the same time she wrote the final track for the upcoming album — during her first week settling into a new home in Alabama.
“This song and the last track on the record were both written the same week, the very first week I moved into the house in Alabama where I finished Preacher’s Daughter,” Cain explained.
What’s even more poetic? She didn’t realize at the time that she was laying the foundation for an entire storyline.
“In similar fashion to Preacher’s Daughter — specifically A House in Nebraska and Strangers — I wrote what essentially became the beginning and end of the story without realizing it. What were originally just little vignettes of emotion I was feeling at the time ultimately became the tentpoles for a larger narrative.”
That’s peak Cain — always letting emotion lead the way, then watching it evolve into something grander.
💔 A Dream of Love, Loss, and Holding On
If you think Cain’s work is always soaked in Southern gothic tragedy, you’re not wrong — but “Nettles” offers a brief reprieve from the darkness.
“‘Nettles’ became a dream of losing the one you love,” she says, “asking them to reassure you that it won’t come true and to dream, instead, of all the time you’ll have together as you grow old side by side.”
And then she hits us right in the feels:
“Every once in a blue moon, it feels good to slough off the macabre and to simply let love be.”
There’s something deeply relatable about that. Even the most complex storytellers need a moment to bask in simple love — and Cain gives us just that.
🌀 The Bigger Picture — Cain’s Expansive Universe
Cain’s fans already know she doesn’t just make albums. She builds universes. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she revealed that her work spans multiple characters and generations, all part of an interconnected narrative arc.
“This is going to be 15, 20 years from now,” she told Rolling Stone. “I work very slow. That’s how I like it.”
Slow and steady may not be the norm in a fast-paced industry, but for Cain, it’s all about depth, immersion, and emotional truth. She’s playing the long game, and her fans are here for it.
🔮 So, What’s Next?
With Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You set to drop on August 8, “Nettles” gives us a taste of what's to come — and if this single is any indication, we’re in for another spellbinding journey. Between her homage to Twin Peaks, her soul-baring lyrics, and her ever-growing fictional world, Cain is carving out a space that’s completely her own.
If you’re new to Ethel Cain, now’s the time to hop aboard. And if you’ve been riding with her since Preacher’s Daughter, “Nettles” is the perfect bridge between the past and what promises to be an emotionally electric future.
🎧 TL;DR: Why You Should Listen to “Nettles” Right Now
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🕰 Vintage synths inspired by Twin Peaks and Angelo Badalamenti
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💔 A moving story of love, fear, and aging together
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🧠 Thoughtful lyrics written during Cain’s deeply transitional life phase
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📖 A crucial puzzle piece in her expanding musical universe
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🎤 The beginning of a new era leading up to her August 8 album drop
Let Ethel Cain pull you into her dreamlike world of music, memory, and moody synths. Because sometimes, letting love speak — even in the most haunted corners — is the bravest act of all.
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