Hailing from Chardon, Ohio, Cassidy King has made a name for herself through her outspoken social media and by having more than enough musical talent to back it up. King has spoken openly about how her conservative, religious upbringing in the midwest caused her to struggle to recognize and accept her sexuality. After dealing with her own internalized homophobia as well as that of her community, however, King has come out stronger on the other side. Now an open and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, King is using her music and her internet presence to give her fans the sense of acceptance and community that she longed for in her childhood. Such was the case for 2020’s “Safe Spaces,” in which King mournfully endures the girl she loves treating her like a shameful secret, and such is the case for 2021’s “Under Covers.”
“Under Covers” presents itself very much like a pop song. The catchy melodies, the infectious hook and moving drums all work wonders to make the song an earworm. Underneath the surface however, the song draws upon much deeper pools of influence. The subtle guitar scratch and riffs paired with the chugging rhythm guitar evokes notes of both funk and rock. The driving four-on-the-floor kick drum paired with the wavy synths make parts of the song almost feel like techno. All considered, the melting-pot of various influences works incredibly well, giving the song a powerful sense of movement from one section to the next.
King wrote “Under Covers” as a much needed message to her younger self: there is nothing wrong with being who you are, and that nothing but pain can come from hiding from your identity. She lambasts the external forces that kept her from feeling comfortable in her own skin, preaching love and yet disparaging her love as a sin. And yet, despite the pain that has undeniably inspired this song, King doesn’t speak from a place of anger, rather from one of hope for the future. Despite, or perhaps because of, her upbringing, King acknowledges that a lack of empathy and understanding is more to blame for these antiquated views than outright evil or hatred.
“Why do they hate the way I look in your eyes?
If they saw with mine
They would say I’m sorry, because they were what was wrong with me
They wouldn’t try to change who I am
They would change the way they see us”
King’s empathy here should not, however, be mistaken for her being passive or apologetic. She refuses to change or hide who she is because she knows that her identity isn’t, and never has been, the problem. This is the message she wishes she could relay to her younger self. Since that isn’t possible, Cassidy King is making it available to all those in need of guidance in accepting who they are.
Written By Liam Dun
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