Cavalier Attitude released their debut album ‘Heartbreak & Hangovers’ at the end of June. The record is a perfect blend of emo, punk, and pop-punk with plenty of heart on the sleeve moments.
‘Heartbreak & Hangovers’ is a deep dive into the chaos of youth, heartbreak, and self-reflection. The band recently took some time out of their busy schedule to share some insights into each track from the album.
No Substance
I had the idea for this one when out having drinks with a group of people I didn’t know too well. It became apparent to me that alcohol was the main connection between everyone. When the common ground is just getting drunk, conversations don’t go far — there’s not much beneath the surface.
Slide Away
This one is about not having the nerve to ask someone out when you really should have, as there is nothing to lose over it.
Catch Me If You Can
Inspired by the eternal chase between Roadrunner and Coyote.
Where’d You Go
This one was inspired by an old friend who quietly disappeared from my life. While mostly fictional, it explores those friendships and relationships that don’t stand the test of time — the ones that fade without a real ending. Still, we hold on to the good memories and sometimes catch ourselves wondering where they are now.
Burnt Toast
Written after a conversation I had with someone about the “Burnt Toast Theory”. This theory suggests that something seemingly negative or a minor inconvenience (such as burning your toast in the morning and having to make more) might protect you from something worse, or set you up for something better. This had me thinking of all friends made, partners met, and crises averted simply due to being in the right place at the right time. Similarly, what things have been missed out on by being somewhere at the wrong time. It’s enough to make your head spin and probably shouldn’t be thought about for too long.
Crab Bucket
If you put crabs into a bucket you don’t need to put a lid on it to stop them climbing out. They don’t know how to work together and as one gets close to climbing out, another one grabs onto it and drags it back into the bucket. Sometimes society feels like this, dragging each other down whenever someone finds success, instead of all working together to escape the bucket.
Tonight
This one is about being stuck in a relationship that’s over in everything but name. Then someone else comes along who catches your eye, but you aren’t in a position to pursue. It’s about choosing integrity in the face of temptation, even when it’s hard.
Bad Way
This one is about going on a few dates that seem to go well, and then being ghosted with no apparent reason, leaving you with frustration and self-doubt.
Three Lights Out
“Three Lights Out” was written after losing three school friends. The song deals with the erosion of the invincibility we feel when we are young, and suggests we must make the most of every day in the memory of those who are no longer with us.
Start Again
“Start Again” is about closure. It was written after a dream I had about an ex trying to convince me to forget everything and go back to the start, before things went downhill. I had been avoiding writing about the relationship until now, but the time felt right to put pen to paper. The chorus mirrors the dream, with one person trying to move on and the other trying to convince them to rewind back to the beginning. The Outro is a callback to the entire album, looking back on all of the heartbreak and hangovers with the intention of moving on and leaving them behind.
