New album is “officially closing that chapter” on Ethel Cain

Ethel Cain has said her new album ‘Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Aways Love You’ will see her “close the chapter” of the ‘Ethel Cain’ character.

The artist – real name Hayden Silas Anhedönia – is preparing to release her second studio album under the name Ethel Cain on Friday (August 8) – pre-order here. The record has also been previewed with the singles ‘Nettles’ and ‘Fuck Me Eyes’.

In a new interview with Popcast, however, Anhedönia revealed that she intends to draw a line under the ‘Ethel Cain’ persona once this album cycle is complete so that she can focus on other artistic exploits.

She has recorded under the pseudonym since 2019 and spent the following years establishing a back story for the character. The debut album ‘Preacher’s Daughter’ in 2022 outlined Cain’s strict religious upbringing and detailed instances of abuse and heartbreak.

Anhedönia told Them in 2022: “You can only run so much from where you come from. Ethel was my scapegoat — she kept running and ended up chained to a bed in an attic. If I’m the good ending, she’s the bad one.”

On Popcast, which you can watch above, she brought fans up to date with her plans to bring an end to the Ethel Cain story. “’Preacher’s Daughter’ was speaking on my experience in the church and as a child. ‘Willoughby Tucker’ is more of my insecurities and frustrations and fears and inadequacies in love. And so it’s just as personal, just on a different tip.”

“But all of this, since the debut, has to do with Ethel Cain, the granddaughter’s character. So we are now, after this record is over, officially closing that chapter.”

“I built Ethel Cain, the granddaughter’s character, now based off of 27 years of life. I have to go back out now and live and get more experience.”

Her decision comes just weeks after a slew of past controversial social media posts from Anhedönia’s past resurfaced. Also among the posts were a drawing allegedly by Cain that some described as child pornography and a poster she is said to have designed that parodied a real-life missing poster of a murdered nine-year-old girl.

She went on to admit to having sent the posts and apologised for some of the “shameful” content. She also said that the people resurfacing the content are not seeking justice, but looking to “destroy” her.

Anhedönia was also the subject of controversy earlier this year when she shared the hashtag #KillMoreCEOs after the high-profile murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York in December.

Following the new album’s release, Anhedönia is set to go on tour, which is set to be her biggest to date. She will play in venues including London’s Eventim Apollo, Paris’ L’Olympia, New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, and Berkeley’s Greek Theater.

The US run will begin in August, while the UK trek begins in October. See all the dates here and find UK tickets here and US tickets here.

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