Conner Cherland
“This is the first record of mine that I’ve ever cried to,” said Conner Cherland of his new Call Waiting EP. “Because I’m so proud of it, and it just moves me.”
The sixth release in as many years for the charismatic SoCal singer-songwriter finds Cherland moving into ultra-authentic, organic indie rock territory alongside the likes of Hozier and Shakey Graves. His debut for Santa Barbara Records, Call Waiting captures Cherland’s cinematic songcraft, poignant lyricism, and tremulously emotive vocals more vividly than ever before.
The EP’s six songs explore love, loss, and emotional maturing with rare candor and clarity. Rich in universal sentiments refreshingly expressed, a recurring theme is the wistfulness of life’s transitional chapters, as we shed old selves and grope for fresh identity.
“When you’re from a small town and seen as pretty valuable and unique, then you move out into the real world and realize that no one really cares, that’s a really big disparity,” said Cherland, who grew up in California’s High Desert before relocating to Santa Barbara for college.
A self-described former volleyball jock, Cherland began writing songs while still studying. Early inspirations included Sufjan Stevens, City and Colour, Ed Sheeran, and something of an epiphany while watching his favorite movie, High School Musical.
“I felt like I was seeing myself for the first time,” Cherland recalled. “I still love being athletic, but I’m very artistic as well. I really enjoy being a blend of the two.”
In his mid-twenties, Cherland chose music over a tech career and has since made a living playing everything from clubs and corporate events to parties and weddings while self-releasing a string of increasingly accomplished records culminating in 2021’s heartwarming Love Songs album. His performances are captivating combos of acoustic guitar and that remarkably versatile voice augmented by foot percussion, electronic loops, and often humorous between-song anecdotes.
Produced by John Bottrell (Christina Perri, Keith Cullen, etc.) at L.A.’s Four Seasons Recording, Call Waiting is Cherland at his most polished and articulate, yet with his signature sincerity and sensitivity charmingly intact. The album’s title track revisits a traumatic teenage breakup (“My first loss of a sense of self”), while “Heavy” conveys his emotional numbness upon relocating to L.A. recently, and “You Are What You Take In” forms a farewell letter to a former self as he watches it devolve during the pandemic.
“It’s cathartic, but I hope people will feel excited, too,” mulled Cherland. “The lyrical content can really hit the heart, but if they just want to enjoy, it’s also right there on the surface.”
Astonishing in its eloquence and honesty, Call Waiting is a triumph of cultured songcraft and relatable lyricism destined to propel Conner Cherland toward a broader audience and beyond.