Chris Caulfield Turns Pain Into Alleviative Art In New Single “Walls Come Down”
Probing intensely poignant themes of self-destruction and relationship turmoil, Chris Caulfield turns pain into alleviative art in “Walls Come Down.” The track melds unblemished trap beats with impassioned, 2000s emo-rock sensibilities, akin to the genre-bending amalgam of artists like Machine Gun Kelly and iann dior.
The single chronicles a harrowing conversation between Caulfield and his wife, who sings alongside him in the song. In the Fall and Winter of 2021, the couple experienced trying strife that tested their 12 years of marriage. Still, they came out stronger on the other side, creating a contemplative, conversational song that pulls at the heartstrings with the umbra of achingly familiar pain.
“I can remember my wife repeatedly commenting how this wasn’t real, this wasn’t me, nothing was making sense, and in retrospect I of course agree, and it’s part of what made this such an awful stretch, that feeling of not being able to really connect with where you were mentally, emotionally in a moment,” Caulfield reflects.
Caulfield cites 2021 as being the most challenging year of his life. Traversing the sticky web of mental health struggles, chronic pain, and work stress, among other clashes, he was at a record low. “Walls Come Down,” however, marks a turning point for the just-outside-Toronto-based artist, who worked for a year with various production and engineering teams to bring his artistic vision of the song, creating a “pensive, dark environment” to fruition.
“I think anyone who has been through something similar, be it an episode with their mental health, or a serious relationship issue/period, can connect with the feelings, emotions, perspectives, etc.,” Caulfield shares.