Exclusive: Stream Kasador’s New Curated “Songs We Wish We Wrote” Spotify Playlist

By: Staff –

To celebrate the release of Kasador’s new unapologetic breakup song “Quit Your Crying”, the Kingston, Ontario-based band curated a new “Songs We Wish We Wrote” Spotify playlist. Stream it below!

“This playlist is a collection of songs we wish we wrote, and the songs they inspired. You could group them by genre – we’ve got two “soft grunge” songs that inspired our song ‘The City’, three rock songs that inspired our song ‘Youth’, and three americana/ singer songwriter tunes that inspired our ballad ‘Younger Days’. Throw in an honourable mention that’ll likely inspire future writing, and we’re off,” said the band.

First up we got “Uzumaki” by Softcult, a modern grunge bandmade up of 2 sisters who write relatable lyrics and great melodies – what’s not to love. The delivery of the lyrics immediately draws you in before you’re hit with a wave of colossal force in the chorus to then immediately clear out in the verse. “This vicious cycle’s infinite, like a dream where my teeth all fall out”. That lyric was stuck in my head much of the past year.

Next up, and keeping with the “soft grunge” theme (is that a genre?), “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins. We love songs that have a distinctive guitar hook right off the top, and the driving drums and matter of fact vocals delivered with a casual calmness are very enrapturing. This song feels like a one the shiniest gems from the grunge era. This might be our bass player’s favourite song of all time, and it definitely inspired the main riff in our song “The City” – A backhanded love letter to big cities that speaks to how soul crushing it can be to chasesomething that will never love you back. Even though the love is unrequited, somehow big cities keep drawing people in. We let our love for grunge and drastic dynamic changes flow in this one.

Moving onto Rock songs that inspired our single “Youth”, we’re going to start with “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon. Arguably the perfect rock song, it blends gritty rock with the type of mainstream appeal you’d hear on top 40 radio (and continue to hear cause this song has staying power). There aren’t a ton of rock songs post 90s that are a fan favourite for karaoke but the madlads somehow did it. No bells or whistles, just four people with their instruments making magic.

Our next song is by a Canadian rock mainstay, but it’s a lesser-known song off their debut EP – “Shapeless Art” by The Glorious Sons. The lyrics are so pointed and poetically descriptive that I can’t help but feel my heart strings being pulled. There’s a raw realism with the production and delivery of the vocals that can be hard to find in modern music. I love this song.

Next is “Helicopter” by Bloc Party. The guitars and melodies climb and descend mountains so quickly that I can’t help but be drawn in. The stabby and angular vocal delivery has formed a core memory in my brain, and no doubt influenced some of my singing, perhaps most evident on our single “Youth”. The punkish vocal delivery sits atop a gritty rock instrumental. We definitely tried to find a balance between raw realism and mainstream appeal with this one as we strive to feel excitement while tackling introspective themes and internal struggle. Growing older does not equate to growing old. You never have to lose your youthful exuberance no matter what age you are.

Americana and singer songwriter music have some of the best song writers out there. Exhibit A: “24 Frames” by Jason Isbell. Lyrical poetry and thoughtful guitar work. A great display of his prowess as a musical creative. I find myself always realizing something new about the lyrics with each listen. “You thought god was an architect, now you know he’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow, and everything you built that’s all for show goes up in flames, in 24 frames”. Enough said. I’m just gonna leave that there. I think everyone wishes they wrote that.

“Through The Echoes” by Paolo Nutini is another song with some truly great lyrics that inspire me to keep working on my craft. “I’m always wondering what it would be like to die, she asks me why? I always smile when I feel like I’m gonna cry, she asks me why?”. Wow. Just wow. Emotion delivered in one of its most raw states. Haunting and beautiful. Lie down late at night, close your eyes and let this song wash over you.

For a change of pace we’re adding “You Worry Me” by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. This song has an undeniable honesty about it. It feels not overthought but still thoughtful. There’s a pain and steadfastness in his voice that hits straight to the heart. The song writing of Isbell, Nutini and Rateliff have been hugely inspirational to all of us as a band, laying the groundwork for us to write a song like “Younger Days”. Tender finger picking over a wistful organ and snare drum shuffle, and descriptive storytelling that paints a story of young love lost, the passage of time, and coming to terms with one’s surroundings on a warm summer’s eve culminating in the realization “Everything is gonna be alright, everything is gonna be”. This song is our attempt at Canadiana.

Honourable mention – “Sacred Heart” by Ellevator. A new song discovery of ours that we can’t stop listening to. The guitar hook off the top, driving drums, chord movement in the chorus and vocal melody are all infectious, not to mention the deadly bass lick leading into the last chorus. I truly love the lyric “you and I hang to dry”, and how the band fades out under the repetition of “now we’re fading”. Class.