Courtesy of André Cataldo
André Cataldo
André Cataldo of Dear Genre has me hooked with the description of his new album, Man in Full: “The record is drenched in ’90s tones.” For example, he wanted “Honest Kids”—the first track out of nine—to sound like an episode of Twin Peaks, the quirky cult drama from David Lynch. Indeed, when the synths kick in at the top of the song, my brain’s sci-fi–lullaby appreciation center—an extra lobe present only in those of us raised in the 1990s—activates. But Man in Full also represents, Cataldo says, the first time he’s been able to let down his guard and be himself.
Courtesy of André Cataldo
Before creating the album, Cataldo was on a path to self-destruction, having lost two close friends two months apart. The song “Milky Eyes” is about one of them, who died due to a drug overdose. Another, a father figure to Cataldo, died of suicide. He’s now 28, but Cataldo started Dear Genre when he was just 17 years old. “It sounds silly because I'm in my twenties still, but looking at 30, I felt like I either had to make my statement now or get out,” he says.
The result is a different sound than in the past. Dear Genre, Cataldo says, has always been about blurring the lines, almost letting the listener decide what the artist sounds like. On Man in Full, which was produced by Damon Sheets, the songs “Whispers” and “Capture Me” are Cataldo’s first attempt at a folkier sound, his first time finger-picking on a recording. Sheets also plays drums and bass on the record. Ashby Laws adds a haunting depth on accordion and piano.
Cataldo’s lyrics, too, bear a dark but honest quality. “Bones” is a slower, woeful tune in a minor key. If the title Man in Full alludes to Cataldo creating with more authenticity, this single pushes further, as he imagines a world without himself. The chorus: “If I travel alone / I truly fear I'll travel too deep. / If I come out just bones / Would you miss me? / If my skin turned to dust / Will the wind blow me away? / Would you build a new house and paint it light gray?”
“‘Bones’ was me deciding to completely let my guard down,” Cataldo says. The artist has now completed treatment at Sana Lake Recovery Center and is a certified peer specialist. “I had a talk with myself and said, ‘If you're going to be an artist, then you need to do your art, not people-pleasing art that looks good on paper.’ I just put my all into it.” That the track has so far been the audience’s favorite only affirms the artist’s hunch: They like the honesty.
If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.
