Singer-songwriter Ken Yates converts raw hope and heartache into a soothing, cathartic, and emotionally charged folk rock reverie with “Under the Cover of Light,” an intimately crafted anthem of empathy from his eagerly awaited fifth album, 'Total Cinema.'
“Under the Cover of Light” – Ken Yates
I hope you’re dreaming in black and white and seeing in colour under the cover of light…
As the snow begins to melt, nights become gentler, and light seeps back into the day, Canadian singer-songwriter Ken Yates presents music perfectly suited for the transition from winter to spring – a tapestry of longing and healing, pain and hope. “Under the Cover of Light,” the fourth single from Yates’ forthcoming album Total Cinema, exemplifies contrasts: heavy yet uplifting, personal yet anthemic, both fragile and forceful. The Ontario artist transforms raw emotions into an uplifting, revitalizing experience with this comforting and cathartic folk rock piece, inviting quiet contemplation and emotional release.
With its vivid and profoundly vulnerable lyrics, “Under the Cover of Light” reaffirms Yates’ remarkable ability to transform deeply personal experiences into universally relatable, soul-stirring music.
Total Cinema – Ken Yates
You’re always calling your
mom in the dead of night
With a temper you inherited from your father
By the time you start to feel weary
You find yourself waking in the morning,
wrapped up
Salt from the morning ploughs on the road
Yet you discover you’re spinning out
Confronting your reflection
It never reflects what you desire
Atwood Magazine is excited to present “Under the Cover of Light,” a track that feels both raw and resilient, pulsating with an urgent energy that distinguishes it from much of Ken Yates’ previous work. Fueled by a dynamic guitar riff and sharp, energetic percussion, the song pushes forward with Yates’ hallmark emotional depth – his voice vibrant on the mic, filled with emotion yet tempered by introspection. It stands as an anthem of empathy, a call for those caught between collapse and emergence.
Releasing everywhere on May 8th, “Under the Cover of Light” follows Yates’ recent singles “Cataclysmic End,” “Perennials,” and the title track “Total Cinema,” each providing a glimpse into the immersive, dynamic soundscape Yates has crafted for his upcoming fifth studio effort. A two-time Editor’s Pick by Atwood Magazine, Ken Yates consistently proves to be a unique, generational talent, with songs “radiating with the quiet hope of a soul put through the wringer.” Previously, we hailed his fourth album Cerulean (2022) as a breathtaking victory of the human spirit, transforming sorrow into beauty and grief into hope.
Ken Yates Explores 4th LP ‘Cerulean,’ a Touchingly Stirring Triumph of Grief & Hope:: FEATURE ::
Where his last album initiated a deliberate shift away from traditional ‘folk’ toward a less strictly defined sound, Total Cinema signifies a pivotal evolution.
According to his team, the new album “broadens Yates’ sonic palette with rich textures and varied arrangements,” while delving into themes of gratitude, self-awareness, and the intricacies of the human experience. Collaborating with producer Dan Ledwell in Halifax, Yates navigates both shadows and light, crafting an eleven-track journey that triumphs in artistic clarity and emotional authenticity.
Musically, “Under the Cover of Light” reflects this ongoing creative shift, balancing on an emotional knife’s edge as Yates infuses energy and warmth into his weighty subject matter. The outcome is unexpectedly uplifting: A bright, cathartic reckoning that naturally leans towards the light, even as the narrator grapples with the pain of wanting to assist others who may not be ready to accept help.
Yates consolidates all that introspection, gratitude, and tension into the song’s cathartic chorus — a well-earned release that feels both gentle and victorious, even if it’s grounded in one person’s hopes and dreams. The sentiment endures; the love, the concern, the weight of understanding what your loved ones endure while striving to support them as best as you can. It’s not merely a wish for someone else’s recovery, but a reflection of the empathy we harbor for those close to us; the quiet, enduring hope that they will navigate their way through darkness and return “under the cover of light.”
I hope you’re wearing your welcome out
Under the veil of your hanging cloud
Hope you’re being gentle with yourself
And resting better
I hope you’re stirring your appetite
Connecting with someone’s gaze
I hope you’re dreaming in black and white
And seeing in colour
Under the cover of light
Under the cover of light
As Yates shares, this song not only set the tone for the album, but also granted him a fresh perspective on his songwriting.
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Ken Yates converts pure hope and heartache into a soothing, cathartic, and emotionally rich folk rock experience in “Under the Cover of Light,” a deeply personal anthem of empathy from his eagerly awaited fifth album, ‘Total Cinema.’