The London-based eight-member group caroline, along with Caroline Polachek, blends rich acoustic textures with swirling, personal lyrics and an enduring feeling of emotional disorientation in their song “Tell me I never knew that,” which serves as the lead single from their second album, ‘caroline 2.’
“Tell me I never knew that” – caroline featuring Caroline Polachek
“The right time—” Caroline Polachek's voice interjects mid-sentence, landing with its familiar crystalline clarity. It feels as if we are overhearing an intimate thought that's already in motion—like she is revealing a half-formed secret that carries urgency. A repetitive acoustic guitar riff plays throughout, steady and entrancing, anchoring the listener; it is the foundation of the song. Vocal layers from both Polachek and caroline’s Jasper Llewellyn begin to swirl and amass around this riff. The rhythm is gentle and twisting, reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens’ picking style on Carrie and Lowell—easy to lose oneself in if the listener strays from its heartbeat. “Tell me I never knew that” captures that sensation of being suspended mid-air, held by repetition while everything else unravels quietly around it.
caroline 2 – caroline
The right time
I don’t even know if I’m alive
Know the right time
But I don’t wanna be somebody else
At the right time
Maybe I don’t wanna be anyone
At the right time
I don’t wanna be somebody else
How many are they?
I never told them
(Tell me, I never knew that)
Sink down, unfolding
(Tell me, I never knew that)
Don’t go, I’m holding
(Tell me, I never knew that)
Press on, press on him
(Tell me, I never knew that)
Two times I told them
The single “Tell me I never knew that,” from caroline’s newly released sophomore album caroline 2, was initially crafted by members of the London-based group, with Polachek later adding production and compositional contributions. “We used to refer to this track as ‘Backstreet boys’ because the opening melody felt reminiscent of a Backstreet Boys song,” the band recalls. What begins sparsely gradually evolves into a rich, immersive soundscape: Two intertwining vocal lines develop into a grand arrangement of strings, horns, and woodwinds.
“The main riff was created by Casper [Hughes] on acoustic guitar and stood out as a highly catchy, upbeat, hypnotic hook,” the group notes. “We composed the opening melody collectively and immediately thought, ‘This sounds like something Caroline Polachek would sing’ due to its catchy nature. We joked about inviting her to sing it, but we didn’t expect it to become a reality until about a year later when we sent her the incomplete track and she was on board!”
Most of the song’s production can be attributed to Polachek. According to the band, “she contributed numerous additional parts that elevated the entire piece,” collaborating late into the night to create the song's beautiful structure. The track builds intentionally, with each new element entering almost imperceptibly until it fully comes alive. As the band members recall, “We were still recording around 1:30 a.m. when we decided to wrap it up, yet there was no sign of [Polachek] being tired or losing any singing stamina, even after six hours of singing. It was awe-inspiring to witness! We did a little more re-arranging together a few weeks after the session, and then the song was finally complete.”
Lyrically, “Tell me I never knew that” occupies a space between clarity and confusion. It explores themes of derealization, emotional clutter, and the complications of excessive self-awareness. The lyrics feel fragmented, resembling a conversation between two internal voices. A particularly striking moment emerges: “I don’t even know if I’m alive / But I don’t wanna be somebody else (at the right time).” The delivery is gentle, but the sentiment hits hard.
The track eventually calms to stillness. Polachek guides the outro with a serene, mantra-like repetition—“It always has been / It always will be”—while Llewellyn quietly circles back with the reminder: “…at the right time.” The song concludes not with resolution, but with acceptance.
“Tell me I never knew that” resonates as both grounded and ethereal, saturated in emotion and possessing greater depth than it initially seems. It’s a richly immersive experience, serving as an ideal introduction to caroline’s newly released sophomore album, caroline 2.
It always has been
It always will be
It always has been
It always will be…
It always happens…
This always happens…
It always will be…
— —
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The London-based octet caroline, along with Caroline Polachek, combines rich acoustic textures with introspective lyrics and a persistent feeling of emotional uncertainty in "Tell me I never knew that," the lead single from their second album, ‘caroline 2.’