In the recording process, Cary’s aim was to let the track take shape without overworking it. He explains, “We just recorded the parts and put it together. The whole thing only took a few hours.” That unfussy energy comes through in the final product. The song sounds clean but not over-polished, like it still has room to breathe.
If you’ve followed Cary’s previous work, “Cut Foot” has a bit more ease in the mix. The melodic guitar riffs are there, but so is a rhythm in his vocal phrasing that leans into his hip-hop influences. He credits that balance as a key part of how he writes. “Even when I’m singing, most of the time there’s still a hip-hop cadence underneath it. I like that bounce in the phrasing,” he says. “It’s probably just guitar, rhythm, and honesty, those would be the three main ingredients in my stuff.”
The lyrics on “Cut Foot” feel personal but not too tied down by specifics. Cary tends to let songs guide themselves based on how a chord or progression catches him in the moment. “I kind of catch a vibe from whatever I’ve started to build when writing,” he explains. “It might be a chord, a progression, a bassline, whatever catches my emotions at the time, and then I go from there.” That openness leaves enough space for listeners to bring their own experiences into the track. It’s one of those songs that changes meaning depending on where your head’s at when you hear it.
It’s been surreal for Cary to watch the song find its way out into the world. Local Sounds Radio recently added it to their playlist, and the response has been motivating. “I’m really grateful for the support people have shown and for the radio play and streams,” he says. “More than anything, it just makes me want to keep releasing music and keep pushing forward with it.”
For Cary, pushing forward includes some big moves on the horizon. Early next year, he’s heading to Pittsburgh to work with Big Jerm and ID Labs. For someone from Newcastle, it’s a bit of a wild leap. “When you step back and think about it, it’s kind of crazy,” he admits. “Those guys helped shape the sound of Mac Miller and that whole Pittsburgh movement. Mac’s music was a big influence on me growing up and still is. Not just the sound, but the freedom in it, rap, singing, live instruments, whatever felt right. That’s always been the way I approach music too.”
The plan is to collaborate with Big Jerm in Pittsburgh on a project Cary’s calling the Pittsburgh Sessions, though he’s leaving its shape open for now. It might turn into one EP, a series of releases, or even a full album. For Cary, the chance to work with someone who’s had such an impact on his own creative journey feels like a full-circle moment. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” he says.
Even with exciting projects ahead, there’s no sense that Cary is in a rush to prove anything. His music has always been more about feeling than forcing. “If the feeling is real, the song usually finds its own shape,” he says, and “Cut Foot” seems to live in that space where everything is measured but loose enough to keep its soul.
We wrapped things up with something lighter, what does Cary do when he’s not working on music? Turns out, it’s the coastal stuff you’d expect. “A day off for me is usually a surf, maybe get down to the beach for a bit, grab some food. Just hang out really,” he says. There’s not much more to it than that, but it suits him.
“Cut Foot” is out now on all the usual platforms. It’s worth adding to your playlist if you’re in the mood for something that sits with you. Not loud, not flashy, just solid.
Stream “Cut Foot” by Cary Archer here: