"Caramel" Is An Ode To Toxic Sleep Token Fans

My thoughts on the song:

You sit down, open up a box, and a little Vessel ballerina pops up out of the box. That's the vibe I get when we start "Caramel", Sleep Tokens newest single release. The beginning of the song brings that almost 'serenity' with the soft music-box like keys and a smooth melodic vocal introduction from Vessel that almost reminds me of 'Rain'. Its nostalgic in the hardest way to explain, the complexity of the song starts simply- and not to get all comparative and weird but I'd like to compare it almost to the progression of the bands lifecycle thus far. 

However, (and rather quickly), we see a contrast being immediately introduced to the song with a Raggaeton beat. The homie Greg Kennelty introduced me to that term in his video on the song because I kept calling it Netflix beach vibes & coconut mall chic. After the beat is introduced, we get this interesting combo of the almost 'sadder' music box keys, the beat, and Vessels vocals that present a very faux up-beat presentation once you look more into the lyrics of the song.

For those of you interested in the initial, right off the release thoughts of the song:

The drum beat comes in, technical as ever because let's be real- II pops off on every song. We get to the 2 minute mark of the song and at this point in listening you'd think that this was going to be come kind of lovey-dovey ballad with this interesting combo of what I'd consider to be a positive beat beneath the vocals. 

But then it his at 3:25. Initially I did a live reaction to this song in our Discord's listening party- and let's be real. I lost it a little at this breakdown. We have a very sudden 'out of nowhere' shift of how this song is presenting itself. It brings my absolute favorite aspects of the screams from "Vore". 

I've seen multiple other videos with people discussing that this scream is so different than the 'norm' of metalcore songs, or even Sleep Token songs which (kind of?) makes sense, but we've seen it before in their music. It's not new- rather than the deathcore-esq screams we'd get in other bands, Sleep Token's use of the heavier side of vocals is more akin to a Doom Metal vocalist. Which, I'd like to say is further supported by the blast beats in the breakdown. 

That's not to say that this song has just fully abandoned any semblance of the earlier segment of the song- there are still the overlayed melodic vocals, 'cooling down' off towards the end of the song and leaving you in a space akin to where we started. 

The take on 'Toxic Fans':

Sleep Token as a band has seen (what i confidently feel I can say) unprecedented growth we haven't seen with a band of their make & model before. And this heavily relies on the baseline of their anonymity as 'vessels' for the band and all of the lore things they've got going on. 

I feel as though now in an age where we feel like we have a right to know information or to have direct access to the people we consume content from this becomes a particular pain point for the fanbase as a whole. The development of parasocial relationships in the fan to musician dynamic have become even worse with social media. 

Now, I don't typically dive into the lyrics of a song. However with much urging from most people I've discussed this song with I have- and it's heartbreaking in a way from my interpretation of this and what it could be regarding. Taking a look at the lyrics? This song is heartbreaking-

Note** I'm going to be highlighting the specific segments of the lyrics I'll be referencing. I have deleted a bunch so if you'd like the full list of lyrics check it out on Genius!

Wear me out like Prada, devil in my detail

I swear it's getting harder even just to exhale

Backed up into corners, bitter in the lens

I'm sick of trying to hide it every time thеy take mine

Right off the bat, we see this anxiety presented regarding the immense spotlight put upon this band. Now this can come from so many different spaces- but I'm once again coming at it from the stance of the expectation of availability or at least accessibility to fans. Backing someone 'into a corner' regarding maintaining their privacy and anonymity. Then, almost this regret or disgust over the fact that you can harbor bitterness to the fact that there is so much demand for your presence. 

They ask me, "Is it goin' good in the garden?"

Say, "I'm lost, but I beg no pardon"

Up on the dice but low on the cards

I try not to talk about how it's harder now

Can I get a mirror side-stage?

Looking sideways at my own visage, gettin' worse

Every time they try to shout my real name just to get a rise from me

Acting like I'm never stressed out by the hearsay

I guess that's what I get for trying to hide in the limelight

Guess that's what I get for having 20/20 hindsight

Everybody wants eyes on 'em, I just wanna hear you sing that top line

Did I just highlight the entire section of this song? Yes. "They ask me, "Is it goin' good in the garden?"" I feel is a direct reference to being in the 'big boys club' of famous bands. Reaching the level of infamy they've achieved, thrusting them into this space separated and placed on a pedestal- much like the Garden Of Eden. Regardless of the presence in such a desired or 'holy' space- still feeling lost in how to navigate the land. 

Now, this separation I feel stems from the difference of the artist, and the presenting musician(s). The fame is claimed by these figureheads of Sleep Token, a visage created to protect the anonymity of the aritsts behind the masks. But now, there's a separation- and obviously some kind of bitterness, anger, or guilt to the characters created to protect the artist.  

Not to mention the general disregard and general respect for the choice to remain anonymous. "Every time they try to shout my real name just to get a rise from me, Acting like I'm never stressed out by the hearsay" as if that is not a devastating thing to see written into the lyrics of this song. Speaking with others and hearing how commonplace it is for people to scream the artists real names during a live show? To me, its a disgusting overstep of the relationship of a consumer/fan to the artist. We aren't entitled to their personal lives- and the push to be anonymous and this overstep from fans is the exact thing I'd like to highlight.

And if you don't think I mean it, then I understand

But I'm still glad you came, so let me see those hands

The request to be anonymous- fans not understanding why you wouldn't want to be presented to the world to take claim to your fame. "so let me see those hands" is very much giving live show. When you go to the live show it's commonplace to hear the artist call that out to the crowd. I see this as a direct commentary of the fanbase not understanding the struggles, or not caring but the artist still having to be grateful of their presence at the shows. Because, they're still a fan. 

Too young to get bitter over it all

Too old to retaliate like before

Too blessed to be caught ungrateful, I know

So I'll keep dancin' along to the rhythm

This stage is a prison, a beautiful nightmare (Too young to get bitter over it all)

A war of attrition, I'll take what I'm given (Too old to retaliate like before)

The deepest incisions, I thought I got better (Too blessed to be caught ungrateful, I know)

But maybe I didn't

This is echoing the thoughts I had earlier- being caught within the guilded cage that is your own fame. The push and pull between fan and creator and not being able to retaliate against blatant wrongs committed against them. 

(I wish it all away) Terrified to answer my own front door

I separated this to be it's own line. I don't think it needs much of an explanation because... yea. 

So I'll keep dancin' along to the rhythm

This stage is a prison, a beautiful nightmare

A war of attrition, I'll take what I'm given

Attrition, by definition is the shrinking (atrophy) of a group of people. Whether it be a fanbase- workforce, or in my consideration I'd think the inner circle and friendships of the artists. Anonymity can be freeing- but it can be so isolating. A "beautiful nightmare" directly quoted from the lyrics. The statement of continuing to dance along to the rhythm gives carrying on to carry on. 

My personal opinion on the song:

Up until about the two minute mark, I did find this song a bit hard to listen too. I'm saying this as my standard process when I am introducing a new song to my lineup or reviewing it is to play it in multiple different settings. In office, with headphones, on a speaker, and while driving. Now- while driving tends to be how to see how I feel about a song almost subconsciously. I caught myself hovering over the skip button MULTIPLE times whenever this song came on within the two minute margin. 

However, the more I listen to this song the more I dig it- it's growing on me just like Emergence did. 

It continues to grow on me, and I actually don't want to give it a rating. Not yet at least- I want to see it's presentation against the album as a whole. 

Final Thoughts:

I've been trying to think of an analogy of how this song registers in my mind, and I feel as though this is the most solid.

To me, this song is like the attempt to make caramel. Literally- if you've ever tried to make caramel in a pan you know how suddenly & almost violent the sugar can become because of the heat. And while I don't want to feel like I'm in high school writing overly-deep extrapolations of meaning in a book report, I feel like I can make this connection comfortably here. 

The song presents itself in a way that I see as a representation of an emotional state- the serenity quickly becoming overwhelmed. Bubbling over and becoming violent- making a mess and burning you if you get to close to touch. Cutting the heat and suddenly that violence stops bubbling and simmering- but the heat is still festering under the surface.

This song has been a very interesting project to dive into, and I can't help but feel guilty as a self declared part of their fanbase regarding what I feel the message of this song is. The violent and sudden growth of popularity that this band has experienced is quite literally a blessing and a curse. The entitlement fan bases feel to own knowledge regarding the people's content they are consuming- and the push and pull to separate the artist from the art.