South London’s maverick soul artist McCabe unveils his latest single ‘Killer of Mine’ – an intimate musical exploration born from personal loss and artistic transformation. Emerging nearly three years after his breakthrough single ‘Supermodel’, McCabe crafts a haunting narrative that navigates the tender, often unspoken terrain of mortality through a dual perspective: the dying and those witnessing their final moments.
Collaborating with producer Patrick James Fitzroy and featuring Berber's ethereal vocals, the track transcends a simple musical composition to become a raw emotional journey. Drawing inspiration from his own experience of watching a family member approach death's threshold, McCabe channels the complex emotional spectrum of loss, love, and inevitable farewell.
Following the release of the single, we sat down with McCabe to find out more about the story behind this beautiful lament of life and loss.
1.Your new single ‘Killer of Mine’ is described as a "haunting exploration of mortality." What inspired you to tackle such a heavy and emotional subject matter in your music?
I wrote the song at a point when a family member of mine was living out their final days. The music moved me to a point that in order to do it justice I had to go deep and tackle the inevitability of death.
2.The song being written from a dual narrative emerged from your personal experience of witnessing a family member on their deathbed. Can you tell us more about how this firsthand experience shaped the lyrics and the overall creative process?
It’s one of the more personal songs I’ve ever written. However, the lyrics are not written from my own perspective. They are written from the perspective of the person on the verge of death and the person watching the other’s final moments. When someone is about to die it makes you question your own mortality and the people closest to you and I felt I had to explore this.
3.You mentioned that the addition of Berber's vocals elevated the piece beyond its original scope. What was it about Berber's contribution that transformed ‘Killer of Mine’ into a compelling standalone single?
I think it’s because it was completely improvised. We had no plan. We just pressed record and Berber just sung what came to her. The melodies and phrasing was unlike anything I would ever have come up with. But that’s the beauty of collaboration. Someone can take your song and change it into something greater than you imagined.
4.The song "takes an unexpected turn with its luminous piano centrepiece, creating a striking emotional contrast." Can you walk us through the creative decision to juxtapose the sombre lyrics with this more uplifting musical element?
I think juxtaposition is always interesting in art. I wanted the piano to have a gospel feel which automatically creates a sense of spirituality. At the same time, when I make music I let the music guide me. I try to not think too much about what I’m going to do before. Once I have a melody, I ad-lib my lyrics, record them roughly and then piece it together after improvisation.
5.The music video for ‘Killer of Mine’ is described as an abstract journey and tale of death. What was the thought process behind the video's visual aesthetic, and how does it complement the song's thematic exploration?
Myself and the director Sam Perry wanted to show the journey of life and death through abstract imagery using shadows and bright lights. Similarly to my music process, we only had a vague idea for the video. After, we went on a journey across London finding places and environments which inspired these feelings and filmed as many moments as possible.
6.You're described as a "maverick soul artist who defies easy categorization." How do you feel your unique positioning within the South London music scene has influenced your artistic evolution and the unconventional approach you've taken with ‘Killer of Mine’?
I’ve never fitted into any scene and never really wanted to. You get bored of hearing post-punk over and over again. So naturally you want to make something different. I love many genres of music and try to employ them all in my work which results in something that is not necessarily uniform.
7.There are parallels between your sound and the work of artists like Marvin Gaye and Yves Tumor. How do you see your music fitting into the broader landscape of contemporary soul and experimental music?
I set out to create pop music but I try to do it in an unconventional way. I think that is when music is at its most interesting. Artists like Yves Tumor certainly do this and they are all inspirations to me. If one day my music can be put alongside them then I’ll be happy.
8.As you continue to carve out your own path, what are some of the key creative influences or artistic principles that you feel are guiding your musical journey?
One of my principles is to not think too much about the music and to do things in the moment. As soon as things are too presupposed the magic is lost. Another is to not abide by the musical structures of verse chorus, verse chorus. Lastly, to always evolve stylistically but to never lose the heart of the central idea.
9.With the release of ‘Killer of Mine’ and its accompanying music video, what are you hoping audiences will take away from this latest offering?
As always, I hope to move people. To create emotion.
10.Can you give us a glimpse into what's next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or creative directions you're excited to explore?
I have a whole album recorded and completed, produced by Patrick James Fitzroy (Sorry, PVA, Katy J Pearson) who also produced this song. That will be coming out next year. Things are only just getting started for McCabe.
‘Killer of Mine’ is out NOW on all major streaming platforms. Stay tuned for the release of the music video on 29th November.