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HOWL (Protest Song)

by Ryan Cassata

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about

HOWL is an energetic pop-punk song that embodies my passion for touring while exploring the struggles of balancing life on the road and love and family life. Through exaggerated storytelling, I aim to shed light on the complexities and sacrifices of being a touring musician while delving into themes of loneliness, longing, and the realities of tour life. I absolutely love touring with my protest songs, and almost every show is worth the occasional heartache and longing for my partner. The chorus dives into a queer kink fantasy juxtaposed with the feelings of being trapped in a van and the resulting loneliness. The verses explore loneliness, longing, growing up, and sacrificing to chase a passion. The bridge dives into the political climate towards the trans community. As a trans person, my body and identity are politicized. "I'm stuck writing protest songs because the government says I don't belong. What's a guy supposed to do when my mere existence is political? I write love songs too. Is queer love still atypical?"

Significantly, the accompanying artwork for "HOWL" draws inspiration from Allen Ginsberg's formerly-banned literary masterpiece poem, adding a layer of cultural resonance to the visual representation.

The band and I recorded this song while we were on tour in March. We worked on it across many cities and had an incredible amount of fun while doing it. The music video is a compilation of footage from the tour. Life on the road ain't so bad after all...

lyrics

All I wanna do it is write folk songs in my room and stare at the moon,
Howl like a dog and watch you get off
But I’m on tour with the band
So I can’t make plans cause I’m stuck in a van
If there’s a cliff, I might get off

No one came to the show last night
I’m so burnt out and I wanna go home
And someone’s waiting up for me, I know
We had a couple drinks to pass the time in this fucked up city that only serves whine
We smoke so much, I think I’m going blind

All I wanna do it is write folk songs in my room and stare at the moon,
Howl like a dog and watch you get off
But I’m on tour with the band
So I can’t make plans cause I’m stuck in a van
If there’s a cliff, I might get off

And I’ve been considering growing up
Getting married, have a baby and expanding our love
But I’m still struggling to catch up
I lose myself out there, I know
I get so goddamn distant from home
Just wishing to see someone that resembles somebody I know

All I wanna do it is write folk songs in my room and stare at the moon,
Howl like a dog and watch you get off
But I’m on tour with the band
So I can’t make plans cause I’m stuck in a van
If there’s a cliff, I might get off

I beat up my guitar on stage
And I’m bleeding from my fingers in an act of rage
I’m stuck writing protest songs cause the government says I don’t belong
And what’s a guy supposed to do?
When my mere existence is political?
I write love songs too, I write love songs too, I write love songs too
Is queer love still atypical?

All I wanna do it is write folk songs in my room and stare at the moon,
Howl like a dog and watch you get off
But I’m on tour with the band
So I can’t make plans cause I’m stuck in a van
If there’s a cliff, I might get off

Awoo!!!
Awoo!!!
Awoo!!!
Awoo!!!

credits

released June 20, 2023
Lyrics Written by Ryan Cassata
Performed by Ryan Cassata, Kyle Dombroski, Loren Barnese, Stephen Spies

Additional Vocals: Rob Bos, Cheyenne Turner, Samson Winsor

Engineering & Mixing: Kyle Dombroski
Mastered by: Amy Dragon

Album Art: Ryan Cassata

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Ryan Cassata Los Angeles, California

Ryan Cassata (he/him) is an award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, performer, published writer, LGBTQ+ activist, and transgender motivational speaker.

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