Robin Daniel Skinner — an indie singer-songwriter known as Cavetown — released his new single “NPC” Nov. 14. “NPC” marks the fourth single before his newest album, “Running With Scissors.” The album, which will be released Jan. 16, 2026, will consist of 13 songs — including “NPC” and two earlier singles, “Tarmac” and “Rainbow Gal” — and will be Cavetown’s first album since his 2022 release “worm food.”
While most of Cavetown’s listeners are familiar with his signature pop-folk style, Cavetown said in an interview with Spotify that he hopes to display creative growth on this upcoming project. He added that he is working to bring viewers who know Cavetown from the 2010s along with him. Skinner said growth is a prominent theme he will explore in this upcoming album.
“What happens when you leave that room you grew up in and finally look yourself square in the eye?” Skinner said on his Spotify About the Artist Page.
Based on his most recently released single, it’s clear that his songs are moving in a different direction from his previous work — more mature and with more variation in his songs — but Cavetown has made sure his listeners know they won’t be left behind by maintaining a commitment to authentic songwriting.
“NPC” is by far the catchiest single. The song, which mainly consists of an indie rock sound, has been stuck in my head since I listened to it. In addition to the song’s catchiness, there’s a distortion in Cavetown’s voice and an overall more mature feeling that differs from many of his best known songs.
The most obvious change is that Skinner’s voice is generally deeper than it was in the songs he released ten years ago, and he sings with more of a gravelly voice. Another factor that contributes to this newfound maturity is the song’s content. In the past, Cavetown wrote about parents and school in a way that felt reminiscent of childhood, but “NPC” discusses a heavier topic: what dissociation feels like. Listening to the track, it also felt clear that Cavetown is willing to be louder compared to the soft vocals of his previous work. In general, those songs are all rather understated, but “NPC” features a greater volume distinction and a sense of confidence in his vocal power. Overall, this song clearly shows the new direction that Cavetown will be moving in.
“Tarmac” and “Rainbow Gal” were both released before “NPC” and share many of the characteristics that differentiate “NPC” from Cavetown’s older work. “Tarmac” especially highlights the newer thematic and sonic direction of his music, as it touches on the struggles of toxic relationships and uses little moments of static distortion after each chorus that create a contrast and suspense within the song. “Rainbow Gal” also uses more electronic sounds, which were similarly sprinkled into “NPC,” and may signal the types of genres he’s looking to explore in his upcoming album.
That’s not to say everything has changed — these songs still fit into the indie genre, and they still have those quiet moments that made his old songs such a pleasant listening experience. These three songs grouped together are a great way to tease his new album, effectively showing the diversity of tone that Cavetown is clearly looking to delve into. Both “NPC” and “Tarmac” touch on more serious themes, with “Tarmac” leaning more toward complex relationships and “NPC” leaning toward personal, mental health-related experiences. On the other hand, “Rainbow Gal” has a rather optimistic approach toward love, which makes for a good contrast to his other singles.
Though bittersweet, it’s always nice to see an artist’s songs mature like this, especially when the new direction is just as good as the old one. Evidently, I’m a fan of these new songs, and I am definitely looking forward to Cavetown’s new album and the exploration of new thematic and musical avenues.
