ETHEL CAIN
BY JACKSON MCCOY
“Americana” can be described in many ways: the fried perfume of the state fair, white paint peeling from the walls of churches, faded American flags lit up by neon Bud Light signs in run-down brown-tinted bars. Many artists attempt to embody that aesthetic, but none can do so as authentically as singer-songwriter Hayden Silas Anhedönia, also known as Ethel Cain.
By embracing the dark side of patriotism, Cain has inspired a new wave of fashion a surprising amount of young people identify with. Cain’s debut album, “Preacher’s Daughter,” was released in 2022 to critical acclaim. Inspired by both Southern Gothic literature and her upbringing in a Christian household, audiences praised the lyrical genius and emotional storytelling in the album.
“Preacher’s Daughter” follows the story of Ethel Cain, a teenager who runs away from her Alabama home. Each song acts as a distinct chapter in the story of Cain. The first half of the album focuses on Cain’s love affairs and broken mental state as she struggles to come to terms with her relationship with her father. The second half focuses on her journey to the West Coast as she jumps in a truck with a stranger named Isaiah who eventually kills her and cannibalizes her dead body. Touching on themes of religious trauma, generational trauma, abuse, and poverty, the album is incredibly heartbreaking and complex.
Though a story about murder and cannibalism doesn't seem particularly inspiring for someone’s aesthetic or fashion, many fans have latched onto Cain’s online personality, particularly her Tumblr page. Additionally, about 27-33% percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced religious trauma at some point in their lives, according to a study by the Global Center for Religious Research. Religious trauma is a major theme in “Preacher’s Daughter,” and Cain often incorporates religious imagery into her posts online, so it makes sense people would flock to her music as a way of coping.
Fans of Cain's music have been quick to adopt the darkly American fashion sense. Mixing black leather with Crucifixes and white lace gowns, people have built outfits that balance the atypical sides of her music, taking inspiration from songs like “Thoroughfare” and “Ptolemaea” equally.
Other aspects of Southern Americana fashion that were previously considered sins -– namely camouflage -– are now allowed, largely in part because of Cain’s frequent willingness to wear whatever she wants. Camo crop tops, baggy sweatshirts, and cowboy hats are all on the same page as posts about Cain’s life as a transgender woman, pictures of men holding each other, and photos of Kurt Cobain, a crossover that was difficult to fathom before Cain’s prominence.
Even on Ohio University’s campus, Cain’s influence is observable. It’s not just LGBTQ+ people wearing camo, but also students’ willingness to discuss their traumas. The Americana influence of “Preacher’s Daughter” is just as important as the rawness of it, and many students can attest to that.
