LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ve been following Cavetown for a while now, having first caught him live back in 2021 at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. It was one of those intimate shows where the energy in the room felt almost devotional. A couple of nights before, I’d bumped into a group of avid concertgoers at another venue who gushed about Robbie Skinner and their plans to see him at the Masonic Lodge. They weren’t exaggerating. The second he stepped on stage, the collective adoration from his fans was overwhelming. It was the kind of connection that makes you realize Cavetown’s music isn’t just heard, it’s lived in.
Fast forward to today, and Cavetown is on the brink of releasing Running With Scissors (out January 16, 2026 via Futures Music Group). The lead single “Rainbow Gal” is a striking reminder of how much Robbie has developed his sound over the past few years. The track is built on 8-bit textures and glitchy vocal effects, electronic elements that feel hyper-energetic yet carefully crafted. And yet, the sweet, soothing lull of his melodies and his unmistakable timbre remain at the center. He’s still that young guy with an acoustic guitar at heart, singing songs that are emotionally honest, vulnerable, and ultimately cathartic.
The lyrics to “Rainbow Gal” make that clear. Opening with “Missing in the moment / ’Cause I’m in a corner shutting down / Pixelated, frozen,” Cavetown channels the language of digital collapse to paint a picture of isolation. But then comes the turn: “But there’s your face on my phone / And suddenly I’m safe and sound.” Technology here isn’t numbing. Rather, it’s connecting. That thread runs throughout the song, with playful affirmations like “You silly fish I love you” woven into the chorus’ simple but potent declaration: “Without you there’s nothing.”
What makes “Rainbow Gal” resonate is how it bridges Cavetown’s evolution. The glitchy, electropop production could easily swallow a lesser songwriter, but instead, it amplifies the intimacy of his words. The 8-bit crush mirrors the pixelated overwhelm of modern life, while the warmth of his voice cuts through with grounding clarity. It’s the same trick he’s always pulled off: pairing tenderness with heaviness, just dressed in brighter, more kaleidoscopic colors.
If Running With Scissors is meant to reflect Robbie’s step into a braver, more mature era, “Rainbow Gal” suggests he’s figured out how to expand his sonic world without losing the heart that made his music a sanctuary in the first place. I’m excited to hear where the rest of the album takes him… because if this single is any indication, Cavetown has managed to grow up without ever outgrowing the emotional honesty that made fans fall in love in the first place.
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