alessia cara
photo: Brick Howze

Alessia Cara – October

With Labor Day passed, it feels like summer has officially come to a close. Summer is always filled with conversations about which pop icon will have the “song of the summer.” But what about the “song of the end of the summer?”

Alessia Cara may have an answer to that question with her new track “October.” Different from her usual anthemic chart-toppers, “October” is filled with dreamy soundscapes and sweet vocals. Angelic background vocals paired with melodic bass and timid guitar have the power to transport you momentarily away from reality. The song feels suited as a goodbye to summer, perfectly encapsulating the early fall nostalgia for those long summer days.

Lyrically, the song alludes to the kind of love that makes you daydream and reminisce in the same way the song’s composition does. When summer comes to an end, she reminisces, “I’ll miss it when it’s over, I hope we never see October.” With lyrics about longing for a love that’s end is coming to complement the wistful composition, the song feels as though it washes over you like a wave of nostalgia. Alessia shows the vulnerable side of her artistry here, rather than the power of her vocals. Their power instead lies in their faintness and fragility. With an easy to follow along to the chorus, she can showcase the sweetness of her voice–her ability to make even the slightest changes in pitch sound interesting.

Above all, Alessia Cara showcased her versatility as an artist with “October.” The timing feels perfect for an evocative tune that makes you reminisce on summer memories and the changing of the seasons. With “October,” Alessia highlights her maturity as an artist and the versatility of her voice–the only question this release leaves is: what’s next?