cahm Talks YOUTH, Growing Up, and Letting Go of Having All the Answers

Written, produced, and recorded largely from his bedroom, YOUTH blends indie pop, alternative, subtle R&B, and nostalgic textures into something that feels equally suited for late night drives and the first windows down days of summer. Across the project, cahm explores heartbreak, self discovery, mistakes, and the complicated process of becoming yourself without ever losing sight of hope.

We caught up with cahm over email to talk about the emotional foundation behind YOUTH, learning to embrace uncertainty, and why this release feels like the truest version of himself yet.

Learning to Grow Into Yourself

The title YOUTH says almost everything before the first song even begins.

Rather than presenting growing up as something neat or linear, cahm embraces all of its uncertainty. The project isn't about having answers. It's about learning to become comfortable without them.

"It's really in the name, Youth. It comes as it goes and you figure it out throughout life," he says. "I find myself thinking I know everything or have solutions for everything, but I've learned to just lay back and not stress myself out with things."

He continues, "When you're younger you wanna be an astronaut or have some cool ass job, but not everything is picture perfect. The whole EP is capturing that journey of growing up not just physically, but with everything that comes with it."

That perspective runs through every corner of the record. Songs don't rush toward tidy conclusions. Instead, they sit with uncertainty, allowing each moment to unfold naturally.

Finding Every Side of the Story

While YOUTH carries an undeniable warmth, some of its strongest moments come from confronting heartbreak head on.

Several songs wrestle with caring deeply for someone while watching them move forward faster than you're ready to.

Writing about those experiences ultimately gave cahm a new perspective on them.

"It definitely made me see every side of the box," he explains. "I was always either so trapped within my own feelings and felt so selfish in a way, but also so stuck within their feelings and never cared for my own. It was always one or the other, never both."

That balance became one of the project's biggest lessons.

"Things gotta move on one way or another. If they come back, they come back. I had to realize that and not be so in my head about it, but that's really easier said than done."

There's a maturity to YOUTH that never feels forced. Even during its most vulnerable moments, the record avoids bitterness, choosing reflection instead.

Becoming More Like Himself

If YOUTH feels like a defining release, that's because it is.

Compared to his earlier work, there's a confidence running through these songs that comes from trusting instinct instead of second guessing every creative decision.

"I'm really just slowly becoming myself with this," cahm says. "Writing, production, everything. I'm not afraid to jump out of my comfort zone or out of my box I tend to put myself in with life."

That freedom extends beyond songwriting.

"I fall in love with this music stuff more and more every day. I also hate holding onto songs that I love, so having this out was a huge weight off my shoulders."

You can hear that excitement throughout the EP. Every track feels lived in, carefully crafted, and completely sincere without ever becoming overworked. The production stays warm and inviting while allowing the stories to remain front and center.

It's the kind of release that quietly reveals more with every listen.

A Soundtrack for Summer and Beyond

For all of its emotional depth, YOUTH never loses sight of joy.

The melodies are bright, the hooks linger long after the songs end, and there's an energy running through the project that makes it feel destined for summer drives with the windows down.

Asked what he hopes listeners carry with them after the final track, cahm's answer is simple.

"A story they can grasp onto and stick with. It's relatable to any and everyone, that was the overall goal. It really is summer music at the end of the day. Something with energy. Something happy. Any significance for you is a significance for me."

That sentiment perfectly captures what makes YOUTH such an exciting release. It's deeply personal without ever closing itself off from the listener. Every song feels like an invitation to remember your own version of growing up, complete with all the mistakes, uncertainty, heartbreak, and hope that come with it.

With YOUTH, cahm isn't pretending to have life figured out. He's simply documenting what it feels like to be in the middle of it. In doing so, he's delivered one of the most refreshing indie releases of the summer and established himself as an artist worth following well beyond this chapter.

Stream YOUTH by cahm wherever you listen to music and spend some time with one of this summer's most quietly rewarding indie releases.