France’s Cathedrale Unveil “South Life” Single & Video

French post-punk quartet Cathedrale have shared South Life, the track is the third single taken from their upcoming fifth album, Poison, that is set to be released on February 14th via French indie labels Howlin’ Banana Records and Regarts. Recorded live at Chez Nini Studio in Brussels with producer Mathieu Versini, the song vividly portrays the daily struggles of life on the Toulouse ring road. Through its lyrics, it captures the exasperation of drivers trapped in relentless traffic jams, especially during the rain, while humorously highlighting their questionable driving skills.

Beneath its wit, the song delivers a broader message: the yearning to escape the stress of city life. It also reflects the ambivalence of such a choice, as moving too far away risks bringing boredom or a sense of disconnection. South Life is fast-paced and brimming with tension, mirroring the frustration of the drivers. It underscores the internal conflict between the desire to flee and the recognition that leaving the city might not always be the ideal solution.

“We met up every week to work on our album Poison. There wasn’t much of a plan, some weeks, we’d just end up doing nothing, having a drink. Other times, we’d dive into writing lyrics. Sometimes it started with a riff or just a vibe we wanted to explore. For ‘South Life’, though, Jules (guitar/vocals) showed up completely wound-up. He’d just witnessed total chaos on the Toulouse ring road and in the city, cars were going crazy that day! He was brimming with anger, and that energy is what inspired the song.”