Multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning rock band Cage The Elephant have returned with their first new music in two years, releasing their new single “Beaches In Tennessee”. The song marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Kentucky-bred band following their signing to Big Loud Rock.
Celebrating the partnership, Big Loud Rock Co-Founder and President Joey Moi praised the band’s continued creative drive:
“What Cage The Elephant has accomplished over the last twenty years speaks for itself, and what excites me most is that they’re nowhere near finished. They’re still taking risks, pushing themselves creatively, and finding new ways to connect with fans. Seeing that renewed energy and perspective carry into this next chapter is incredibly exciting. Welcoming a band of this caliber to Big Loud Rock, alongside the incredible team at Q Prime, is a huge moment for us. We couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”
Frontman Matt Shultz described the single as the start of a fresh creative era rooted in personal experience.
“It’s definitely a new chapter. We always try to write from life experience. Whatever we’re going through will undoubtedly make its way into the music. Even when going through difficult seasons, life can still prove to have no shortage of light memories. I’ve learned we don’t realize the things that we’re capable of making it through until we actually face them. Having fond memories during difficult times is a blessing, to say the least—which some of these songs do for certain. Navigating troubled waters many times reminds us how extraordinary life truly is. Life’s beautiful. It takes peaks and valleys to illustrate that beauty.”
The band recorded “Beaches In Tennessee“ with producers Justin Raisen and SADPONY (Jeremiah Raisen), whose production credits include Charli xcx, SZA, Kim Gordon, Lil Yachty, Yves Tumor, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The collaboration united two sets of brothers, with Matt and Brad Shultz working alongside Justin and Jeremiah Raisen from the earliest writing sessions.
Reflecting on the creative partnership, guitarist Brad Shultz said:
“I liked several different albums Justin had worked on, including Kim Gordon and Yves Tumor. For producers, he was at the top of my list. I flew out to L.A. and hung out with him in the studio one night. The energy was crazy. It was like two wool socks in a dryer. He brought in Jeremiah. There’s a common thread between them, but they make two different types of art. They have their own unique views and ways of doing things, so it’s been pretty cool to just jump between those two worlds. It’s made a pretty unique mix in what we’re doing. I knew they were the guys.”
Built around Brad Shultz’s signature guitar work, the track embraces a stripped-back approach, pairing a loose bassline and shuffling rhythm with an emotionally resonant chorus anchored by the refrain, “Somebody take me home. I’m not the enemy. I’m going back to those beaches in Tennessee.”
For Matt Shultz, the song carries deeply personal significance.
“It’s no secret that I went through a mental health crisis a few years back; this song for me symbolizes me finally being able to move past it. I was hospitalized for nearly three months. The song addresses it by creating a fictionalized account of it. It was my attempt at reclaiming the ability to write about something serious that happened in my life from a place of genuine experience.
There’s a saying, ‘There’s nothing better than a poor Christmas.’ It’s because you learn to make the most of what you have and appreciate it. Having gone through what I did, I’m grateful to have the perspective that I have now. The experience gave me a greater appreciation for my life when I came out on the other side. I’m thankful for where I’m at now in this new chapter. As a band, we were able to reclaim the ability to write a song rooted in a difficult and turbulent real-life event, but do it in a lighthearted way. I hope it helps someone else the way it helped me.”
The single arrives after the band wrapped up their run as special guests on Oasis Live ’25, an experience that reignited their passion for creating music.
“The Oasis tour really reignited our fire to dream and continue to dream,” Matt Shultz explained. “I think we realized there’s still room to evolve and push ourselves, especially in the live realm. That tour added to our overall passion and desire to see this thing through. When it was over, we decided not to take a break. We pretty much went straight into the studio to start making music.”
Since forming in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 2006, Cage The Elephant have become one of modern rock’s defining bands. Their catalog has amassed more than 6 billion global streams, earned dozens of Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certifications, produced 13 No. 1 Alternative Radio singles and seven No. 1 Triple A hits, while earning multiple GRAMMY® Awards, including consecutive Best Rock Album wins for Tell Me I’m Pretty (2015) and Social Cues (2019). Their 2024 album Neon Pill also received a GRAMMY® nomination in the Alternative category.
Today, Cage The Elephant consists of Matt Shultz (vocals), Brad Shultz (rhythm guitar), Nick Bockrath (lead guitar), Matthan Minster (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), Daniel Tichenor (bass), and Jared Champion (drums).
Looking ahead, Brad Shultz believes the band has entered one of its most creatively rewarding periods.
“Musically, we always want to reinvent Cage The Elephant. We’ve discovered a whole new side to our band, how we look at things, and how we make art. You’re growing constantly as an artist, and I think we’ve tapped into that growth. I do feel like we’re making the best music we’ve ever made. If anything, it’s definitely the most inspired.”
With “Beaches In Tennessee,” Cage The Elephant begin a new era defined by resilience, renewed inspiration, and a fearless commitment to creative evolution.
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