The Cave is a solo project and live band led by Julian Lamadrid, a Mexican musician and filmmaker based in New York. His music combines rock and electronic elements in an innovative way, reminiscent of a blend between Daft Punk and Pink Floyd. The live show is an energetic dance party fueled by passion and raw energy. The name of the project is inspired by Plato’s Allegory of The Cave, and Julian’s ultimate message through his music is one of freedom, encouraging listeners to break free from societal norms and expectations and escape the trappings of modern life. Julian writes and produces all of the music himself, and he also directs and edits all of the videos.
Julian has already achieved significant artistic success in his solo career, with over 30 million streams on Spotify alone. He signed with Sony Music’s Arista Records when he was only 20 years old and released two critically acclaimed conceptual albums: ‘Mala Noche’ in 2019 and ‘Rebels of The Neon God’ in 2021. His single ’15 Minutes’ has garnered over 7 million streams across various streaming platforms and over 300 thousand views on YouTube, earning him a sync with National Treasure: Edge Of History on Disney+. Julian is now independent and releasing The Cave through his Brooklyn-based electronic record label, Mala Noche Records.
Julian’s love-love-hate relationship with city living has manifested itself into an amazing rock banger aptly titled “City People”.
‘City People’ is an anthem that perfectly captures the frenetic energy and chaos of living in a bustling metropolis. As someone who has lived in New York for seven years, Lamadrid can attest to the madness that can consume people in such an environment. The constant noise, pollution, and crowds can make you feel like just another insignificant speck in a sea of humanity. However, there is a certain pride that comes with surviving the daily grind of city life. It takes a certain kind of post-modern ruggedness to thrive in such an environment, and ‘City People’ celebrates that grit and determination.
“I am no larger than the rats scurrying around the rotting subway floor, I am no smaller than the tallest buildings swaying over my head at all times. I am one with the madness. It fuels me. It takes a million mother fuckers just to feel I am alive. “
The Music video is as simple as it gets, and all the more elegant for it. The Black-and-White palette invokes noir cinematography, or perhaps it invokes Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” instead. The stark contrasts and washed grays in between give a gritty edge to it all, while the camera’s coming and going within the somewhat claustrophobic setting of this pub seem o evoke the skyscrapers looming over the busy workforce that make their way through the streets and alleyways of the City that Never sleeps.
Despite the challenges, there is something exhilarating about being a part of the madness. It’s as if the city itself is alive and pulsing with energy, and you are swept up in its rhythm. The endless possibilities and opportunities that exist within the concrete jungle make it all worth it for some people.
www.instagram.com/julianlamadrid
All photos by Ryley Paskal www.instagram.com/ryleypaskal
