Finding comfort in the middle comes with age and wisdom. Deeper Well lands between the highest peak of love that Kacey Musgraves found in Golden Hour, and the depths of heartbreak that she explored in Star Crossed, landing in the grass near the trees with the old-as-time hills off in the distance.
Admittedly, I was perplexed as to where Kacey would go next in her music. Her love life has been the subject of media attention, and she engaged in the conversation through songs, but I knew there was more to her than the sum of her relationships. She’s breathtakingly beautiful, and as quirky, cute and fun as any house bunny on The Girls Next Door ever was. Her best virtues, though, are in her songwriting, instrumentation and introspection. She pulls everyone in to feel strangely relatable to a woman who could otherwise be the most intimidating girl in any room. She’s actually, in fact, the very coolest and most lovable.
In 2024 it’s no secret that every pop girlie currently active in music is releasing an album: Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and more. I was unsure of how Deeper Well would fare against all of these other massive projects. The truth of it is, she isn’t even competing. While all of these massive budget releases are fighting for a spot at the top, Kacey is staring off in a different direction from a tree above.
As the title suggests, Kacey has “found a deeper well,” and continues to present philosophical questions that have merit to be asked. On The Architect, she tilts her head and observes the perfection of an apple’s construction, and how the planets move around each other, and how we fit into it. The songwriting is sharp as an arrow. No minced words and no time wasted while she invites us to wonder with her:
This life that we make
Is it random or fate?
Can I speak to the Architect?
Moving Out was a clear instant favorite for me. In it, Kacey reflects on buying a new house with a new lover, and the warm memories of building it–and her relationship- up to perfection. All was well, until it wasn’t.
We kept living in that house
Planting roses all around
Leaving it better than we found it
Now autumn’s moving in
And we’re moving out…
It feels direct and matter of fact while maintaining so much gentle humility. It’s akin to receiving heartbreaking news from your mom. The simple presentation somehow makes it closer to ok. Kacey has learned to experience failure and move through it gracefully, not stopping to break down or rage out. With life comes experience, and sometimes your new strength stems from within when you don’t expect it.
in Anime Eyes, Kacey nods to her love for Japan (documented previously in Star Crossed track Cherry Blossom) and playfully unfurls a love song that only she could make. It’s strange and silly but altogether cute.
A million little stars
Bursting into hearts
In my anime eyes
She admits that she can be pulled back into love, even through her newfound exploration of self discovery, self care and an unshakable sense of peace in solitude. You can go left, or right, or just stay still sometimes. It’s alright.
Through everything, Kacey hasn’t fallen out of love with the wonders of the world. In Dinner with Friends, she riffs off some of her favorite things that make life special. She recounts the look on the face of someone receiving a present, reflects on waking up early for no reason, and even remembers her favorite cake from the famed Madonna Inn to show the wonderment that she constantly feels. It’s endlessly endearing, and completely in pattern for the same girl who wrote about sea creatures that glow in Oh What a World and the love she has for her friends in Simple Times.
The album as a whole feels like a folk creation with the country-pop influences that Kacey has always been known for. Cardinal and Jade Green are fresh interpretations of Laurel Canyon’s storied legacy. The familiar mystique of Fleetwood Mac wafts through this project, and the lush green imagery used throughout the album’s visuals are soothing indicators that there’s no sharpness to be experienced within the bounds of Deeper Well. It’s beautiful and soft, and lives within itself like a biosphere. We’ve been through enough, and it’s okay to bring it back down to basics in an uncomplicated human way.
The bright blue optimism and blood red passion experienced in Kacey’s previous life chapters have led to this centered green space more focused on upward growth that we can all find. Seasons progress amid life’s chaos, and it takes a watchful eye to appreciate all of the beauty presented by the world around. This album encourages us to feel everything, and respect the processes established long before us. Look within, and find a deeper well.
I'm Just Gonna Dance All Night 