Erin Rae follows her memories back to warmer, more carefree times with "California Belongs to You," one of the 12 tracks on her 2022 album, Lighten Up. Rae describes her sound as "cosmic country," and it's easy to see why: Both Lighten Up and its 2018 predecessor, Putting on Airs, establish a jangling, lightly psychedelic musical world that's a low-impact — but still satisfying — listen.
The backbone of Rae's musical impact is her storytelling and her gentle, lilting voice, and both are on full display in the latest episode of Positive Vibes Only, GRAMMY.com's performance series spotlighting uplifting music. Even when pared down to just her voice and acoustic guitar, the song's hazy, shimmering vibes shine through effortlessly.
You could call it a breakup song, but "California Belongs to You" is primarily a lush exploration of memory. In its lyrics, Rae evokes the salty air of the California seaside, the smell of suntan lotion, and the windows-down freedom of a drive down a coastal highway.
Rae is taking Lighten Up on tour this spring; you can even hear her perform "California Belongs to You" in two different cities in its titular state. For now, enjoy the singer's intimate performance above and click here to watch more episodes of Positive Vibes Only.