Songwriter and producer Carter Vail is an artist whose intriguing music focuses on the unusual characters and relationships in his life, wrapped in an elegant sense of melody, and a well-polished production. Carter Vail was born in a suburb of New York to a South African mother and Tennessean father, both of whom introduced Carter to vastly different musical influences.

On his latest single Pontiac, we enjoy a long-form metaphor about forward motion and self-discovery, steeped in the patina of romantic memory. A steady, Petty-style groove keeps the energy flowing, while a refreshing sense of lyricism and emotional honesty informs a beautiful meeting between nostalgia and the need to move on.

Now more than ever the broken pieces fit
Scars and confetti, sawmill and Pontiac clips

This song is featured on our Roots Collection playlist.