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.

This song is featured on our Roots Collection playlist.