Photographer Credit: Makayla Keasler
Los Angeles-based artist Carter Vail continues his genre-bending evolution with the announcement of his new concept EP, Coydog, arriving October 17 via RCA Records. The project introduces listeners to Coydog, a cowboy-hatted, suit-clad alter ego being hunted by an identical doppelgänger — a surreal, cinematic world blending synth-laced indie pop, storytelling, and absurdist wit.
To kick off the EP’s narrative, Vail has released the shimmering new single “Madeline” and its official 16mm music video, both out now.
“‘Madeline’ is my ode to 2010s indie pop — what I consider the Golden Age of the genre,” says Vail. “I wanted to write a love song that celebrates the complicated parts of a relationship. There’s something charming about a track that hides melancholy lyrics under glittery synths, and ‘Madeline’ is my version of that.”
A Visionary Story Told in 16mm
The accompanying “Madeline” video, co-directed by Vail alongside Makayla Keasler and Spencer Slishman, marks his first foray into directing. Shot entirely on 16mm film, it’s a nostalgic, handcrafted visual feast full of whip pans, lo-fi magic, and cinematic intrigue.
“The video tells the story of a lonely Coydog searching for love in the occult — and finding trouble,” Vail explains. “It’s a love letter to shoestring visual effects and the thrill of creating with what you have.”
The single follows the release of “Stunner,” Vail’s first track with RCA Records, which introduced fans to the strange, dusty universe of the Coydog. Both songs set the tone for the EP’s playful tension between myth and identity — a kind of Spy vs. Spy for the synthpop generation.
The Rise of Carter Vail
With over 30 million views across platforms thanks to the viral absurdist hit “Dirt Man,” Carter Vail has built a devoted global audience and now boasts a combined 2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok. His 2023 sophomore album 100 Cowboys drew praise from The New York Times, NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Hypebeast, and Ones To Watch, while Zane Lowe hailed him as one of his “favorite new artists.”
Known for his airtight production and sharp melodic instincts — Rolling Stone praised his ability to “create bops out of thin air” — Vail’s music blends cinematic storytelling with a self-aware sense of humor and emotional honesty.
This summer, he performed on the storied BMI Stage at Lollapalooza, earning further acclaim from Rolling Stone and the Chicago Sun-Times, and now he’s gearing up for an extensive North American tour in support of Coydog.
“Coydog” introduces a whole new mythology — a cowboy-hatted figure hunted by his own reflection. What inspired you to build this cinematic universe, and how much of it mirrors your own internal battles as an artist?
I don’t know if I think of it as mirroring my own internal battles. I think the music is self-reflection, but visually I try to make things that just interest me. I like playing characters, and I’ve always found something charming about the coolness of Butch Cassidy era Hollywood cowboys. I think this series is a version of this where the cowboy just isn’t that cool when it comes down to it. It’s the Sundance Kid slipping on a banana peel.
You’ve called “Madeline” your ode to 2010s indie pop — that glittery, melancholy era of Passion Pit and MGMT. What makes that period feel like the “Golden Age” to you, and how did you reimagine it through your own lens?
It’s the golden age for me because that’s what I grew up on. I was 12 when that stuff was coming out, it was what my brother & his friends listened to. What’s cooler than that? I think my lens is defined by (and perhaps limited to) what I’m technically able to make. If I was really good, this song would sound even closer to that, but it’s different because I make it, and that’s where the artistry lies (to be as pompous about it as possible). I’m not intentional about reframing things, I’m confident that I’m just bad enough to make something sound different than my inspiration.
The Madeline video — shot on 16mm and dripping with occult imagery — marks your first turn as a director. What did you learn from being behind the camera, and how did it change your relationship with the song?
Me oh my, the main thing I took away from filming “Madeline” was that it is exhausting to be on set. The team I worked with (Makayla Keasler, Spencer Slishman & Will Youmans) are a wonderfully creative, dynamic and hilarious group of collaborators. I am extraordinarily fortunate to have them in my life, and I rely on them heavily to pick up the slack in my lack of experience and occasional moodiness. I had listened to “Madeline” roughly 1,000 times before the video during its inception, but getting to see my friend’s faces over it for the video made it feel fresh again.
The story of Coydog blends humor, heartbreak, and surrealism — much like your earlier viral hit “Dirt Man.” How do you balance absurdity with sincerity without losing emotional truth?
That’s a great question, good job dear writer. I think of humor & heartbreak and all emotions as falling into the same human experience, so trying to write a record that’s entirely sad or entirely funny would be dodging said “emotional truth.” There’s humor in heartbreak, and there’s heartbreak in humor. I am trying to portray my own full experience, and I laugh a lot. As for the surrealism, I guess I haven’t thought about my songs being surrealist before, but I really like that. When I’m writing music, what’s important is that I’m feeling the lyrics, and I don’t worry about whether the audience will understand it. I don’t need them to get the story beat by beat, I trust that they will understand that the songs mean something to me, and then they’ll come away with their own meanings for the song.
There’s a duality in the Coydog concept — being both the hunter and the hunted, the performer and the person. Was that a commentary on fame, self-perception, or something even darker?
I am occasionally told that I am famous, let the record show that a number on social media certainly does not have a bearing on fame. I have found that my life following getting x followers has tangibly changed very little. I think self-perception is probably more accurate, the wild / domesticated duality. More than that, however, Coydogs are a big societal inconvenience, as are musicians / TikTok influencers.
You’ve always had a gift for writing songs that sound joyful but hide emotional complexity underneath. Why do you think melancholy feels more powerful when it’s wrapped in a melody that makes people dance?
I really just don’t listen to slow songs much. It’s not what I like. Also, I really like the feeling of loving a song for a long time before discovering what the lyrics mean. It’s like an onion. ‘Cause it’s got layers, y’know?
Your journey from viral absurdist storyteller to RCA-signed conceptual artist has been pretty wild. Looking back, what moment made you realize that “Carter Vail” had to evolve into something larger — into The Coydog?
Woof, it’s a constant rollercoaster, some days I feel like I’ve made it, some days I feel like I’m going to have to get a job. I think there’s no obvious “making it” anymore, it’s too easy to move the goalpost. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I’m not sure I’ll ever feel like I’ve made it. Right now, I’m able to just make music, and some people listen to it. That is an enormous windfall.
You’ve mentioned Madeline celebrates “the complicated parts of love.” What do you think is more honest in a love song — the idealism or the imperfection?
They’re both necessary. I think to write a song about love’s imperfections is immortalising it in a way that is idealistic. Bullshit answer, right? I guess I find it more emotionally truthful to be honest about how complicated love can feel.
With Coydog, you’re expanding into film, narrative, and world-building. Do you see this as the start of a transmedia story — an ongoing saga across albums, visuals, and maybe even live performance?
Yes, and we’re pitching it to Tubi. Just kidding. I fully intend to continue the story of Coydog. I’ve done Interstellar Tennis Championship I and II, and I think it will continue similarly with Coydog. I’m not done with Cowboy land yet. I’m currently expanding the world with a tour, which (depending on when this article comes out), you, my wonderful reader, can get tickets to!
The last few years have been filled with momentum — Lollapalooza, RCA, millions of streams. Now that you’re entering this new era, what does success look like to you when you strip away the numbers and the noise?
If I can continue making music and videos with my friends, I will be the luckiest squirrel in the tree, perhaps the forest. I try not to think about 5 year plans, because something about best laid plans, but right now I feel remarkably satisfied with what I’m doing. Shoutout Noah Tauscher, Daniel Loumpouridis, Reed Gaines, Makayla Keasler, Will Youmans, Spencer Slishman, Chad Nicefield and the wonderful folks at RCA.
Coydog Tracklist
- Stunner
- 6 Feet Under
- Madeline
- Oh Me Oh My
- Never Gonna Live You Down
- Act Like You Meant It
Tour Dates
Sept 30 – Denver, CO – Cervantes
Oct 1 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
Oct 2 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up
Oct 3 – Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell
Oct 5 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
Oct 7 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
Oct 9 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Oct 10 – Bellingham, WA – Exit Festival
Oct 12 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
Oct 31 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
Nov 1 – Hartford, CT – The Webster Underground
Nov 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
Nov 3 – Asbury Park, NJ – House of Independents
Nov 5 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Nov 6 – Boston, MA – The Middle East
Nov 7 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theatre
Nov 8 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
Nov 9 – Toronto, ON – Adelaide Hall
Nov 11 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
Nov 12 – Grand Rapids, MI – Pyramid Scheme
Nov 13 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi
Nov 14 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
Nov 15 – Nashville, TN – Fogg Street Lawn Club
