Written by: Jane Grounds

Nashville-based Pop/R&B artist Caleb LaDuke releases his fresh new summer single that mixes an upbeat chorus along with deep, meaningful lyrics. LaDuke’s new song, “I’d Rather Be at Home,” is an anthem to introverts and people living with social anxiety.

Caleb LaDuke has been performing since he was 15 years old, and his discography features songs like “Fragile” and “I’m Depressed,” which show that LaDuke has never backed down from delving into difficult, personal topics. LaDuke’s new song again discusses another emotion that many people experience but may think is uncouth to discuss: social anxiety.

The song immediately begins with background vocals intonating a calming melody that makes the listener feels at ease. It’s easy to lose yourself in the music once LaDuke’s signature falsetto begins floating over the top of the track.

The lyrics of the song paint a picture of someone living with social anxiety that gets invited to a party. On an even more personal note than anxiety, LaDuke discusses his own problems with alcohol and drinking. “Alcoholism runnin’ in my family,” as LaDuke sings, is something that he has dealt with in the past, and not always in the best way. An open, honest, and caring artist is a refreshing change to some of the drama that may occur in the music industry, and LaDuke seems to aim to show artists a different way of life away from that drama.

Produced by Sajan Nauriyal and directed by Spencer Kane, the music video mirrors the lyrics perfectly, following LaDuke and his friend into a house party, where his friend is immediately recognized and absorbed into the social aspect. LaDuke himself is an outsider of sorts, sitting by himself on the couch at the beginning of the video. While he is approached by a number of people from the party, LaDuke does not engage with them, instead finding solace alone. Many viewers can relate to the anxiety and nervousness one can feel at parties just like this, and it may help to know that other people feel the same thing; you are not alone.

In keeping with LaDuke’s open discussion of alcoholism and abusing liquor, halfway through the music video, LaDuke drowns his sorrows in an excessive amount of tequila and then finally becomes the life of the party. Everything goes downhill from there, however, as LaDuke ends up almost vomiting off a balcony, then finds himself wearing a shirt covered in liquor, then can no longer stand up, and finally has to leave the party draped over his friend’s shoulders.