There’s a moment when the late sun hits the ocean right and everything feels suspended in gold. That’s exactly what Kristen Castro captures in her dazzling new single “Summer Rain,” out today, July 18. As the second release from her upcoming debut album “Capricorn Baby,” due out August 29, this is a track that soaks your soul in feeling.
Before we dive in, let’s welcome an artist you need to know. Born and raised in the United States and now crafting musical ensembles out of Nashville, Kristen Castro is a sonic architect of healing. A Queer, Mexican American multi-instrumentalist, producer, and storyteller, she weaves together folk, ambient indie-pop, and a mosaic of genres to create music that feels like both a mirror and a soft place to land. Now, let’s delve into “Summer Rain.”
“Summer Rain” opens like a sigh from the universe; shimmering synths ripple gently beneath the surface, like the first breeze after a storm. It’s ambient, intimate, and cinematic all at once. Then comes Castro’s tender but unwavering voice: laced with years of ache and clarity. Her vocal delivery is rich with restrained emotion and pulls you deep into her transformation. She doesn’t just sing about grief and rediscovery—she lives it in every note.
Written in 2020 and finished five years later, the song is, as Castro describes, an “ego death”—the unraveling of old versions of yourself to make way for something more honest. “In five years, I went from wanting to walk away from music to being someone who speaks from honesty and uplifts others in creative spaces,” she shares. And you can hear that evolution—not just lyrically, but in the way every sonic layer feels like a memory rediscovered and reimagined.
Musically, “Summer Rain” is a pop song produced carefully across multiple continents blended together by Castro herself. This isn’t just production; it’s pilgrimage. Lush guitar lines, flickering synth textures, and just the right touch of rhythmic restraint allow every lyric to breathe. The mix is crystal clear but emotionally saturated, like a faded photograph that still makes your heart stop. To me, this is pop at its best and a healing you can hum to. Every lyric is stitched with self-reflection and every note is intentional.
Kristen Castro’s “Summer Rain” is the kind of song that sneaks up on you, plays on repeat, and quietly becomes your companion through transition. It’s a summer anthem—but not the kind blasting from poolside speakers. This is the one you play during golden hour, barefoot on damp grass, processing the version of yourself you just let go of. “Only a few queer Mexican-American women are producing their own music,” she says. “I’m proud to be one of them.” And yes! She should be. “Summer Rain” is the sound of someone reclaiming their story and inviting us to do the same. And honestly? We’ll be better for it.
Listen to “Summer Rain” on Spotify and SoundCloud
Follow Kristen Castro here for information
