Hunter Daily "Claw Marks" EP Review
- Matias Rilasciati
- Nov 11, 2025
- 3 min read
Matias Rilasciati | November 2025
LA-based singer-songwriter Hunter Daily is back with a new EP, “Claw Marks.” Since her debut in 2022, she has constantly been achieving recognition as a pop artist while growing her fan base. “Claw Marks” is the perfect showcase of her musical growth with its beautiful, honest lyrics that perfectly capture the complexity of relationships. She is about to join Canadian singer MICO on the European leg of his world tour, so keep an eye out for her!
Claw Marks
The opening song (and title track) immediately takes us on a post-breakup emotional rollercoaster: contrasting feelings of longing and desire to move on, self-doubt and anger. The singer tells us a story to show us that each feeling, no matter how good or bad, is valid within the scenario. Forever scarred by the claw marks of heartbreak, all the memories we hang onto we also eventually need to let go of. This song is powerful yet delicate, a reminder both stern and kind that love, in its nature, is messy and turbulent.
Cowboy’s Gonna Ride
“Cowboy’s Gonna Ride” is the star of the show. The most beloved track of the EP, this song was a long time in the making. Inspired by Phoebe Bridgers and Kacey Musgraves, it features a rubber-bridge guitar that accompanies the listener as the tale unfolds: a moment of deep struggle fueled by the persistent desire to change someone who is not capable of it, in the pursuit of perfection within the relationship. It all ends with bittersweet resignation in front of wasted potential: “We were so close / It could’ve been you.”
Wedding Season
Likely the most relatable song in the EP, “Wedding Season” is all about finding excuses to stay, stuck in a loop of self-convincing and the fear of letting go. The acoustic guitar melody lightens the mood of the emotion-heavy lyrics, in the same way the singer detaches herself from the darker side of things in order to hold on to her partner. It is a wait in vain for better days: the only way out is by facing the reality of the situation for what it is: a lost cause.
Hope For The Best
The fourth track revisits the topics tackled by the previous ones, taking more time to reflect in a more personal, intimate way. Inspired by Gracie Abrams and Lizzie McAlpine, Daily masterfully delivers a well-balanced and heartfelt pop song, with skilled vocals and plenty of momentum built up in the bridge. This is the perfect song for a deep wallow.
Dead End
“You can rip out my heart / Every time that you / Call it off / And say we’re friends”, the snapshot of a generation: the situationship. “Dead End” addresses the nightmarish experience of the chaotic relationship that sits in-between the definitions of ‘lovers’ and ‘friends.’ Occasional intimacy, often under the influence, mixed with a lack of communication make the perfect recipe for a special kind of heartache that many young adults today are perhaps too familiar with. Hunter validates these emotions in a melancholic piece, acknowledging the need to cut it all off in order to protect her peace.
Video Games
Upbeat and audacious, “Video Games” is the bright, hopeful take we all need at the end of our healing journey. With an echo of Chappell Roan, the song is about self-worth and newfound confidence. Tone-wise, it's a bit of a break from the other tracks on the EP, but it is a personal favorite of mine and an absolute mood-booster — empowering and fun (especially live, we bet!).
Whatever emotional state your love life is leaving you in, Hunter has a song for it, and she will hold your hand as you walk uphill and downhill, guitar in hand. We wish her the best as she, once again, brings her music overseas, and we hope to hear more of her tunes soon!
