Local Utah artist sparks debate over hometown through newest song

Bluffdale, UT (ABC4) — Born and raised here in Utah, Cade Mower says he’s always dreamed of being a musician.

“I started playing guitar when I was probably 12 or so and started just playing lead guitar rift solos to like rock n’ roll songs like Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, that kind of thing,” Mower said.

The now Nashville, Tennesse-based artist says there’s something inside him almost forcing him to write music.

“A lot of the stuff I write, like if I’m going through a really hard time or really happy time, or just like a big change, or I write a song when I don’t know what else to do,” he said.

Recently, Mower started posting his music online and his latest song “Moroni”, he says, is based on his hometown of Bluffdale and growing up in Utah.

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“Bluffdale, when I grew up there, was a small town. I was born in the ’90s, I was born in ’90 so back then it was a small town,” said Mower. “Everybody knew everybody and everybody knew everybody’s business.”

Since releasing the preview on social media, it’s been receiving great praise and harsh criticism.

“The big debate online has been that Bluffdale is not a small town, and people are so mad at me for calling it a small town.”

Mower says his lyrics detail parts of the state many residents are familiar with and make references mainly only Utahns are likely to recognize.

While Mower says he has his own meaning behind each verse, bridge, and chorus, it’s all up for interpretation by the listener.

“I don’t want to tell people what to think about. I want them to interpret it. That’s the beauty in the song and I love when songs do that,” he said.

Mower continues saying while the song has gained popularity more from debates online, he hopes everyone listening sees how much he loves his home state.

However, beyond that, he hopes it opens listeners’ eyes to the changes the state has seen and if Utah as a whole is ready for what that entails.

“I want people to consider, hey, man, this place is changing. Is it? Is this what we want? This is moving really fast,” he said.

Mower told ABC4 News that “Moroni” will be released on April 5th, 2024.

He also just released his first extended play (EP) and has an album with original songs and covers coming out later this year.

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