While hip-hop and rap are currently dominating the scene, we are seeking some respite in the soothing soundscape of RY X. Thankfully, his hazy vocals grace the brand new single “Let You Go”, an effort which exudes the artists unmistakable soul. In an accompanying cinematic visual, the artist is seen strolling along a breezy seaside to his off-kilter electronic beats while exploring themes of loss and separation. Full of depth and flow, the track flows through the body and brings you instantly into a state of zen.
Talking of his new track, RY X explains, “This song formed from the beginnings of many others, tumbled itself into being, and became one of the centre points of the album energetically for me. An anchor in seas of different sounds, both emotionally and sonically. It intuitively felt right to be one of the first songs shared in the journey of this new body of work, and I’m excited the moment is here.”
As the artists third studio album nears completion, RY X stays true to his singular sound with an artful mix of raw vocals and live elements. And as the video directed by Benjamin Hardman will attest to, RY X has established himself as a polished artist before he has even begun. To celebrate the release of the single, we took some time to get to know RY X, and found out what motivates him to keep on creating.
To watch the music video and for the full interview, scroll below…
Hey, how are you today?
Im really well. Salted skin from the seas here in California and doing this from my home tucked in the mountains under pouring sun. Feeling grateful : )
“Berlin” was your first extremely successful song. What thoughts and feelings did you want to evoke through the soothing track?
It was really a cry of the heart. In a deeply raw and honest way. A lament written from a place of longing to have love and intimacy close, but it not being the connection you were ready for, or perhaps not being ready at all. I began writing it in the middle of a snow storm in Berlin. I had just left summer in Australia days before to follow the possibility of love and found myself swimming in winter, both internally and in the world around me.
Your new single “Let You Go” is out now, what was your process behind this song? And how does it compare to your previous releases?
I try to swim deep into my own experiences and create art from that place. We all have the same set of emotions, and that is a deep connective tissue in our shared human-ness. If I can explore my own heart in terms of love, grief, beauty, and growth, and embed that into song, it has the opportunity to become a mirror for others to share in that moment and experience too. A language of sorts wherever it goes. This song came from the beauty and pain that both exist in releasing something that may not truly serve your heart or path.
You have some live shows coming up this Summer….What is performing like for you as an experience?
Mmmmm a beautiful question. I think my experience of performing is really unique. I don’t feel like I need to do it for myself so much, but more that I want to create a beautiful container of experience and the possibility for something magic to happen in the room each night. I work really hard to curate the feeling and experience by playing reverent and hallowed spaces, performing with orchestras etc, and by pouring a lot of energy into the light and sound, doing everything I can everything for the work to sink deeper in, and have more meaningful purpose and effect. It’s vulnerable baring your heart like that in such an intimate way, but it feels important and special. So I tend to come at it from a place of being in service to create something truly beautiful for others, rather than it being for me.
Is there a certain genre of music you are drawn to or that inspires the components of your own music?
I listen to a lot of ambient music, and minimal composers work. Something about the spaciousness and gravity of the music feels aligned with my experience, and I think that work has influenced me a lot in creating in more powerful minimalistic ways. I also listen to Ragas and eastern devotional music. Being in that reverence and respect to music has also played out a lot in what I do. And then combine that with my years in Berlin in club scenes, and the old records of my dads I grew up listening to, and it rolls together into a melting pot of inspiration for me.
What can you tell us about your new album coming out later this year?
I’m excited about sharing it. It feels like an expansion of my previous work in beautiful ways.
I worked hard to explore new palettes of sound and production ideas, while retaining the rawness and honesty of my work at large. It’s been a beautiful journey to bring that sense of balance and contrast together in a harmonious way, and to also make sure its coming from a deeply authentic place. Pushing boundaries of who we are, in our expressions of art, and individually in our lives, is really important, to keep forging forward into growth and expansion. I feel like I have done that musically on this album, and in my own life alongside it.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022? Do you have any collaborations lined up?
Lots of collaborations actually. and some unexpected ones!! I’m excited to let it all unfold and circle out into the world. The album, the videos, the expressions alongside it. And getting back out to the people around the world and playing and pouring for them feels really important and exciting too.
Finally, what is one thing that you wish people knew about you?
Mmmmm.. I think its becoming better known, but something that really defines my life is my connection to the ocean. Its a deeply beautiful place to me. I go to the salt almost everyday, and its the source of so much magic and peace to me. It’s a sense of communion with nature and a love beyond most that I know in my life. As a surfer, a man of the sea, and I’m forever grateful to base a lot of my life around its waters.
