After relocating from Nashville to Brooklyn in 2022 and experiencing viral success with the 2x RIAA Platinum track “YKNWIM?”, the past few years have been a whirlwind for Yot Club. Yot Club (aka Ryan Kaiser) has crafted a signature sound known for its lo-fi hooks and dreamy ambience. Now, with “Rufus”, Yot Club expands his musical horizons, infusing a cinematic quality into its nostalgic pop style through collaboration with a range of talented artists.

Across the 13 tracks of “Rufus”, Kaiser shares co-writing credits with renowned names like Tommy English (known for his work with Carly Rae Jepsen and Kacey Musgraves), alongside vocalists Charli Adams and Harrison Lipton. Patrick Wimberly, known for his mixing work with artists such as Lil Yachty, Joji, Blood Orange, and MGMT, takes charge of mixing duties. Together, these new collaborators inject fresh energy into Yot Club’s sound, resulting in a project that builds upon the boldness, brightness, and brilliance of Kaiser’s previous work, enriching his sonic palette with newfound nuance.

In essence, “Rufus” isn’t just about Ryan Kaiser; it’s a collection of snapshots capturing his journey in New York. Through it, Kaiser explores themes like challenging relationships, newfound insights, and the unexpected twists of navigating a new city. It’s a story of self-discovery, self-reflection and, above all, introspection.

Ryan comments on it himself, explaining, “This album is not meant to serve as an eloquent story where there’s characters and side characters and betrayal and heartbreak. It’s just 13 separate episodes that restart and don’t necessarily match each other, but I wanted to give it a character to wrap it all together.”

Listen to the album…

Read the interview…

Hey! How have you been?

I’m doing well, mostly just been getting ready for tour next month.

You’ve been in New York for over a year now, how has the change from Nashville to Brooklyn been?

It’s very different for sure, I grew up in Mississippi so it’s my first time living out of the south. I didn’t really put a lot of thought into either move they just seemed like fun. Nashville had more going on musically but it was culturally quite similar to Mississippi. So I figured if I went to New York it’d be something completely different. And it’s been great, I love the trains they make the city feel like a big amusement park. I like walking everywhere and having friends and food nearby. But moving to New York also made me realize it’s shockingly easy to just move somewhere new, so I can’t help but always think of what’s next.

Can you share any stories from your time in New York?

I’m trying to think of something that doesn’t involve rats or property damage. I live by the Myrtle-Broadway J stop (famous for the Dunkin Donuts, Popeyes & Checkers trio) and I’ve seen some crazy stuff go down there. Most of my favourite memories are just cool shows though. Water From Your Eyes in Central Park and Joe Pera in Woodstock both stand out to me. I also like going to Rockaway when it’s warm out it’s probably my favourite part of New York.

You’ve built a unique Alternative/Indie sound during your career; how have the Nashville and Brooklyn scenes contributed to your sound?

I’m sure they’ve had a subliminal effect on my songs throughout the years, but I try to not pay too much attention to everything that happens in my own little bubble. I just feel like there’s certain trends that arise and then everyone starts doing them to be accepted and it leads to a lot of redundancy and unoriginality within the scene. I want my music to resonate with normal people out there, I’m not really trying to cater to a particular scene that I want acceptance from.

You’ve just about to drop your second full-length project, Rufus, how are you feeling about sharing with the world and what your stand out tracks?

I’m thrilled with this album; I’ve been so impatient waiting on it. It’s weird making something that I’m so excited about but I have to keep it a secret and not talk about it. Like I used to just slap these things on Soundcloud the moment I made them. But now that people are actually listening to these songs, I guess I gotta take a second and think about how to present it. My personal favourites on the album are Nostalgia, New Day, Human Nature, and Poison in your Mind.

Can you share your creative process for creating the album?

It’s pretty casual, I just fool around on guitar a lot. When something sounds cool, I’ll get a voice memo or just start recording. Sometimes I can hear all the instruments in my head and sometimes it’s a game of figuring out what to put in there. I’ll write lyrics as they come to me while I make the song. I’ll zone out and 6 hours will go by while I’m working which is crazy because I don’t even have the attention span to watch a movie.

What narratives and themes are you aiming to convey across the project?

There’s not a linear narrative that carries through all the songs, but I would say some recurring themes are just modern life on the internet, and trying to navigate who you are in a world where everyone is trying to sell you shit.

In terms of collabs, projects and live shows, what plans do you have for the rest of the year?

I don’t even know man the collabs happen pretty spontaneously with people I’m friends with. I’m sure I’ll make some more this year. I make all my stuff alone so it’s refreshing to work as a duo every now and then. I got a couple in the vault now with High Sunn and my good friend Harrison Lipton, I’m sure those will find the light of day soon. As for shows I’m playing is many as I can. Got a North American and European headline tour both lined up for this year. Bringing my full band on both of those. I’ve invested a lot into these upcoming shows because I really want them to be fun and memorable above all else. My come-up has been largely on the internet so I just want people to see I’m a real dude, not a random Spotify playlist artist.