Drawing us in with a cerebral energy, expanding with an intimate acoustic guitar and cold, metallic, astral synths, RYDE open Winter with layered vocals and the conceptual lyrics, “Numb my body and feed it to my ghost, soft and slowly, alone, I don’t wanna feel at all…”
We are immediately enthralled by the sound design, the syncopated percussive elements, and the immersive nature of the opus. Winter holds a cinematic allure which is a perfect reflection of the season that the song is named after. This comes to life with the industrial energy and the whistling frequencies which embody the wind and icy notions. It would also be a great fit for a movie like The Substance.
The evolution of the track holds a high emotional quotient as we are taken on a poetic and trippy journey by the creators. The Bristol-based duo confesses, “Lyrically, the song deals with depression and mental health issues in a soulful manner, aiming to offer a space of refuge for listeners in dark times.”
The message feels zeitgeist and important considering the wider societal context and the intense need for catharsis in these war torn times with heightened mental anguish within the collective. For this message and expression, we are grateful to RYDE.
RYDE is made up of Arran Glass and Bronte Shande, who intertwine their sonic universes to create a unique brand of atmospheric, emotionally charged music designed for introspective, late-night moments.
It is no surprise that their sound has drawn comparisons to Feist, John Martyn, and Lhasa de Sela, but it is also abundantly clear that RYDE is manifesting a universe unto their own. Their debut album Safekeeping is set for release next year.
In the meantime, we have added Winter to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream both version of the song, and await Safekeeping, both literally and sonically.