Lithuanian-born and Newcastle-based multi-instrumentalist Rye, inspired by poetry and the underground electronic music of her early life, has just unveiled her latest track, ‘I Didn’t Want To’.
The subject matter, Rye explains, explores “how fear can become its own kind of fate”, and muses: “What happens when we try to protect ourselves from abandonment so much that we help create it?” As a professional self-saboteur, I often ponder the same. But what does the enigmatic songstress’ new single sound like?
It begins immediately with Rye’s beautifully tempered voice. Then comes gently minimalist acoustic guitar, with only vaguely dark undercurrents. Enter the brightness of the keys. It’s all rather sweet so far, though I haven’t failed to notice those ominous undertones I discerned earlier. Gradually, the sounds begin to distort, with synths and guitar piling up, twisting and shifting in tone. The effect is one of glistening, iridescent splendour amid beautiful bleakness.
Rye’s vocals and driving rhythm make the whole experience deliciously dark and poignantly sonorous.
