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Singer-songwriter and keyboardist Jacque Ryal, better known as Ryal, is releasing her debut EP this spring. Ryal is the former lead singer of indie-pop band Strip Darling, which produced a moody sound with introspective lyrics. After departing from Strip Darling to begin a solo career, Ryal is ready for the new journey and has been preparing for her debut album for quite some time.
A single off her first solo album, “Lonely Love,” will be released on March 30th. According to Ryal, the single was largely inspired by the Arctic Monkeys’ 2013 album, AM. I imagine the placid sounds of AM would serve as constructive inspiration for almost anyone.
Her new songs are a departure from the musical style of Strip Darling. While both are insightful in lyrical meaning with a hint of moody anger, Ryal produces much more of a pop sound, keeping the introspective nature and moodiness, but leaving out the hints of anger. There’s nothing wrong with a little anger, but she chose to take her music in a different direction.
Ryal – Lonely Love
The video for “City Lives” shows Ryal portraying various people from different walks of life on a cab ride through the city, each “city life” vastly different from the next. The sound starts off a bit lower and more reserved, but as the song goes on the vocals become higher and synths pick up speed.
You can listen to Ryal’s first single, “City Lives” here.
Ryal spent her childhood in San Diego and Colorado, where she performed in musicals throughout her high school career before attending The American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York. Destined to become a musician, she began playing small venues with Strip Darling. The band gained a loyal fan-base and moved on to play venues like the Music Hall of Williamsburg.
In an effort to reinvent and further discover herself, Ryal decided it was time to embark on her solo career. In a press release, she claimed that it was “time to…reinvent, dance, wear pink lipstick, and use hairspray again.” Amen to that.
Buy Lonely Love now on iTunes!
Article by: Ashley Rodriguez
