Q&A with Riley

Brand new single ‘Jigsaw Lover’ by Scotland’s country-pop queen Riley was unshackled yesterday and we caught up with her to chat all things songwriting, inspiration and board games.

Welcome Riley - for those who are new to your wondrous music, describe your sound in 3 words.

Thank you so much for having me! I would say the 3 words that describe my sound best is… music you’ll enjoy!

• Your second single ‘Jigsaw Lover’ dropped yesterday. Tell us about this track, it’s meaning and why you chose it as your first single of 2022?

I wrote Jigsaw Lover back in Autumn 2017. It was a song that pretty much wrote itself once I picked up the guitar and started mumbling lines into my voice memos. I had just experienced my first real heartbreak and the only way I’ve ever known how to truly process tough emotions and feelings like that, is by writing them into a song. I wanted to write about modern love and all of it’s trials and tribulations. Falling in love nowadays should be easier than ever, right? We have downloadable dating and social media apps at the click of a button to allow us to discover new people whenever we like. But, speaking mainly for myself, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of building someone up in your head before truly getting to know who they really are. 

I loved the imagery of the ‘perfect love’ being one complete jigsaw puzzle and how this relationship felt complete at the start but overtime, pieces went missing and maybe there were parts of this person that weren’t quite inline with what I value in a relationship, we just didn’t fit quite right. When I finally took a step back and looked at the bigger picture, it was obvious that the red flags had been there all along and we were never a good match for each other. 

I wanted to start my releases for 2022 in the order that the songs were written so by the end of the year, my singles should all tell a full circle story. This song is only the first chapter. I  was also keen to showcase a slightly different style, sound and genre of music compared to Go-Getter. I think genres are boundaries for breaking and it’s been fun experimenting with a more pop sounding production with dreamy stratospheric synths, pop-style harmonies and programme drums whilst keeping the storytelling lyrics and Nashville guitars. 

• What are your favourite things about being a songwriter?

I guess it might sound cringe, but songwriting is my lifeline at this point. Writing, making and performing music is the only thing in life that I’ve never gotten bored of or given up on career-wise. I took up the usual hobbies when I was little, like dancing, tennis… that was tragic and don’t get me started on girl guides, that was too much effort. But nothing lit me up the way reading a poem and seeing words rhyme did, or going to my first concert and seeing my idol in the flesh thinking ‘if I get one go, I wanna do exactly what they’re doing on stage and leave people feeling that sense of unmatched joy’. 

I also think certain people are born with the ability to do certain things in life and sometimes you don’t choose it, it’s just in you. My favourite thing about songwriting is being able to communicate with strangers through my lyrics and melodies and evoke emotions in people. Your song might be the only thing they truly feel that day as they go through the motions of their 9-5 job or usual routine. Your music could be the very thing that makes them view a challenging situation from a different perspective or even just calms their busy mind for a while. I am a geek for words and love anything that rhymes or paints a picture in my head, and for someone who thinks a lot, it’s the best form of therapy I’ve ever had… it’s a bonus that it’s free! 

• We hear you’ve been spending some time across the UK, working with other people and attending industry events. Tell us a bit about that

Since lockdown and being confined to zoom calls, I’ve made it a goal this year to be travelling as much as possible, to meet new people I can co-write with and learn from. I’ve been up and down to London for a few sessions as well as London Fashion Week attending the Vin and Omi show – amazingly creative and focused on caring for the planet! The most recent time was for an event called Girl & Repertoire. G&R is run by two women called Georgie Willmore and Lauren Aquilina, they set up a networking event in the heart of Soho, strictly for womxn in music to meet and make connections. Alongside Riley, I aim to achieve something similar within the Glasgow music scene. Myself and two other artists/friends of mine have started up ‘Girls, Girls, Girls, Glasgow’: A space for womxn and queer people in music. We will be announcing our very first event which will be held in Glasgow with a really cool brand partner for the launch, really soon across our socials. We want to create a comfortable space and community for womxn of all ages and backgrounds to come and try out their new material to a warm, supportive crowd without any pressure or scrutiny. Instagram: @girlsgirlsgirlsglasgow.

• You’ve supported the likes of Jordan McKampa and fellow Scot, Tamzene, if you had to pick any artist in the world to support on a tour, who would that be?

There’s so many people I’d love to support on tour but the big dream would be to open for Taylor Swift. I guess that’s a pretty obvious answer from me but I think I would learn so much from watching her each night. Her stagecraft and ability to captivate an audience for a 2 hour set is unparalleled. Other than Taylor it would be The Foo Fighters. Obviously Dave Grohl is the epitome of cool, but when I saw them live in Bellahouston Park a few years ago, I was just in awe of how they could be so unbelievably talented yet have no ego or side to them. They oozed rock and roll yet relatability. You could tell they just loved playing music and lived for each gig like it was their last. I also think I could spend a lifetime just listening to all of their tour stories backstage.

• Favourite board game to bring out a party

I love this question, it would have to be Articulate. Probably a strange answer but this was the main board game we all played with family on holiday and even to this day I remember the fits of laughter we would have watching people scramble to describe things in the most panicked of ways. Who knows, maybe Articulate is the reason I’m a songwriter now, evoking that love for words within me.

Make sure you follow Riley on Facebook & Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest news!

Q&A with Joell

This week we caught up with artist Joell, former Resonate Live performer, and we got the latest on his upcoming EP, biggest inspirations and some words of wisdom for any other upcoming artists.

Joell’s ‘In2u’ is simple, floaty, and nostalgic. His relaxed soft vocal on top of dancey garage percussion with its hitting, upbeat piano, invites you to shut your eyes and get lost in his sound. Being the first release of 2022, it also announces his EP scheduled for June.

"IN2U is vibey energy. Effortless. It’s a little nostalgic, reminiscent of old school garage tracks I'd listen to on my phone at school. Something to lighten your mood wherever you are." - JOELL

LISTEN HERE

How would you describe your sound to someone that hasn't heard you before?

Refreshing, modern and a little experimental. I listen to a lot of music, old and new, take what I can from different sounds that make me feel a type of way, add my own feels to it and create a vibe. 

We’re just here for the vibes and to share them. I want people to feel something when they hear my music and get lost in the vibe with me.

IN2U has a bit of a house feel to it. It’s something we heard on your previous single 'No One'... is this a sound you're looking to keep exploring?

Not really, I think you got to try stuff to really know what is for you, in life and in music, that's how I found music to be my calling, I tried it and it turned out to be my most freeing outlet. I love to experiment with different sounds and this was really me exploring merging different genres, and incorporating new creative ways of working along with what I had learned so far to really find out what works best for me. I love all types of music but I think it's important to keep progressing and learning through experimenting and collaborating but also to be careful to not get stuck in one place. I am excited to keep developing 'my sound' and can't wait to get music out regularly.

LISTEN HERE

Your pop up gig at Scot:Redesign in collaboration with Rejean Denim was great. What was your experience working with a live band?

Thank you, yeah it was fun. Aroma Glasgow are definitely ones to watch. It’s good to see something different and real instruments getting played, I'm a big fan, this is something I have been wanting to develop in my own sound so it was good to work with the live elements, I don’t do enough shows, working with Aroma was more of a freestyle thing, a bit of a test to myself really and it works. I have dreams of touring with my own live musicians, I think this adds such authenticity and feeling to a show, something that is really important to me when relaying things to an audience, I want fans to feel like they are right there with us as if they were in the room when the music was being created. 

Tell us about the EP... 

I’m just really glad to get it out and close the gap in releasing music, show what I have been exploring and allow the fans to vibe. On the EP you will see more of the merging sounds I was talking about, and a glimpse of where I want to take my sound next. I’m sitting on way too many ideas that I am buzzing to get working on. The EP is perfect for summer and can't wait for fans to vibe with me. 

We recently seen you got a sync on Netflix...do you think this has made a impact for your music?

It’s really cool to see something go from a bedroom to a tv show and i'm proud of the people involved in the creation and getting the song to where it is. Exposure on a platform like netflix is huge and it feels great to be taken seriously, sync is such a good way of getting your music out to the world, but for me music is my therapy, everything else that comes with it is a bonus. 

What advice can you give to any artists based in Scotland? 

I’m just beginning to enjoy my own journey. It’s just getting started, we know where we want to go now. I used to want things but now it's all about the process and the self growth, time moves quickly. I see my team and surroundings get better and really believe in themselves. That’s inspiration. Keep the circle tight and build together. I want us to win together.

figure out what it is you actually want, try different things because it's not an easy road in this industry. There are easier ways to make money. There’s faster ways to get famous. 

Learn business. Music is therapy. 

Who is your favourite artist and why ?  

I’ve got a few. Go watch the Kanye documentary, must see. Frank Ocean is definitely up there. It’s timeless, pure art. Never giving too much away. Oh & Travis Scott! 

But let's face it, we’ll never see another Michael Jackson in our lifetime.

if your dreams came true, where would you be in five years? 

we’ll find out in 5 years I guess, but hopefully surpassing those dreams, travelling the world with my music and being a role model for artists within my genres in Scotland, showing that it can be done. Lots more personal and industry growth, and sustainability within my craft and genres in Scotland.

Whats your take on hip-hop & adjacent genres in Scotland ?

I keep myself to myself but I feel young people don’t have access to the creative opportunities they need to thrive. I don’t think the music quality is quite there yet but that isn’t to lack of talent, and the same people are in positions of power for too long and aren't progressing with the music. Why’s someone like k4cie not got a slot on BBC Scotland Radio pushing young peoples' sounds? She and Peach Gla have been putting in the work on the ground for a long time, it is strange to me that she wouldn't be championed for positions like this long ago and I feel it has something to do with the structure of Scotland's music industry and position within the UK. Scotland needs equal representation.

Shoutout to Up2stndrd for everything they support artists on. Thank you for the opportunity Resonate, I appreciate the support! JOELL

“Working with new sounds, stretching my abilities, and pushing my comforts, it’s all about enhancing my artistry. Growing through creating and feeling, really knowing myself and my capabilities, to find that sweet spot, become the best version of myself as an artist, and bring the fans on the ride with me.” JOELL