Emerging Artist Ry Jac Releases Debut EP ‘dystopia’
CREATING HIS OWN WORLD IN WHICH DINOSAURS PLAY THE BASS AND SKELETONS APPEAR IN MIRRORS — emerging indie artist Ry Jac shines in his debut EP, dystopia. Ry Jac released the five-track EP on July 1, an alternative musical project that explores not fitting in with surroundings, trying to be enough for people, and wondering what is supposed to come next.
Inspired by songwriters such as Elliott Smith, Ben Platt, and Noah Kahan, Ry Jac has been creating since he was young. “I got my first guitar when I was 10 and wrote my first song when I was 12,” he said. “I've known that I wanted to create music for as long as l can remember. I have always had a passion for music, and it's been incredible getting to step into the music world, not only with creating my first album but also getting to really perform for the first time just a few months ago.”
Ry Jac spent the last two years in Olympia, Washington, where he started experimenting with his sound and released his first single, “good girl,” in 2022. He performed his first full set at Rhythms Coffee in April, with his partner, Hazel Rain, and has returned for short performances since.
“I've had so many exciting new experiences, thanks to this great place, with performing my own music, as well as some of my favorite covers,” he shared. “Getting to perform alongside so many other musicians has been so much fun. It's an amazing community that I'm so lucky to be a part of.”
Photo by KimberlyD fineArt Photography
In addition to creating music, Ry Jac is an illustrator and writer. His creative hobbies inspired an illustrated design of Remus, the dinosaur balloon playing bass on the wonderfully unique album cover of dystopia — which is also available on tote bags, stickers, and t-shirts on his Bandcamp page. This idea came about naturally, and the process of bringing it to life was a seamless one.
The experience of dystopia was a fun one, Ry Jac explained, although “a bit stressful at times, since I gave myself a deadline before the EP was completed.” He added, “I had put [finishing] it off for a long time as it was and knew that I would've put it off even longer if I didn't set a date. I recorded three of the songs on the album in a day, and I honestly think those ones might be better quality than the others that took me longer.”
His favorite track on the collection ended up being “bridge over water,” a bonus track that was written soon before the release date, and it has even inspired plans for a full-length album. In addition, Ry Jac loved the collaborative elements of “more than this,” a soft, heartbreaking track about wanting to be enough that featured harmonies and piano by Rain.
Now that his first collection of songs is finished, Ry Jac is working on recording and writing the album, Bridge Over Water, and continuing to perform in his hometown of Bellingham, Washington.
“My hope is to continue making music for the rest of my life,” he said. “Music has always been the best way I know how to interact with the world, and I'm looking forward to continuing that for as long as I am able.”
Dystopia is able to stream or purchase on Bandcamp now.
