REVIEW: "Tame" by RYAL
"Tame," the new single released by the New York-based band RYAL, is a poppy and optimistic take on finding comfort in the post-pandemic world. "We hope this song becomes your friend," writes Jacque Ryal, who makes up one-half of the indie duo, "Coming out of a year of isolation, we hope it makes you feel less lonely."
Alongside Jacque, who serves as the lead vocalist and keyboardist on this track, is producer Aaron Nevezie. Together, the New York-based alt-synth band known as RYAL blends melancholy, soulful lyrics with perky percussion and a signature synthesizer sound. Their new single utilizes several key elements that make up almost all of RYAL's incredible array of new music. Although, in many ways, "Tame" is a big departure for the band, as it strikes a much different tone than their previous single "Thunder (Solo on the Dancefloor)."
Jacque also says that over the course of this past year, she has grown much more comfortable in her own skin as an artist and is no longer afraid to take risks. "I had a teacher once say, 'when you wake up in the morning just sing ahhhhh," writes Jacque, "Listen to it, really hear it and then just be ok with what you've got.' I feel like I'm at the 'I'm ok with what I got' part."
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In addition, this new single is one of their first tracks to include live percussion, a choice which Jacque says the duo made intentionally as a means of breaking their electronic mold. She says, "Tame" is a track that pushed us to try on a pair of shoes called 'alt-rock band.' We rarely add live drums in our tracks these days, so it was a fun change of pace." One of the things I love about "Tame" and the band RYAL overall is that you can listen to their music almost anywhere. Whether you want to get up and groove or lay back and vibe, "Tame" is a track that is perfect for all moods.
Aside from being super catchy, this song provides an important message on life in a post (ish?) pandemic world. Jacque Ryal says that this song is "about rallying around the disenfranchised and those that need protection." I think that "Tame" is an excellent encapsulation of the feelings many of us are having right now. With vaccination numbers rising and Covid-19 cases dropping, many people wonder how they can start to get back to their normal activities while staying safe and still protecting those who are most vulnerable. "Tame" reminds us that though normalcy is returning, it is still necessary to support and defend those who the pandemic has hit the hardest in our communities and across the globe. This is also a message that hits close to home for Jacque and Aaron, who sadly lost one of their old friends to Covid-19, something they actually wrote about in their music earlier on in 2020 with the single "Closure."
As a whole, RYAL is definitely taking giant steps forward both lyrically and musically with "Tame." The duo has proven that a song can have an important message and deep meaning while also staying poppy and entertaining. I honestly can't wait to see what the band has in store for the future.
Written by Patrick Breen
Photo by Emily Berger