{"id":95734,"date":"2026-05-21T10:02:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T09:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=95734"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:02:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T09:02:48","slug":"rylai-speaks-to-us-about-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2026\/05\/rylai-speaks-to-us-about-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Rylai Speaks To Us About ‘Issues’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following on from our review of ‘Issues’, we speak with Rylai<\/a> about his music, his ambitions, and what’s next.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The ‘Issues’ video has you moving through New York in a really isolated way\u2014how did that idea come together?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It started from a brainstorming session with my team; we were really inspired by the visuals from ‘Past Lives’ and felt the tone of that film matched the song perfectly. From there, I came up with the idea of burying my issues and traumas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    We captured some of the loneliest scenes in New York, and the video ends with a graveyard scene where I cry, stroke the gravestone, and walk away as an act of letting go.

    I like creating lyrics or scenes that can be interpreted in multiple ways, and that ending scene is really a symbol of releasing the issues and traumas that have been weighing on me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Michael Morales, our cinematographer, captured everything beautifully.

    I hope you enjoy it!


    Did filming the video help you process the emotions in the song in a different way?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I think a well-made song should be able to deliver its emotions and sonic beauty to those who can appreciate them. But just as everyone has their own areas of expertise – like how I wouldn\u2019t be able to fully appreciate the beauty of abstract paintings – many people may not be able to decipher or enjoy a song to its fullest depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      So,  I think having different visual material helps people process the emotions in the song in different ways. I hope that after people experience my songs and videos, they can find new meanings within them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Your music blends emotion with a lot of technical detail. How do those two sides come together when you\u2019re creating?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The technical side is really about the quality of the production and how intentionally you incorporate ideas to elevate the musicality of the song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I believe that in order to complete a good song, you have to start from the original songwriting idea and build a production around it with real intention that fully serves the songwriting\u2019s potential. Otherwise, you\u2019re leaving the success of the song up to chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You\u2019ve released a couple of singles now. How are you thinking about what comes next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Haha, I know exactly what\u2019s coming next!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        I\u2019m working on an album, and all the singles I\u2019ve released so far are part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        More singles are coming soon and it only gets better from here. Stay tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For people just finding your music, what do you hope stands out first?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          First and foremost, I hope the song just gets stuck in their head. But the more they listen, the more I want them to start noticing the layers- the melodies woven into the background vocals, the synths, the guitars. And eventually, I want them to hear how each instrument sounds on its own. A lot of care goes into making every element beautiful in isolation, while still making everything work together as a whole. There’s a lot to discover there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            You move across different genres. Do you see your sound settling into something specific, or always changing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Eight billion people on Earth, and 80 years of popular music – can you imagine how many different songs have been made in that time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Even now, I sometimes discover hidden gems from the past for the first time and feel genuinely shocked by how fresh they still sound to me.New sounds are constantly pouring out, and I think if you\u2019re not trying to do something fresh at the forefront of popular music, then you lose the justification for why you should be at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            I\u2019ve listened to pop music for a long time, and I think you have to constantly experiment with your sound. It keeps things fun and fresh.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              Looking ahead, what are you most excited to explore next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              The music I have planned for the next ten years already exists in my head. The melodies, the feeling, the direction- I know exactly where this is going. I can’t give too much away because I don’t want to spoil it, but every project from here is a step further into a vision I’ve had for a long time. If what I’m imagining comes together the way I know it can, it’s going to blow your mind. Very exciting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                As more people discover your music, what does that support mean to you, and anything else you\u2019d like to share before we wrap up?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The more people discover my music, the more my existence feels validated. I know that where I come from can sometimes shape how people see me- especially in music. But we’re not living in a perfectly inclusive world, and I don’t fit the mold of who corporations usually want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Without the support of listeners, I’d just be another person the system passed over, a statistic used to justify the way things are. But every person who connects with my music is proof that my path is a legitimate one. It’s what keeps me going, and for that I am so grateful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Thank you so much for listening!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                  Watch the video for \u2018Issues\u2019 below, and find out more about Rylai and his music online on his official website<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

                  \"Issues