Toronto-based alternative artist rikin has always been fascinated by pre-existing media and music from bygone eras. A lifelong obsession with music led to the development of this solo project, with debut single “for tuesday” coming out at the beginning of this year and follow-up “found in love” dropping earlier this summer. rikin shares that an unmatched feeling of catharsis has come from the making of these songs: “I kind of feel like I’m at a loss as to what to do with my life and I have so much creative frustration. This was the most relieving outlet, it feels so good to finally be able to do this after wanting to for years.”
While “for tuesday” fits nicely into the current wave of fuzzy, sugary, lo-fi power-pop that is taking hold in underground indie rock, “found in love” is a more soft, echoey, soulful dream pop endeavour. In part, these two vastly different tracks come from the fact that rikin pulls from a deep well of influences, citing a love for rock icons like Lou Reed and Jimi Hendrix, pop’s biggest stars Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and Madonna, and lots of 90s alternative artists including Hole, Sneaker Pimps, Garbage, and The Cranberries. Another important element is the contribution of co-producer Kxng, who traditionally works within hip-hop, which adds a unique touch to these pop/rock-oriented songs. When it comes to the lyrical content of these songs, the words are heartfelt yet open-ended, and are left to the interpretation of the listener. Though personal experiences inform the lyrics, their ultimate meaning isn’t necessarily concrete for rikin either.
A love for old media and a compulsive need to untangle the past still lie at the core of this project, but this artist is absorbing the present and looking towards the future as well. A trip to Osheaga last year, Canada’s marquee festival for pop, rock, and indie fans, sparked a further appreciation for more current artists and a desire to participate in the modern indie music scene. With lots more to come from rikin, these first two tracks are just the beginning: “This music is a reflection of what I’ve wanted to make for the last 20 years and I can’t wait to share more.”
Check out rikin’s music below and stream it here.
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