Rutherford Royal isn't "Bleak" at all.

Hailing from the barrier islands of South Carolina, Andrew Christopher Rutherford Royal has a deep connection with the land and embodies a non-traditionalist’s interpretation of the eastern South. He writes Southern Gothic cameos which he weaves into often dark, Indie Americana. After writing and curating the works for an album he records and mixes the music for Rutherford Royal (as well as other artists) in his remote cabin studio overlooking a hidden waterfall in southern Tennessee.

Though he named his debut EP "Bleak", Rutherford Royal's sound is far from it. His music is lively and full of vim, a scintillating spark lighting up many roads at once and effortlessly lifting your spirit up with every chord.

One of the very first things that'll jump out at the listener in the first few seconds of 'Let Me In' is what an excellent guitarist Rutherford Royal is. His chirpy and warm plucks are delightfully smooth on the ear. Right of the bat, with ‘Bleak’ (the titular track) you'll also start to grow fond of his love of the kick/snare, which is particularly creative and unique in this first song.

Following up is 'Lords and Ladies', a track in which you'll notice Rutherford's playing ethereal lullabies that seem to stride some previously unheard-of line between math-rock and folkish-Americana. The song placidly swims onto ‘Keep it Between us’ which seems to echo the broader spectrum of "Americana" and dips into later Beach Boys territory with some commendable audacity... that is, without losing his composure and sense of identity, of course, and though the synth becomes a critical part of this EP, it mostly remains understated, like you have to actively try and identify.

'Summer heat' is so far my favorite track, and if it didn't mention "The internet" early on, you would think this song is from the early 70s at most. The Way that Rutherford Royald passively plays killer blues licks just in the background of this song is simply astonishing, one for its qualities and second, for the restraint, he exercises in favor of just weaving his complex but digestible melodies Are warned though: The synth and the guitar solos get really delicious in this song, and the entire song may result in pregnancies.

Topping 'Summer Heat' is a very difficult task, but 'Back Burner' is certainly trying. It's got the kind of funky/groovy bassline and drums that really tend to kill me, and it's built up to be much more catchy than anything else in this EP. I'm just having the toughest time in my life deciding which of these two last tracks I like best, I am in the sort of dilemma that I love having, and I'm incredibly thankful to Rutherford Royal for that.

Closing thoughts:

He lied. he is a liar. Rutherford Royal set out to describe a "series of misunderstandings about love. Each track presents as a cameo which is an attempt at describing times when [he has] felt lost in the liminal spaces of bachelorhood or failing relationships." he called the album "Bleak", but at no point did I ever feel bleak, or stark, or like I had that cold void in the pit of my stomach, instead, this EP is one of the things I like best in music: It is reinvigorating. It is balmy. it is galvanizing. Like Chicken Broth for the Soul.

But yeah. This EP is Excellent.

Meet The Author

Samuel Aponte is Venezuelan-born raised and based. 

I joined Rival Magazine after a few years of doing PR work for independent musicians of all stripes; understanding their struggles to be heard in a sea of constant  ADHD noise and paywalled access to platforms, I now bring a willingness to always appreciate and encourage the effort and creativity that artists put into their work . Can also find some of my writings on LADYGUNN and We Found New Music.