RLYBLONDE- YOUR ANGEL
In the world, or rather the industry of music, there are trillions upon trillions of “behind the scenes” aspects that few outsiders even acknowledge. There’s producers, agents, sound engineers, instrument techs, graphic designers, vocal coaches, journalists, photographers, videographers, and a plethora of other positions that are all part of the music and performances we know and love. These people are some of the coolest souls I've ever had the pleasure of meeting/speaking with, and it’s not everyday when you see someone who does both.
Carina Allen is a photographer and director based in the greater New York City area. After years of working with several indie-centered artists in New York, Allen decided to change teams and try out music for herself; hence, Rlyblonde was born. After spending the last two years teaching herself guitar and the ins and outs of recording, writing, and general production, Allen finally released her first single ‘Fantasy’ which would ultimately be the title of her 5-track debut EP that came out just months later in June of 2023. Fast forward five months, Rlyblonde has a new single (and perhaps more to come) called ‘Your Angel’, released on November 29th.
Before listening to ‘Your Angel’, I was a bit skeptical, I’ll be honest. Based on my prior research, Rlyblonde’s genre revolved around bubblegum pop and alternative elements; styles I’ve never been quite a fan of. But when I pressed play, that assumption went directly out the window.
Though the song is still technically described as hyper pop, the instrumentals go against that classification directly with an approach that is more indie rock than anything else. The opening guitar track is distorted and cinematic in a way similar to Alex G and this factor is of utmost prominence throughout the whole song. The guitar part, though a simple chord progression in retrospect, carries the piece in a harder direction than listeners would ever expect. It’s truly remarkable when you remember the fact that Allen taught herself guitar in such a short window of time.
It’s needless to say that every single aspect of ‘Your Angel’ is cohesive and melds into one great artform, from the guitar to the bass to the percussives, it’s all tenacious...except one part.
Traditionally, Allen’s vocal style fits songs that are within the same classification as artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, and those alike. In some instances, this soft and chirpy style translates well in other genres, as we’ve seen for musicians like Odie Leigh, The Velveteers, and Cults. But for Rlyblonde, it just doesn’t gel well. Her voice is great, that’s not the issue here. It’s just the clashing of styles that is a bit unsettling to hear.
Ultimately, Rlyblonde is a surprising breath of fresh air to the indie/alternative sectors of music; if she continues to pursue this medium then I am sure she will excel just as she has with photography, directing, videography, and other creative outlets.