Track of the Day: Ryan Yingst – Chaos (2023)
Traipsing across a plethora of genres, US-based Ryan Yingst can truly be called a genre-diverse singer-songwriter. From folk to jazz, soul to rock, and even some electronica thrown into the mix, listening to Yingst’s music is an inimitable experience. This is my introduction to Ryan Yingst, but he has already turned heads across the globe with his intriguing sound and powerful performances. Featured on Mesmerized, PopFad, Illustrate Magazine, Sinusoidal Music, and various radio stations and playlists, Yingst is garnering an international following. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Chaos’.
Following the folk-pop ballad ‘Please Don’t Lose The Sage’, ‘Chaos’ is Ryan Yingst’s second release in 2023. Retaining a soothing, smooth gentleness in the overall melody, ‘Chaos’ certainly has a chilled-out vibe. Yet, while the track tosses you into a hazy bubble of sound with a grin on your face, a sense of vulnerability lurks within the love song.
Tapping into his inner Paolo Nutini, Yingst’s obscure vocals seem to tug at your heartstrings evoking an intense intimacy in ‘Chaos’. The lyricism merely enhances the poignancy and soul-stirring quality of the song. Yingst draws inspiration from real-life experiences and ‘Chaos’ is about a challenging situation Yingst had to face. The tale goes as so:
“This song was written after Ryan was attacked on the streets of Nashville in 2021. A mentally unstable individual silently attacked Ryan from behind on a busy street around mid-day shattering three bones in his face requiring reconstructive surgery and months of rehabilitation…”
Interestingly, while the track conveys the challenging nature of the attack in both poetic lyricism and mellifluous melody, it is a song of hope and love regardless of the melancholy woven into the tapestry. Yingst shares that “during our hardest moments, we need strength in love” and ‘Chaos’ is a song dedicated to “a special individual” who saw the worst of his days and stood by him helping him to grow and cope.
One aspect I find intriguing is how the instrumentation so perfectly captures the intricacy of these difficult but sincere emotions. Joined by US-based band Tophouse, a delicate balance of percussion, guitar, banjo and violin capture the harmony of ‘Chaos’. I am particularly intrigued by William Cook’s violin which drives a skin-tingling haunting, fragility and classical charm within this indie-folk story.
For more from Ryan Yingst, check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
