Ryahn's 'Light Blue' EP Is A Soulful Journey Toward Personal Growth [Premiere]

Photo by Jorde Diomande

"The EP is about starting at zero in a very dark space and overcoming great obstacles to reach a point of harmony within yourself," the up-and-coming singer and guitarist said about the project.

The cover art for Ryahn's Light Blue EP finds the 21-year-old Florida-born musician with her hands intertwined and stretched toward a blue sky. The image is all the more fitting considering she begins her project with a song called "The Journey," where she recounts being awaken by a morning sky and finding comfort in its soothing blue hue, all while reflecting on the challenges she has faced in her life.

"The color blue holds a lot of symbolism for me. It was my father's favorite color and also represents the distance between where you are and where you are going and everything in between," Ryahn said in a press release. "Light Blue is an end and a beginning for me; it's me saying goodbye to the person I was two years ago and welcoming in new beliefs and practices, and letting go of things that no longer serve me."

In its brevity, Light Blue's eight tracks is centered on the singer and guitarist's personal growth and the experiences that led to that. "Sad Boy," a standout from the release (and her latest single), finds Ryahn hanging on to a love that is coming to its end. The lush and melancholy production of the song (Ryahn and New York musician BENAMIN produced the track) and the tinger of alternative rock guitar allows Ryahn to showcase her versatile vocal delivery, capturing the bittersweet emotions she's feeling as she realizes this love isn't forever.

"Sad Boy" is currently on the unofficial Euphoria Spotify playlist, which boasts 203,350 followers. The playlist features songs that have and haven't appeared on the HBO teen drama, which had its season one finale back in August.

As a show that grapples with an array of different subjects, epsecially ideas of intimacy and love, it's fitting that Ryahn's "Sad Boy" is featured on the playlist. And as for her favorite character from the show? Jules, a transgender girl portrayed by  fashion model and LGBT activist Hunter Schaefer.

"She is extremely empathetic, outspoken but a little naive. She tries to see the best in people. I love that about her. She stands up for who she loves," Ryahn said of the character.

Prior to this, Ryahn had released the music video for her Sango-produced track "Popstar." The video found her venturing through parts of Brazil alongside friends from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Ryahn will be performing with bLAck pARty on September 17, at The Echo in Los Angeles. Ticket information for the show can be found here. Ryahn can also be found on Instagram and Twitter.