by mariah estran
photo by rêveur
Is it the song of the summer you’re searching for? Well, we might have found it, or possibly one you’ll have on repeat. Rikas is back with their first release of 2021, “Stereo.”
The three-minute tune is sensational. An electrifying concoction of plucky guitar-strums, and a dance-inducing drum cadence could possess anyone to bounce in the street. The band harmonizes, singing, “I keep dreaming in stereo.” And honestly, we might be in a dream after pressing play.
Collaborating with director Aladin Mekanovic, the band decided to give the single an eccentric music video. Inspired by the visual aesthetic of “Queens Gambit,” they depicted the band up for sale. Individuals gawk as the group performs in living rooms, making viewers wonder how tangible a band can be in the digital age.
Rikas took time to tell us more about “Stereo,” the meaning behind the music video, how their sound has developed, and what we can expect next.
You’ve just released the new single, “Stereo.” What can you tell us about the track and what inspired it?
Rikas: “The song came from a personal point of view. It is based on the feeling of a failed relationship. The kind of one that you lose yourself in. And after the last fight has been fought, it almost feels like a dream. ‘I keep dreaming in stereo’ — This phrase is based on Phoenix’ song ‘Telefono,’ where Thomas Mars sings about his melancholy and detachment due to his long-distance relationship with actress Sofia Coppola. We felt understood in some way when we first heard that song and that line in particular.”
This is your first single release of 2021! What made you all feel that it would be the perfect track to follow up the much-loved single, “Overthinking?“
R: “‘Overthinking’ was a more introverted track. So we thought it would be nice to follow up with something more powerful and energetic. And I think ‘Stereo’ is a perfect summer song, especially as we are getting ready to perform at some festivals.”
To complete the release of “Stereo," you also got to work with Aladin Mekanovic and made a fantastic music video inspired by “Queens Gambit.” How do you feel the visual compliments the track?
R: “First of all, we gotta thank Aladin for working with us on this video. We developed the idea together, and we knew that ‘Stereo’ would be the perfect song with the Band for Sale concept. I love how the video has a very aesthetic but slow tempo in terms of the storyline, but then you have this fast track. You would think that it should not fit together, but it works very well somehow.”
A large portion of the visual is the band being up for auction, as if we can have artists at our disposal. If any, what's the meaning behind this depiction?
R: “These days kids get more hyped by Twitch DJs than real bands, and we sometimes feel like the idea, and the concept of a band is a dying handicraft. Like we had The Beatles, and we had Queen. So, do we feel there is still a need for a band in general? Especially with COVID, we had the feeling that there is no need for us. We're not able to perform, and that's essentially one of the main parts of the job! And yes, with Spotify and all the streaming services, artists do feel disposable sometimes. You always gotta put out new music, and create super cool content for TikTok or Instagram, if you wanna play the game. And I think that has a big impact on the mental health of an artist.”
How do you feel “Stereo” showcases your sound development over the last year?
R: “After we put out our debut album, Showtime, in 2019, we struggled to find a new sound in some ways. So, we started to work track by track. We even collaborated with different producers and kind of opened up our bubble a bit. I think ‘Stereo’ has a more modern approach in terms of production and songwriting.”
This single is just the introduction to what’s to come next! But what can listeners expect from Rikas following the release of this single?
R: “We have got a summer packed full of releases, and we are super happy to finally put out some new music. I don’t want to spoil too much, but I would say there is a very nice palette of new music, and every listener will choose a favorite color as every song stands for itself. :)”