New Zealand artist Ria Hall has a profile that is surging upward in her homeland but for many of us over the pond, we’re only just becoming introduced to her music and it’s pretty timely – her debut album, Rules of Engagement, is just around the corner.
Hall’s latest single release comes in the tune “Barely Know”; premiering today on the AU, the vocalist’s love for strong vocal and hip hop production shines through. The third track to be released from Rules of Engagement, “Barely Know” saw Hall link up with fellow NZ artist Kings up at the Arch Angel Studio on Auckland’s North Shore to create some heat in studio.
“The first thing that comes at you unapologetically, is the beat.” Hall says of the track. “As a hip hop lover, I wanted the drums to stand at the forefront of the song with my vocals. Secondly, the lyrical content is relatable to everyone and anyone who has been in a relationship, where you find yourself at a crossroads and second guessing if you actually truly know the person you are with. Thirdly, the guitar riff acts as a hook in itself, which I think provides a less is more approach overall. The writing and production value is slick and clean, while my vocal performance adds an edgy quality.”
While “Barely Know” strikes hard with its choppy guitar and thudding bass, the single is indicative of the musical richness and confidence that Hall has injected in throughout Rules of Engagement.
“Finding a balance to achieve a fair ratio between creating music that met the brief of the album was both a challenge and a highlight.” she admits. “Challenging for the mere fact that we (my co-producers/writers and I) were creating music to suit a certain tone and didn’t want to compromise on that and a highlight because I believe we achieved what we set out to do, which is highly gratifying on many levels.”
Check out “Barely Know” below!
Stay up to date with Ria Hall here. She will be touring in Australia, supporting Katchafire in September!
September 15th | Max Watts, SYDNEY
September 22nd | 170 Russell, MELBOURNE
September 23rd | The Heights, CHELSEA HEIGHTS
September 24th | Plaza Tavern, HOPPERS CROSSING
Tickets on sale here.
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