Matt Ryder ft Birdy - 'Riverbed'
Matt Ryder and Birdy come together to deliver ethereal electronic new single Riverbed.
Who doesn’t love a good collaboration?! I know do, especially when two words collide to create something so captivating by pushing and manipulating the boundaries of two genres. By blending them seamlessly together, the pair craft something that shows us the vulnerable and emotive sides of electronic music. Just 19 years old, Matt Ryder popped up on our radar with the release of his debut EP ‘Escape’ back in 2021 on his own label ‘Melo/EC30’ which was picked up by Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1.
Birmingham born and now living in London, Ryder writes, plays and produces all of his own music from his bedroom. Drawing influences from the likes of Bonobo and Olafur Arnalds, he creates something fresh and exciting in his own exploration of symphonic textures, which feature his vulnerable and open lyric writing style above dreamy electronica.
Since debuting her hauntingly beautiful self-titled album over 10 years ago, Birdy has become a household name in folk music with her trail of Brit and Grammy nominations. This isn’t the first time she has dipped her toes into the electronic waters after releasing Find Me with Sigma in 2016 and now she’s back at it again, bringing her celestial melodies to this world.
Riverbed opens with a duo vocal harmony over simple piano chords that make the hairs on the back of your next stand to attention within seconds of the track beginning. Through slowly building textures and arpeggio’s set against catch vocal melodies, the pair take us on an electronically charged journey of honesty and desperation. Delivered alongside a black and white music video directed by George O’Reilly who has worked with Yungblud and Lewis Capaldi (to name but a few), Riverbed is a reflection on Matt Ryders life to date.
Talking about Riverbed, Ryder says This song means so much to me -it really finally talks about so many different things that have happened in my life recently. Me and Birdy had an amazing time writing this song and I think it really shows. It’s a reflection on my Matt Ryder has definitely marked himself as one to watch, especially after this euphonias release with Birdy, we can’t wait to see what comes next.
Words by Tamara Grzegorzek
