RHYS - 'Portland'
Rhys unveils a poignant coming-of-age music video to accompany Portland, the title track of her heartfelt new EP.
The title track of her new EP, Portland, is a deeply emotional piece that sets the tone for a collection of songs including Heathrow, Me in the Middle, What’s the Point of Crying, and All Blue. Born in Oregon, USA, Rhys faced significant challenges when she moved to Sweden at the age of 10, navigating the cultural contrasts and rootlessness that have profoundly shaped her music.
Rhys describes the track as a reflection on feeling stuck in childhood memories. It was born from her decision to revisit and explore buried emotions, resulting in a collection of earthy and heartfelt indie-folk songs.
The music video is a beautiful and emotional watch, featuring nostalgic VHS footage from her childhood in Oregon. Rhys explains that while everything has changed since those moments were captured, and that’s just the way life goes, she can’t help but feel a deep sense of longing. This innocence and nostalgia are dreamily woven into the track.
Drawing inspiration from Nick Drake and Brandi Carlile, the track features a blend of textured guitars that create an ethereal, dreamlike soundscape—perfectly complementing her reflections on childhood.
Her vocals are both soothing and commanding, and when paired with her layered backing harmonies, they deliver a movingly beautiful effect.
What makes this song truly special is its vividly articulated lyrics. They allow listeners to grasp the theme of nostalgia without needing any background on her influences. Rhys captures how childhood memories often leave us with a vivid, almost magical image of a place—one shaped by imagination, making it seem larger or more enchanting than it is in reality. She encapsulates this sentiment in the opening lyric: “In my mind – the hills here were so much bigger.”
Alongside the release of her EP, Rhys is also performing across Scandinavia, including in Stockholm, the city where she spent her teenage years. She’s an incredibly talented artist making a strong mark on the indie-folk scene, and it’s clear there are plenty of exciting opportunities ahead for her.
Words by Elise Remillard
