Shut You Out is out now!
Rising stars, The Rions are back with their new single, Shut You Out. To celebrate, the band have curated a playlist full of tracks that inspired the song.
“We decided pretty quickly that it was naturally taking an intense path both sonically and lyrically, so we just leaned into that throughout the rest of the writing process, adding strings for that cinematic flair we’ve been chasing for a while,” the band share of the track.
CALL ME LOVER - SAM FENDER
In regard to approaching a love song from a dramatic/ cinematic approach, this track by Sam Fender always stood out to me. I’d come across it a few years ago and Sam’s use of Strings throughout the bridge/choruses had always stuck with me. Especially the way they swoop up and down around the melody.
EXTREME WAYS - MOBY
From a cinematic standpoint, this song is so special and nostalgic to me. One of the most iconic action movie themes [Jason Bourne] it’s always evoked an immediate sense of pace and drama for me, so although we never touched on this song in studio, part of me wanted to replicate the call to action of this songs intro, for our chorus.
MEZZANINE - THE TECHICOLORS
For context, this song is by one of Asher's [lead guitarist] favourite bands of all time. I remember him showing me for the rising and falling synth specifically and we both fell in love with the idea of replicating that for a song of our own. Something so simple yet so beautiful, it found its way into the chorus of Shut You Out.
MIAMI - FOALS
Actually a song introduced to us by our producer during a studio session. Something about the impact of the drums and guitar in this song has stuck with us for a while. Foals are masters of layering multiple guitar layers, something very much attempted for Shut You Out
THE GIVER - SARAH KINSLEY
This one is very much lyrically inspiring. It almost tells the same story but from the opposite point of view. Definitely one of the most beautifully written songs I’ve ever heard. Not only did this song inspire to use the lyric “insatiable” but it paints the weight of unreciprocated love and avoidant attachment in a much more heavy and real way. Having been on both sides of the tale as old as time, I wanted the lyrics to carefully reflect this very delicate dynamic, as The Giver did so perfectly.
NO ONE NOTICED (EXTENDED ENGLISH) - THE MARÍAS
Again a lyrically inspiring track. Something about the line “and then I’ll leave without a trace” inspired the ruthlessness I think Shut You Out holds within it.
KEEP THE RAIN - SEAROWS
Some of the most gut wrenching music I’ve listened to has come from Searows. I remember being hit hard by the lyrics in this track “nothings ever really quiet, when you need distraction to survive” and “I’m good at letting you go, No you were never the enemy”. I think it paints a tragically real picture of avoiding love and all its seemingly inevitable flaws, in order to protect oneself. I haven’t personally experienced it that extent but I’ve seen how love can be villainised and made out to be something sinister as a coping mechanism.
BETTER THAN THIS - LIZZY MCALPINE
I think this song is linked to the fear and imposter syndrome of love that I instilled into Shut You Out. Lizzy McAlpine is wickedly talented and being transparently human with her lyrics. It inspired me a lot to write something very human, and what’s more jarringly human, than the ugly things people don’t admit to.
Shut You Out is out now!
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