Raleigh Ritchie, Actor, Artist, & Musician

Though there is no shortage of “unique” and “innovative” artist dotting the landscape of today’s music industry, actor/ musician Raleigh Ritchie manages to bring something different to the table with his own style of genre blending. Born in Bristol, England, Ritchie’s music is somewhat evasive in the genre his various albums an EP’s fall into, filling a general middle-ground of electronic R&B Hip-hop, with each track occupying its own space on this interesting spectrum.

Beginning with his feature on the soundtrack of the US television series Adulthood (2008), Jacob Anderson’s career as a singer began its ascent (Anderson would later adopt the stage name Raleigh Ritchie for his musical career). In an interesting twist regarding his two careers, however, the singer/ songwriter became much better known for his role in the hit HBO television series adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones, playing the role of the Leader of the Unsullied, Greyworm. Despite his part in the series, Anderson hasn’t taken time away from his initial passion of music, releasing his first feature length album, You’re a Man Now, Boy, and continuing work on his as of yet untitled second album. In the meantime, Anderson has released two singles under the name Raleigh Ritchie, one of which is to be included on his new album, with no current release date on his next album. In the meantime, however, there is still a lot to be talked about with Ritchie’s first full-length Album, with the eclectic medley of sounds and messages he presents throughout it.

Starting the off the Album is the song Werld is Mine, with a slower, heavier tempo that sits more on the R&B side of this album. The song also sits in one of two general camps within the album, focusing on what Ritchie considers a kind of naïve way of living focused of money and power, the highs of such a life, but also how it is unstable and unsustainable. I would consider this song somewhat middle of the road on this album, being a fun listen for sure, but with more impressive accompaniments later on in the album.

The next track on the album is Stronger Than Ever, which sits in the other camp within this album, this time focusing on depression, anger, and failure in life. The song has more of a bitter feel to it, with a slow tempo and softer instrumentals balanced out by a heavy bass. I would consider the song itself to be the best of the album, having both a strong message as well as a powerful and emotional sound to it that many might consider a bit of a “rainy day” sort of a song. The song itself deals primarily with the concept of depression, and the lack of motivation and frustration that often accompany it. About halfway through the song, during its breakdown in which Ritchie transitions into a faster tempo rap, is a particularly powerful point within the song, with the following verse driving home the ideas present throughout the song;

Big explosions crack through thunderous mountains Hearts exploding, minds, volcanoes pop and blow I'm not alone, I'm not alone Who am I kidding? I'm sad, no ideas coming It's driving me mad and I'm fighting it It's turning me bad, I'm loaded, pages taking me over I just wanna be home with all my friends and family Mum and dad, it's closing in on me, I need recovery, coming home I'm coming home and I need closure, I need closure

Though focused mainly on his own issues and career as a singer/ artist, this verse encapsulates many of the struggles people face when going through depressed periods, from lack of motivation and creativity, to self-loathing and apathy. Overall, I think the Stronger Than ever shows off many of the talents in which Ritchie brings to the table, from dynamic tempos and beats throughout his songs and album, to his ability to transition between a broad range of genres and themes within his music.

Towards the middle of the album, the song Cowards, another favorite of mine off the album, makes its appearance. Filling a similar space as Werld is Mine, the song has a catchier, almost euphoric feeling to it, with a laid-back chorus that make it an easy song to listen to. The song itself is about the difficulty of communication in a relationship, and the tendency for us to hide ourselves out of fear for how we’ll be perceived. Through this darker message, however, is a more optimistic take on the problem, focusing on how despite these difficulties, people can still make a relationship work with enough time and effort.

A bit after Cowards the album’s namesake, You’re a Man Now, Boy, makes its debut with an energy not too far off from Stronger Than Ever, despite the two songs’ very different messages. Whereas Stronger Than Ever focuses on mental health and a bit more on Ritchie’s experience with it, You’re a Man Now, Boy relays a much more universal struggle for all people: becoming an adult. I could go on about what I think Ritchie is going for with this song, but I feel the song speaks for itself, such as in these two verses towards the middle of the song;

Though now I have to think about the water bills

Still feel a pang of guilt about the snails I killed

I smoke too many cigarettes and drink too much

See the news and feel the blues, I'm feeling out of touch

I was an astronaut once upon a time

Now I'm tryna stay grounded, keep some order in my life

The song’s lines jump back and forth between the naivety of childhood to the often-uninteresting realities of adulthood, as well as the eventual understanding that we never really lose the kid inside of us. Between these two aspects of the song as well as it’s enjoyable sound make it yet another favorite of mine off of the album, living up to its place as the album’s namesake.

Rounding off the album is Stay Inside, a somewhat odd song that somehow still manages to fit into the eclectic feel of the rest of the album. In an ironic fashion, the song both encapsulates the feeling of spending time alone indoors, and the various feelings associated with it, while also being about how social interaction is an important part of our lives. The song, much like the album, is a nearly contradictory grouping of messages that all seem to work together in spite of themselves, making Stay Inside almost like a perfect cap to the experience.

If any of this interests you, or you’re looking to listen to something new, then you should absolutely give Raleigh Ritchie’s music a listen, and see what else You’re a Man Now, Boy has to offer.

Written by: Jacob Samoray

Raleigh Ritchie

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