Ryley Tate Wilson
I recently had the chance to sit down with rising Southern indie pop artist Ryley Tate Wilson to talk about his brand-new single “Party Girl”. Signed to S-Curve Records and widely recognized as a four-chair-turn finalist on Season 23 of NBC’s The Voice, Ryley has been carving out his own sonic space, blending heartfelt storytelling with innovative pop influences.
Speaking about the track, he shared: “Party Girl is about being out and getting that pit in your stomach like you miss someone desperately. Seeing others around you having a great time but all you can do is wish for that special someone to be back in your life — but they’re not coming back.”
“Party Girl” is out now on all streaming platforms.
Hi Ryley, how are you? What's your story?
I’m doing very well! I’m an indie singer-songwriter and producer from Alabama combining folk influence with pop electronica. I grew up listening to old-school country and pop, and started producing my own tracks when I was 11 years old. I continued writing, producing, and singing all the time and ultimately ended up competing on Season 23 of NBC’s The Voice when I was 15. I’ve since changed and grown a lot, but I made a few very valuable connections that are still important to me today. I got the opportunity to open a couple of shows for my coach Niall Horan, and got a lot of experience performing live in my hometown. I’m living in Boston now going to college at Berklee School of Music, where I am self-producing my debut album.
Could you list a few records that influenced the music you are making today?
Yeah, of course. I’ve been really enjoying Holly Humberstone’s “Paint My Bedroom Black”, as well as “Baby” by Dijon, and “Songs” by Adrienne Lenker.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you professionally?
I would definitely have to say my mom. Of course, she’s always believed in me, but she’s been by my side through all of the ups and downs of my career, and I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without her.
What are the biggest lessons you have learned since the beginning of your career? What's the best advice you've ever received?
I believe the most significant lessons I’ve learned have been in humility and consistency. Early in my career, I received valuable advice from Niall Horan. He advised me that humility would propel me further in my career than even my talent alone. And with the current state of social media and TikTok promotion, I’m learning that consistency is one of the only ways to gain traction these days in the music industry.
"Party Girl" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?Could you describe the songwriting/production process behind this single?
Yeah, totally! I’m very inspired by 2010’s pop fused with classic 80’s vibes. I wrote “Party Girl” in one sitting in my bedroom and produced the demo the next day. It was one of those tracks that I had a clear vision for before sitting down to write it, so the session was just a flow state. The song is really about loneliness. Loneliness tends to hit me when I’m surrounded by people, especially at something like a party. I wanted to capture that haunting feeling in this song, while still keeping it fun and danceable. Almost all of the production was done in my bedroom studio, and the song was finished in New York. I had a blast through the whole process and I’m so happy that “ Party Girl” is finally out in the world!
When did you know "Party Girl" had to be a single?
This is interesting, because I’m not sure if I can pinpoint a specific moment that I knew, but it was one of those songs that my friends kept asking me to play them over and over again after I showed it to them, so that’s always a good sign.
What's your favorite thing about this song?
My favorite thing about “ Party Girl” is the memories I had while making it. I had so much fun through the whole process, especially shooting the music video. The whole team for this song was wonderful and made the experience so exciting.
As a producer, what equipment /software do you usually use?
These days I produce in Ableton and ProTools, but “ Party Girl” was actually made in FL Studio. FL Studio is what I learned on, so a lot of times when I’m writing, I will also be producing in FL at the same time, which is what happened with “ Party Girl.”
In your opinion, what makes a good production?
I believe “good production” is highly subjective, yet intentionality often influences my perception of it. I think production can be super stylised and out of the norm, but still good because they reached the final product with intention. I think about records like “Two Star and the Dream Police” by MkGee. This album could definitely be considered lofi, or even poorly produced to some ears, but everything in it is very thoughtful and meaningful.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The hardest part is definitely comparison. I struggle a lot with comparing myself to other artists with higher numbers or more ticket sales, but they almost always have been doing it for way longer than I have. A big part of success in the music industry these days is just luck. Some people are more lucky than others, and that’s totally fine. On the flip side, the journey to success might actually be my favorite part. It gives me something to dream about and hope for. Maybe Party Girl will be my biggest song someday, or maybe it will be 50 songs down the line. The journey is still fun to me.
In your opinion, what would make the world a BETTER place?
I think more respect, and less comparison. People are rude out there, especially with social media, you can ruin someone’s day just by leaving a faceless comment. Be kinder, be respectful, and be loving to all people.
What can we expect to hear/see next?
I’m working on producing my debut album at the moment! There’s not much I can say about it at the moment, but I’m writing some of my favorite songs I’ve written yet. I’m super excited for the next singles to come out so keep an eye out!
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