Rainn Byrns: 'New In Town'
After spending the best part of five years releasing a handful of select singles and his 'Country Living' EP, Swindon-bred South Londoner Rainn Byrns has arrived into album territory in elegant style with the release of his self-produced debut LP ‘New In Town’, out today on Futureproof Records.
Lyrically exploring complex themes like relationships and navigating early adulthood by using his own ‘crappy-go-lucky’ take on life, Byrns has uncovered a nest egg of lo-fi indie cuts that are equally earnest and honest in content. Whilst some songwriters would prefer to sweep their emotional baggage under the carpet, ‘New In Town’ is living proof that turning negative memories into positive music can be a life-affirming experience.
Byrns' recut of his OG single ‘How Can I Get You Out Of My Life’ highlights his growing abilities as a producer; it's a bolder sonic version of the original track but the vocal content remains cutthroat as he reconnoitres cutting out the toxic elements in his life, leaving relationships, and coming out of the other side smelling of roses. ‘House’ expresses Byrns’ desire, like most millennials these days, to own a home despite a worsening financial environment that makes this dream impossible, “I know there is a place out there for me / reserved under the name of Rainnie B,” he sings, backed by a flurry of melancholic guitar riffs. Third single ‘Tailspin’ is more upbeat than the tracks that surround it, perfectly juxtaposing dark lyrical content with jangly guitar lines and sprightly percussive tones. ‘Homeward Bound’ is a laid-back number laden with lo-fi drum beats, punctuated by dreamy chorus sections that try to make sense of Byrns’ feelings about moving home several times during his youth, and saying goodbye to his “only friend.” I'm not crying, you are.
Whilst he may no longer be the new kid in town, settling in South London has enabled Byrns to comfortably reflect on his past through rose-tinted glasses, aided by the knowledge that he's in full control of his future despite its ever-growing, existential nature. ‘New In Town’ is an eclectic and irreverent debut jam-packed with soothing melodies and a tongue-in-cheek vocal delivery; Byrns isn't running anymore, instead, he faces his demons head on and turns them into song.
