The artist tackles the winding and obstacle-filled path to stability and recovery from addiction on his earnest new EP
A collection of tracks that see the artist navigating the through the dark and the light, tackling themes like addiction, self-doubt, and eventually hope though a nuanced and thought-provoking sound that is packed full of charm and uniqueness, brand new ryan john clary EP 34 is about as raw and honest as any collection of tracks you’re likely to hear anytime soon.
The EP opens with ‘The Spins’, a track that dives headfirst into the consuming darkness that comes with addiction and the lasting, numbing effects that it can have on you and your wellbeing. There is a really peppy and fun feel to the sound that creates a disjointed contrast from the lyrics, evoking an uneasy an uncertain feel as a listener that really leaves an impression on you.
Throughout 34, moments of hardship and struggle are contrasted with more hopeful tracks that represent hope for the future. ‘Dresses Like Elvis’ is a track that has a low-key, stirring appeal to it throughout, offering a moment of stability and calm following the chaos that came before it. Similarly, ‘A World Without You’ is a track that hones in on the life that the artist has built with his wife, hopefully on the other side of the more challenging circumstances that have plagued him, with a serene sound to represent that.
‘(there’s too many songs called) One More Time’ sees the temptation of addiction rearing its head once again, with the artist candidly opening up about the hold that it can have over him and so many others and having no qualms about admitting that. The placing of the track on the EP following two more optimistic ones does a great job of showcasing how these journeys are rarely linear and straight-forward, and sometimes stumbling backwards are going to be a part of the journey that unfortunately feels inevitable.
The EP closes out with ‘Silly Billy’, a track that explores the artist’s wider dreams and aspirations in the music industry, capturing themes like self-doubt and frustration in a way that feels typically raw and real from the artist. The heavy, percussive nature of the track and the atmospheric nature of the soundscape and vocals do a great of representing this weight on the artist, and make for a sombre end to an EP packed full of ups and downs.
Something that 34 does really well is the way that it acknowledges that struggles with addiction and self-doubt aren’t just journeys that go from bad to better in simple fashion, there are road-blocks, false dawns and obstacles that can show up when you least expect them. What feels like stability and control one day can be carnage the next, but by acknowledging this and deciding to push forward and persevere anyway that artist displays a resilience and strength that feels relatably human, and hopefully it helps others in similar situations to continue to forge their own paths to recovery.
