White Teeth - Ryan Beatty

Ryan Beatty: The stripped-back yet truly stunning album ‘Calico’

For those keeping notice, last Friday was a big day for music, with several new albums dropping from some big-name artists like Jack Harlow, Jessie Ware, The National, Labrinth, Niall Horan, even Kesha. But, hidden in amongst the noise, there was one project that stood as a gem for its sheer beauty.

The 31st track on Spotify's New Music Friday playlist was the unassuming yet most beautiful project I’ve heard so far this year. Unassuming, but when you look at the team behind it, it should have been expected.

The project boasts production from Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, with some of it recorded at Rick Rubin's studio in California. The strings are played by Rob Moose, who has worked with some of the best musicians of the last decade, including Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, Gracie Abrams, John Legend, and Celeste. And to top it all off, the album was mixed by Shawn Everett, who also worked on still one of my favourite albums for it’s comfort, Kacey Musgraves' Grammy-winning album "Golden Hour."

All of this talent comes together to create a sound that is both comfortable and graceful, much like "Golden Hour." But, this time, it's tied together through the vocals of a brand new project from Ryan Beatty.

Beatty's third album, titled "Calico," is a tight 33-minute project that showcases his talent as a songwriter and singer. His ability to play around with different vocal layers and production styles is evident throughout his discography. However, "Calico" sees him at his best, stripped down, and putting his harmonies front and centre, creating a cinematic level of instrumental around it.

The standout track from the album for me is "White Teeth," a mesmerising song that has listeners hooked from the first note. The strings rise and fall throughout the song, the tempo changes, and the instrumental of the bridge leads to a real exhale of emotion in the final chorus. It's simply stunning, and one of the best tracks I’ve heard in a while.