Rhiannon Rodriguez is an exciting new artist who blends indie rock and bedroom pop with soulful, jazzy vocals. Her latest single is called “Lie I Can’t Deny” and the gem is the second track off of her forthcoming EP Bittersweet. With “Lie I Can’t Deny”, the artist pens an enticing heartbreak ballad featuring her expressive and emotive vocals over eccentric beats. The track also features stacked harmonies, colliding guitars and soul-baring vocals for an alluring slice of alt pop.
Earmilk chats with the artist all about her new single, live music video, storytelling heroes, and what's next. The result is a fun read sure to bring fans closer to the artist they love.
Hi Rhiannon, congrats on your new single "Lie I Can't Deny". Can you tell our readers more about the song and the narrative?
It has to do with my own feelings of grief I had to sort through! It’s about something slipping away and not wanting to believe it, but once that denial gets swept away anger bubbles up from below it.
How does time and place influence your writing?
So much. Writing is so much of myself put into words, where I am and in what time in my life colors it completely differently. It’s like a time capsule, I can always come back to this EP in 5-10-30 years and know how I felt at the time. Nor would I have considered starting music. Which wouldn’t have come to pass if it weren’t for that time and place in my life.
You decided to film a live video for the track at Troublemaker Studios in Austin, TX with your father Robert Rodriguez who is a filmmaker and his band Chingon. Why did you want to release this song with a live video and what do you hope listeners take away from the performance?
I’m super proud of the performance I did live! That was the first live concert I’ve ever done and I was really happy that Chingon wanted me up there with them. I loved playing with them and wanted to share that joy with other people! We had an absolute blast and I feel like you can see it in all of us.
Was it challenging to collaborate with your father? What did he bring to the video?
Not at all! He’s very easy to collaborate with. He brought Hello Kitty Guitar shredding into the fray. He got it for me as a joke, but that thing is no joke!
"Lie I Can't Deny" is off of your forthcoming debut EP Bittersweet. What can listeners expect to hear both sonically and thematically from the new music?
It’s gonna get sad and melancholic, we’re moving into the depression state of the grieving process. The fourth track is the acceptance song, it’s lighter and airier, like you’re floating. It’s still sad but there’s hope. It’s bittersweet. The final track is another love letter to my friends, cause one wasn’t enough. Only guitar. No production. Written and composed just by me. I’m really proud of that one! Very excited for people to hear them
Who are some of your musical influences?
Gorillaz, Billie Eilish, Ashnikko, The Marias, Nine Inch Nails, Måneskin, GHOST!! I love them all. I listen to a lot of music, my Spotify has 2.5K liked songs AND COUNTING.
You are such a genius storyteller. What storytellers do you look up to and why?
Thank you so much!! I appreciate it. I love musicals a lot based on the stories they tell. Chicago is one of my favorites so I love Ebb and Kander. But outside of musicals I love Hayao Miyazaki’s stories. How his women are never sexualized and they’re always strong in their own way. I love Edgar Allen Poe’s poetry a lot. I hated reading in school but his stories never failed to captivate me.
What is next for Rhiannon Rodriguez?
I’m co-directing on an animated film as well as cookin up an album!! Wanna try some different styles in it. It’ll be a blast!
Connect with Rhiannon Rodriguez: INSTAGRAM
