Ryder The Eagle - “The American Dream”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Hamilton Leithauser, Ween, Father John Misty

French musician Ryder The Eagle continues to filter classic pop crooning through his distinct psych-rock filter on two recent singles following 2019 EP Free Porn, woozy numbers subverting traditions while still living in dreamy nostalgia. “The American Dream” adds space-age synths to Western haystacks and tumbleweed while “Follymoon” takes Mexican melodies and puts them through a Casio lens - Ryder The Eagle’s ability to bridge past and present is what makes his songs so charming and resonant. By not taking himself too seriously while dealing in sonic fusion, Ryder The Eagle allows for comfortability within his personable discography. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Ryder The Eagle’s music feels like a classic pop crooner transported from another planet, taking those familiar melodies and forms and tripping them out with synth soundscapes and atmospherics throughout his sophomore EP Free Porn. A moody and nostalgic nature resonates throughout Ryder The Eagle’s songwriting, but when laid against his melancholy, electronic pop music, it gives a psychedelic, dreamy vibe that can feel sweetly tongue-in-cheek at times. By playing with disposition and distanced loneliness, Ryder The Eagle is able to achieve an unexpected charm on Free Porn, further aided by the French artist’s penchant for sonic experimentation around his core presentation.