Article by Chadha Nacer

Meet Ryan Wright, an emerging artist who is disrupting the indie-pop scene with her newest release, “u were never mine.” Upon the first listen, you can immediately sense the frustration that comes with the inability to confront someone with your emotions. Wrights' lilting, soft vocals float over the track in a way that coaxes the melancholic teenage years to the forefront of your brain.

From the beginning, by repeating the title of the song and setting the tone perfectly, you understand the kind, yet somber nature that you become familiar with as the song goes on. The lyrics tell the heartbreaking and relatable teenage story of placing your heart on the line, only to find yourself delivered. This style of writing is reminiscent of a small-town breakup, and gives the listener a sense of mellow disappointment. The writing captures this emotion perfectly, leaving a distinct sense of togetherness as a feeling constructed by your brain to make you feel lonely.

Wright's rhapsodic voice catches your ears from the first note, lulling you into a sense of comfort and slow despair that is derivative of “waiting for a text at 2 am,” as the lyrics say. When the chorus hits, the minimal production style ramps up to a soft pop beat that compliments Wrights’ soft, dream-like vocals. From then on, the vocals are complemented by distorted backing tracks and a couple more chill harmonies. After the first chorus, there are many small, unique metallic elements that set the song apart, adding to the unique, heartfelt experience that comes from listening. The product is a haunting atmosphere with a very clean production style that emphasizes the soft rejection the lyrics convey.

If you’re looking for a new breakup song to add to your playlist of music to cry to, then look no further than “u were never mine” by Ryan Wright. The track is available on all streaming platforms now.