Rhys
Excels In Emotional New Single “Thanks a lot now I can’t smile”
By Kenneth Tse
What a journey it has been for 23-year-old singer/songwriter Rhys. This week marks three years since the American/Swedish artist released her debut album, Stages, to critical international acclaim. The tracklist, which includes “Maybe I Will Learn,” “Last Dance,” and smash hit “Too Good To Be True,” has earned her over 170 million digital streams and counting, a steel testament to the artist’s unmatched musical versatility.
The dynamic nature of her songs continues to see its changes, and in 2021, the artist takes on a more mature sound. Combining two of the industry’s dominating genres – pop-punk and indie-pop – Rhys successfully develops a style of her own. This sentiment is all the more apparent in two of her more recent singles, “Over You” and “Thanks a lot now I can’t smile.” The latter, released on September 24th, is an emotional masterclass songwriting and vocal chop. We spoke to the artist about the new single, her musical journey, and more!
Hey Rhys! Thanks so much for speaking with us – we love “Thanks a lot now I can’t smile” so much, congrats! How are we feeling now that it’s out?
Hey! Thank you right back! I always get anxious and nervous pre-release without even realizing that that’s the reason haha, but now I just feel calm and proud.
Can you walk us through the inspiration for the track? What does this song mean to you?
I wrote the song with Kerstin Ljungström and Fanny Hultman, and we were just having a lot of fun and throwing humorous depressing lyrics out there that we all sort of felt hit really close to home. I love blending pain with humour in my songs because that’s really how I deal with things in real life, I’m terrible at taking things seriously. Anyways, the song is basically about feeling alienated by depression and social anxiety no matter how you try to calm yourself with therapy and healthier ways. I did and still kind of do often feel like my brain trips me in social situations, makes me say odd things, and act a little twitchy. And hey who doesn’t love a song with a slow bandy build-up.
It’s been 5 years since your break into the music industry. What about your music would you say has changed the most since?
My music has changed a lot. I was 18 when I started writing my early material and even though I’m extremely proud of what I accomplished, I’ve always known I wanted to go in this direction musically. I’ve never fully felt connected to upbeat happy pop songs, and I struggled with my identity as an artist and on stage quite a bit there for a while. So, I took a break to get back to myself. Now I’m focusing even more on lyrics and more organic productions. Really I’m what has changed the most, I know what I want to do now and it feels more genuinely me :)
Would you say your music-making process has changed at all? How does the typical Rhys song come together?
Yes absolutely, I used to only write with one person, Jörgen Elofsson. I learned a lot from my mentor and co-writer, I kind of got a crash course in songwriting, which was super inspiring. Now I write with a whole bunch of different people and get to kind of find my own way without my training wheels, which is scary but has also taught me a lot about myself and style.
My songs usually start with a guitar and some lyrics from mine or someone else's notes. I usually drink way too much coffee and end up shaking and peeing and laughing.
Did you always want to become a musician? At what point did you realize that music was what you wanted with your life?
Yes, I’ve always performed in one way or another. I have an unreasonable amount of home videos of me and my sister lip-syncing to Avril Lavigne on our crappy American Idol karaoke machine. I also did a lot of musical theatre in schools growing up and did every school talent show. I just kind of decided this was what I was going to do, and I don’t have a backup plan or talent so that’s frightening.
Do you have a music industry moment that still feels surreal to you?
I performed a song at Denniz Pop Awards, a Swedish music prize, during Corona when only like 30 people were allowed to come, and Max Martin sat like 2 meters in front of my face while I sang. That was pretty dope. Also just standing in a studio for the first time and meeting Jörgen was crazy.
Which Rhys lyric best describes your life right now?
“If my words hurt you then I’m sorry, I’m like a toddler with a gun.” Actually, I dunno because I’m pretty good right now but I enjoy that line a lot!
If you were to host a music festival, who are the three artists that you’re choosing to headline the event?
Christine and the Queens, Phoebe Bridgers, Adele.
Do you get writer’s block? If so, what are some of the ways you overcome that?
Oh my god fuck yes all the time. I’m still trying to figure out what to do when I’m “blocked”. I guess it usually means I need to step back and experience things instead of just milking every single angle of emotion I have on something. Probably means I need to date and get my heart broken again. Woo.
You have a new EP coming out! Can you speak a little as to how the project came together?
I took a two-year break to write after I released my album in 2018. I needed to close that chapter and start a new one. During that time I really honed in on what I had always wanted to do, more sad sarcastic guitar-driven organic folky music (haha couldn’t choose one word), sort of similar to all the bands I grew up listening to and karaoke-ing to. I’ve written sooo many songs with so many amazing people, so it was super difficult to choose only 6, but I’ve basically chosen some of my favorites that also have a red thread. It feels like a good bundle of songs if I may say so myself. The most important thing this time around is that I love my own songs, and feel proud of every aspect. I hope people can see that and will love them too.
What can fans expect from the new EP?
Relatable, self-deprecating sad, and or a bit angry songs lyrically with lots of guitar that are fun to walk dramatically to. Woo! Unless you are not sad or angry, then hopefully you’ll just like the sounds, haha.
What are some things you like to do outside of the studio?
I hang with my friends mostly and binge TV shows – actually, I don’t even know anymore? What did one do before Corona? I like laserdome and amusement parks a lot but they’re not really everyday activities are they… I have no hobbies OK? Music was my hobby now It’s my job I have no life it seems goodbye.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
This too shall pass. Nobody cares what you do, they're just focusing on themselves.
Lastly, what can Rhys fans expect for the rest of 2021?
New music and a whole lot of fun!!
When Rhys makes it to LA, ____________.
She hopes she will meet Channing Tatum and Jennifer Lawrence. And have a flourishing music career.