Boston alt-pop band Ripe has shared a groovy new single, "Queen of the City", from the group's sophomore LP, Bright Blues, due out Friday, March 10th via Glassnote Records. The song follows previous singles "Noise in the Forest" and "Settling", each of which arrived along with a stripped-down acoustic version.
Originally formed at Berklee College of Music, Ripe is comprised singer Robbie Wulfsohn, guitarist Jon Becker, drummer Sampson Hellerman, and trombonist Calvin Barthel. Known for its high-energy live performances and unique blend of funk, jazz, soul, pop, and R&B, the band earned widespread acclaim with its debut album, 2018's Joy in the Wild Unknown, as well as constant touring. Bright Blues sees the band expand on its eclectic sound, enlisting the talents of rising pop producer/songwriters and Berklee classmates Noah Conrad (BTS, Niall Horan) and Ryan Linvill (Olivia Rodrigo, Dermot Kennedy).
"We thought, how can we do something new?" Said drummer Sampson Hellerman. "Something that still has our sound and vibe at its core, how can we expand our boundaries and reach more audiences while still staying true to what makes Ripe Ripe?"
"The wildest thing for me is that the record simultaneously sounds like it has the scars of everything we've been through and also that it doesn't," added singer Robbie Wulfsohn, referring to challenges the band faced in the process of making the album, including lineup changes and the global pandemic. "It's joyful music, which is very exciting given that it was made in the middle of getting hit in the stomach."
Ripe will celebrate the release of Bright Blues with a North American headlining tour set to kick off on March 28th at Dallas, TX's Deep Ellum Art Co. and extending through late April with stops at Boston's new MGM Music Hall at Fenway (4/8), New York City's Terminal 5 (4/15), San Francisco's The Fillmore (4/27), and more. For complete details and ticket information, visit the band's website.
"Queen of the City" is now available on all streaming platforms. Stream the track and previous singles via Spotify below. Click here to pre-order Bright Blues.
