Rah-C Emerges With New Album 'An Unsurfaced Melancholy'
As we tread through the brisker months of the year, it’s only natural that one’s emotional and mental state can at times become downtrodden and weary, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that’s currently ravaging the globe. Couple that with mandated and self-imposed isolation for months on end, catching a case of the feels has become par for the course, no pun intended.
That said, Rah-C has just what the doctor ordered, with the newcomer’s debut album, An Unsurfaced Melancholy. The project finds him mirroring the signs of the times with music tailor-made to soundtrack your modern-day existential crisis. The follow-up to The Format, which was released earlier this year, An Unsurfaced Melancholy marks the next chapter in his progression as an artist, as the brazen lyricist is back for the first time, with an revamped approach and vocal style first teased on his previous single, “Whole Life.” Produced by Rah-C and Identite Crisis in its entirety, the album begins with “Sooner or Later,” an introductory cut that doubles as one of the more upbeat salvos on the album. Layering feathery vocals atop fluttery synths, the New York native vaguely recounts drunken nights in Denver, as he revels in his zest for living in the moment. From there, the tempo gets ratcheted up a few notches with “Back from My Lowest,” an airy groove that captures him refusing to wilt beneath the weight of his shortcomings.
Drawing from his lyrical prowess, Rah-C kicks a couple of bars on “Lightning Stuck in a Bottle,” which slightly misses the mark due to a grating backdrop, but regains his footing with “It Won’t Matter in the End,” a sublime offering that finds him in the crosshairs of the law. While An Unsurfaced Melancholy presents an ample amount of intriguing offerings, one that encapsulates the best of what the multi-dimensional crooner has to offer comes in the form of “Over Exposed,” which is powered by robust production and stellar songwriting. Musing, “Hearing sweet words from your lips/And my finger tips linger with the taste of you/It causes tooth decay,” Rah-C’s experience as a seasoned lyricist is as evident as ever, as his clever quips leave the listener with a bit of food for thought to chew on.
In addition to showcasing his talents behind the mic and the boards, Rah-C’s musicianship gets put to the forefront with “Til the Embers,” a string-laden salvo on which he does work with an acoustic guitar, accounting for one of the more heartfelt compositions on the album. After waxing poetic about the days of yesteryear amid a flurry of rhyme spills on “Nostalgia, The Drug,” the proceedings are closed out with “How To Break Free,” which captures its host asking the complex questions life tosses us while providing his own answers on the road to peace and happiness.
First hitting the scene on the strength of his skills as a wordsmith, An Unsurfaced Melancholy finds Rah flipping the script, returning back for the first time with new wrinkles to his artistry and a promising future ahead of him. Flexing the breadth of his abilities as a songwriter, producer, and composer over the album’s ten tracks, Rah-C shines brightly, serving up a change of pace with An Unsurfaced Melancholy, which is sure add an extra bit of brightness to listeners’ day after giving it a spin.
