Ryan Ritual, the singer of the Kings favorite act Mating Ritual, has recently debuted an impressive track titled “Where Did Love Go.” This song possesses the potential to blend into Spotify’s renowned playlists like Alternative Mix and Alternative Indie. It is refreshing to come across a tune that is crafted for a car ride rather than being confined to a ten-second TikTok clip.

“When I started writing my solo album, I wanted there to be separation between my identity and my other band’s identity. “Where Did Love Go” became my North Star of sorts, guiding me both sonically and thematically. I’ve always been wary of making music that pulls from my favorite artists (Cleaners From Venus, The Smiths, etc) at the risk of fatigue, but I was in a bad place when I wrote this album and couldn’t escape returning to my comforting, nostalgic roots. This is not a pandemic album, but an album that deals with my emotional fallout from over a year of isolated living. Where Did Love Go, in particular, deals with my loss of passion and growing apathy to the world I used to love.”

Following his time writing, recording, producing, and mixing five albums in just five years with his band Mating Ritual, Ryan Ritual, hailing from Los Angeles, found himself in need of a respite from his band and the mundane. Exhausted and wearied by the scorching desert heat, Ryan made the decision to relocate to London in 2022, embarking on a new chapter as he embarked on the creation of his solo album. This time, he sought producer Chris Zane (known for his work with Passion Pit and The Walkmen) at Strongroom Studios. The outcome of their collaboration is an album that delves into the emotional aftermath of enduring the entire pandemic in solitary seclusion. Ryan drew inspiration from his early musical influences, while utilizing Strongroom’s illustrious history as a canvas for his songwriting, filled with irresistible hooks.