Seems like everyone we talk to knows Ricky Lake. And they all frickin’ love the guy.
While Ricky made his name with left-field pop rap, 2023’s album Altered represented a shift towards a no-boundaries approach to genre and songwriting. And then this year’s EP Tundra fully embraced a live band emo rock vibe that I don’t think anyone saw coming.
We caught up with Ricky before his performance at El Rio tomorrow; swipe through to find out what inspired the shift in his sound, the local artists that inspired the latest record, and his hopes and dreams for the Bay Area music scene.
TUNDRA was a bit of a departure for you, sonically. Was this something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, a natural evolution of your sound, or a big leap?
Absolutely it was a huge leap, but at the same time it was a planned departure for myself and my sound. I wanted to connect with some of the styles of music that have helped shape me as a person, and in order to do that I was pushed into other genres.
Are there any local rock influences that led you in this direction?
Samegirls, Brontez Purnell, Aroma
Which local Bay Area artists are you most excited about?
There’s honestly such a long list. Right now though I’d say 143 Kane.
What’s it like working with Text Me?
It’s like working with a big family. Patrick and Tiffany do such a good job at maintaining that sentiment too. Any endeavor I’ve gone on to do through Text Me has been first off fun as hell, and second off helped me grow in essential ways.
Do you have any new releases coming up?
I do! An EP is in the works. Pretty much just finished the mastering phase, now onto artwork and actually naming the damn thing.
Does the Bay Area influence the music you make?
Everywhere I’ve lived influences my sound. So that absolutely includes the Bay Area.
Do you have any hopes or predictions for the local music scene?
I hope it thrives, and some of these amazing artists are able to have their music reach outside The Bay without losing their roots or their foundation. I just want people to be happy and creative, which is something I’ve found abundantly here in The Bay. Now we just gotta show the world.
