You know why people love JOYRYDE? The English producer may not flood the market with monthly singles or be the loudest on social media, but everything he does – from releases to stage production – reeks of intention and detail. His version of bass house is no throwaway trend rush. Each tune is a rich tapestry of textured noise, booming rumbles and emotional melodies, and never has that been more apparant than on “IM GONE,” a mood-shifting, mind-bending exploration of classical beauty and jackin’ urban attitudes.
Featuring female rap vocals, “IM GONE” will send elbows swinging and bodies grinding from mosh pits to backseats. It’s a dynamic tune, a real sonic exploration that takes JOYRYDE’s sound to new heights, a feat even more exciting as it serves as lead single for his debut full-length album.
Perhaps the weight of its artistic capacity draws from its highly personal roots.
“‘IM GONE’ is a song that I’ll cherish my entire life,” JOYRYDE tells Billboard Dance. “I started it while recovering from back surgery on maximum strength opioid pills. Some parts I don’t remember writing. On those days, I realized what it was like to feel my mental health slipping. I’m grateful to have music and JOYRYDE in my life because that’s what pulled me back into the strongest version of myself I’ve ever been. When I saw the light at the end of the recovery, it forced the rest of the album out of me. I’ve never been more attached to something that wasn’t alive.”
The album, titled BRAVE, is due for release on HARD Recs. It will serve as the label’s first as HARD broadens its scope as a new arm of parent-company Insomniac’s record label and distribution platform.
“Last year was massive for HARD and Insomniac Music Group, so it was a natural progression to get both teams working together to build a proper label experience,” says Insomniac founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella. “I’m excited for the roster of exceptional talent we’ll be curating for HARD Recs, and JOYRYDE is the perfect person to kick things off.”
If there’s ever been a sound that launches, it’s the dirty rhythms of “IM GONE.” Listen to it below.