Rya Park speaks to the heart of the millennial experience with her debut EP Generational. It’s a powerful collection of songs documenting the highs and lows of your 20s.
My 20s are far behind me, but I still connected to this material. It opens with the title track “Generational.” References to cigarettes, shit house parties, and drinking all night evoke a time of excess, being “way too young” to worry about what comes next. The next track “call it a year xo” starts by stripping away the beats. The opening verse leaves us with gentle piano chords and Rya’s voice, moments of quiet after the storm, moments to hear the darker voices that get drowned out in the crowds. “LONDON” may be my favourite song on the EP, a touching track about the power of friendship and the pain of keeping it alive when you’re separated by distance. With separation from lockdowns still fresh in all our minds, this song really resonates.
Most songs on this EP are tinged with sadness. However, “Everything We Want” is pure joy, a celebration of the love that Rya’s found with Kill Bell guitarist and photographer Nick Tam. Rya wrote “Silver Lining” several years ago, but it’s found the right home here. Generational is an EP that shines a light on life’s highs and lows. This song embodies that message, revealing Rya’s struggles with mental illness and her hope that there may be a silver lining to it all. It makes such a strong statement that it might have been the EP’s final track, but that honour was reserved for “I’ve Tried it ALL,” a powerful song co-written with Alex Lahey and Gordi. While it was a collaborative effort, it’s an incredibly personal song about Rya’s mental health journey.
“When I wrote this song I was barely sleeping and didn’t have the energy for the life I wanted to live,” she admitted. “I was embarrassed and ashamed to present a version of myself that deep down I didn’t recognise or resonate with. I remember saying in this session that I know what I want my music to really be about – the true parts of my life, the good the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful.”
Generational is a moving EP that puts Rya’s vocals and lyrics front and centre. She’s careful to avoid overproduction. The gentle beats ensure it feels contemporary, but they never steal focus. Every song is so strong in its own right. Together they capture a moment in time and an artist on the verge of greatness. Whether you’re living through your 20s right now or like me they’re a distant memory, I’m sure this EP will resonate with you.
Images used with permission from Hunger Digital
