Artist Spotlight: RY X

Some artists command attention through sheer volume, but RY X has built his career on restraint. His music doesn’t beg for your attention—it lingers, slowly pulling you into its quiet, hypnotic depths. Over the years, he has carved out a singular space in the indie and electronic music world, blending ambient textures, haunting vocals, and deeply introspective songwriting. With the release of his latest album, \Blood Moon\, he continues to expand his sonic world, exploring new emotional and sonic landscapes while staying true to the delicate, immersive sound that defines him.

From Coastal Isolation to International Recognition

Born Ry Cuming in the remote surf town of Angourie, Australia, RY X grew up surrounded by the vast, untamed beauty of the ocean. That sense of isolation and deep connection to nature has always been embedded in his music—his songs often feel like they belong to open spaces, lingering like the last light of dusk.

His musical journey began in earnest after discovering Jeff Buckley’s Grace as a teenager. That album cracked something open in him, inspiring him to start writing music that was raw, vulnerable, and deeply personal. By his early 20s, he had moved to Los Angeles, navigating the industry while refining his artistry. It wasn’t until 2013, with the release of Berlin, that his sound fully crystallized. The track, a sparse, achingly beautiful ballad, became an underground hit, earning him critical acclaim and solidifying his signature style.

A Sound That Breathes

RY X’s music is built on space, breath, and patience. He merges the warmth of folk with the atmospheric pull of ambient electronica, creating songs that feel like whispered confessions. His voice is his greatest instrument—fragile yet commanding, capable of both intimacy and grandeur.

His influences are wide-ranging, but his music always remains distinctly his own. Whether working with analog synths, classical strings, or minimalist guitar lines, he has a way of making every element feel essential, never overloading a track but instead letting each note unfold naturally. His sound has drawn comparisons to artists like Bon Iver, James Blake, and Thom Yorke, yet he occupies a space that feels uniquely personal.

Collaborations and Expanding His Artistry

Beyond his solo work, RY X has ventured into multiple collaborations that further highlight his versatility. He is one-third of the electronic group The Acid, a project that fuses left-field electronic music with cinematic sound design. Their work, particularly on albums like Liminal, explores the darker, more experimental side of his creativity.

He has also collaborated with neo-classical composer Ólafur Arnalds, contributing vocals to tracks that blur the line between contemporary classical and ambient music. His ability to weave seamlessly between genres has made him a sought-after collaborator, lending his ethereal voice and production style to projects that stretch beyond the confines of traditional songwriting.

Blood Moon: A Deep Dive Into Vulnerability

With Blood Moon RY X has crafted an album that feels both expansive and deeply intimate. Recorded in Topanga Canyon, deep in the Santa Monica mountains, the record carries the weight of solitude and introspection. Across 13 tracks, he explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, using his signature blend of minimalist instrumentation and layered harmonies to create an immersive listening experience.

Tracks like “Let You Go” and “A Thousand Knives” pull at emotional rawness, their melodies drifting like echoes through vast, open spaces. “Colorblind,” a collaboration with Ólafur Arnalds, merges electronic pulses with melancholic piano arrangements, creating one of the album’s most striking moments. Throughout the record, RY X expands his sonic palette, adding new textures while maintaining the quiet intensity that has always defined his work.

His ability to create music that feels both fragile and deeply powerful is what has kept his audience so connected. With Blood Moon he continues to refine that balance, proving once again that sometimes, the quietest voices leave the deepest impact.