INTRODUCING: RY-GUY. South London-based artist announces new EP 'live a river' out March 27th & shares first single "Dunja".

RY-GUY - Announces new EP 'like a river' out March 27th - Shares new single "Dunja" - Announces UK tour dates

Photo credit: Tom Walker “An exploration into the sonic unknown… your psych-rock playlist for summertime is looking up.” So Young Magazine RY-GUY is a South London-based artist whose music sits at the intersection of soul, psychedelia and art-pop, shaped by a deep sense of heritage and a commitment to telling stories often left unheard. Born in London to a West Indian/Caribbean family with roots in Guyana and Barbados, RY-GUY is highly influenced by the soundsystem culture of his Guyanese / Caribbean heritage as well as art movements like Impressionism and Surrealism and treats songwriting as both personal expression and cultural document.  Today RY-GUY announces new EP ‘like a river’, set for release March 27th and shares the first single from the record, “Dunja” (pronounced “DOON-yah”).   “Dunja” features a driving, guitar-led sound and an unforgettable chorus replete with 60s style backing vocals – then takes a complete left turn, building up to a crashing crescendo, before then veering off into a space rock coda for its final 60 seconds. The result is an epic single that feels like three songs in one and further confirms RY-GUY as one of the most unique indie artists currently around.   Recorded at the legendary RAK Studios in London by Adele Phillips (Speedy Wunderground) and mixed by George Murphy (The Specials, Hotel Lux, Major Lazer), RY-GUY speaks about the idea behind “Dunja”.     “A powerful anthem for ethnic women navigating the challenges of a Western world, this song speaks to their resilience in overcoming male oppression, violence, and the patriarchy. It’s a celebration of strength, defiance, and the pursuit of freedom in the face of adversity.”   Listen to "Dunja" here: https://youtu.be/Nm1EImHLfXE Classically trained on piano from a young age in South London, RY-GUY’s early immersion in artists such as Otis Redding and Al Green laid a soulful foundation, while a formative encounter with Jimi Hendrix opened up a more expansive, boundary-less approach to composition. After years of writing and recording demos on a 4-track recorder, RY-GUY emerged as a project driven by the desire to release the kinds of musical narratives he felt were missing from the contemporary landscape. RY-GUY’s work often centres marginalised perspectives through abstract lyricism and textured soundscapes. His upcoming EP ‘Like A River’ was conceived as an honest, self-contained artwork - one that balances a direct pop sensibility with enough sonic grit and ambiguity for listeners to lose themselves within it. Themes of strength, defiance and self-affirmed freedom run throughout the record, portraying life candidly and in the present tense. The project’s DIY ethos extends beyond the music itself, encompassing self-shot artwork, deliberately chosen track titles, and a visual world that reinforces the EP’s emotional core.  Written primarily on piano (with “Dunja”, originating on guitar), the EP was recorded across Salvation Studios, Speedy Wunderground and RAK, with Speedy Wunderground becoming a creative home during the process. RY-GUY co-produced the record with Adele Phillips, with additional guidance from long-time mentor Sir Robin Millar CBE. Mixing and mastering were handled by George Murphy and Dyre Gormsen of Eastcote Studios, while contributions from live band members and collaborators added further depth.  Closing track “Oil In My Hair” stands as the emotional and thematic heart of the EP, a moment of resolution that encapsulates its pursuit of freedom and self-belief, blending psychedelia, soul and art-pop into a final statement of quiet triumph. Live, RY-GUY has graced headline shows at The Shacklewell Arms and The Windmill in London, as well as playing outside his home city at venues such as Yes in Manchester and Supersonic in Paris and is set to play a run of UK tour dates later this year.  See RY-GUY live:  21 March 2026 // Coventry, Just Dropped In 28 March 2026 // Liverpool, Jacaranda 31 March 2026 // London, Shacklewell Arms 23 May 2026 //  Southampton, Wanderlust Festival   like a river EP artwork:   like a river EP tracklist: 1. Dunja 2. Change Is Gonna Come 3. Push Me In The Water 4. Oil In My Hair  Links: Instagram | Facebook | Tik Tok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music