M-Ritz - By Now w/Interview
M-Ritz is Pop singer/songwriter who is based in New York. A trained vocalist for Classical and Jazz, M-Ritz also incorporates a breadth of other influences in the music she releases. Today we are excited to share our thoughts on M-Ritz’s new seven-track EP, By Now, along with an interview with this talented artist!
By Now opens with “Diamonds Are Forever” and immediately we are treated to the overarching Jazzy Pop style featured across the full length of this EP. Indeed, the blend of Jazz and Pop in this song is nothing short of spectacular; instrumentally the track is richly textured while the vocal performance is melodic and even a touch sultry. “The Divide Between” follows and it features some of my favorite lyrics from the EP. The bass-heavy instrumental plays interestingly and paves a way for M-Ritz to incorporate an air of intrigue into her vocal performance that makes this track easy to revisit. “Pain in My Heart” is third and it is a complete package of a song. The beat bumps pretty hard in this one with horns accenting the track in a very appealing way while M-Ritz shares some personal pain with one of her best melodic performances from the EP.
The fourth track from By Now is “Thrive”, which slows things down a bit in its intro and features some excellent rises and falls throughout its duration. I love the way the vocals are layered within this track, teaming with the instrumental to create some absolutely breathtaking textures across a deeply enjoyable soundscape. “Skin”, the longest song in runtime from By Now is up next. There are a lot of raw and genuine moments within this song that make it quite special and I felt like this track was unique among the rest of the tracks the on the EP. “By Now (When Will This End) is the penultimate song from the EP and its excellent guitar intro draws you in from its opening notes, paving the way for the rest of the song to truly dazzle. A stirring ballad, this song is an absolutely moving showcase of all of the elements that make this entire EP special: an engaging, gripping and textured instrumental, lyrics that feel both personal and eloquent, and a powerful vocal performance from M-Ritz.
As a special treat, By Now closes out with an alternate version of “Thrive”. This version features some significant vocal processing and a more artificial sounding instrumental; these elements gave it the kind of energy and sound that remind me of some 90’s dance/club music in the best way possible and I found myself both surprised and impressed with the way this cut turned out - while unexpected, it is undeniably awesome.
Now let’s jump into the interview!
Where are you from?
From Seattle, WA. Living in New York City.
How long have you been making music?
Since 2015
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
Production: hOLLANDjUNGLE Productions, Rob "Cortex" Sparks, and Debonaire (mastering).
Piano: Adam Bonomo; bassist Nate Edgar; electric guitarist Kappa; trumpeteer Alex Nguyen; saxophonist Steve Reason. For "By Now (When Will This End"): oudist Michael Burdi; Conductor and Orchestra Arrangement: Martin Figueroa & Tom Vivas; Musicians:Violin - Yorman BelloViolin - Martin FigueroaViolin - Juan BorgesViola - Josue MuñozCello - Listz franz figueraCello - Styphanie floresBass - María Alejandra DíazHorns - Edgar González Timpani/percussion - Anthony Palacios
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Maria Callas, David Gray, Aretha Franklin, Enya, Bjork, Imelda May, Lady Gaga.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
Simone de Beauvoir, Emma Goldman, Angela Davis, Frantz Fanon, Edward Said, Nadine Labaki, Marjane Satrapi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amanda Palmer. Essentially women and men who have used their voices and talents to boldly defy social standards or political norms with the intention of helping lead humanity towards a stronger future.
What inspired you to create this project?
James Bond/007 was an overarching inspiration for this EP. I wanted to create something that demonstrated greater artistry and maturation as a growing singer-songwriter. I was inspired to put together some songs that reflected on romance as well as on society in a deep and meaningful way, that still leaves the listener with some hope.
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
I'll be releasing two Jazzy Pop follow-up singles this year (August and October) to continue on in the style akin to my "Cool Cat" song. I intend to continue developing this sound until it is a unique, recognizable trademark for Pop and Adult Contemporary music listeners alike.
After the interview, I really feel like we have a great idea of who M-Ritz is as an artist and what the goals and ideas behind the production of By Now were and I think this helps create a stronger image of the EP - and artist - in my head. My mind did not make the connection to James Bond and that Spy-type of theme when I was listening initially (shame on me for missing the obvious connections - especially with “Diamonds Are Forever”), but after M-Ritz mentioned it in the interview, I hear it constantly within these songs, and that adds yet another meaningful layer to an already rich tapestry weaved within By Now. This EP really is a masterclass in how to fuse the classical tastes of Jazz with contemporary Pop and M-Ritz undoubtedly owns this genre. Make sure you keep up with M-Ritz through her Instagram, website and YouTube. We have By Now embedded below via Spotify and find it on your favorite streaming service here!
