You might recognize Jacob Anderson from his on-screen persona Grey Worm in Game of Thrones, but don’t be fooled—he’s not your average actor-turned-musician. The Bristol, England native has far more magnetism in the form of Raleigh Ritchie, the artist who’s been steadily gaining an army of fans at home and overseas.
“Cuckoo,” a single released in early October, perfectly shows off Ritchie’s ear for captivating production and catchy vocals. The track moves seamlessly from thrumming bass to crashing cymbals to chiming minimalism, emanating an overall eery charm. In both sound and lyrics, it walks the line between being playful and unhinged. London-based rapper and all-around bad-ass Little Simz comes in toward the end, injecting the song with an unexpected burst of energy that finishes it off as strongly as it began.
Look for Ritchie’s debut LP, set to release in 2015 via Columbia Records. Try to stay sane in the meantime.