Rags and Riches – Misbehave (2023)
Tackling both the light and dark sides of life, alt-pop duo Rags and Riches goes from the depths of existential despair in ‘holiday.’ to the sublimeness of true love in ‘Smoothie’ – and that’s just in a few months. Reputed for profound lyricism sealed in toe-tapping wrappers, brothers Tanner and Peyton Whitt resonate with listeners on a smile-inducing, intimate level. Topping charts, winning awards and stunning audiences with their confident stage presence, Rags and Riches have established themselves as a prominent feature in the US music scene. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Misbehave’.
On the heels of their well-received single ‘Smoothie’, the Whitt brothers touch once again on relationships in ‘Misbehave’. Unlike ‘Smoothie’ which was a tribute to Tanner Whitt’s beloved wife Ariana, ‘Misbehave’ looks at relationships that are on the point of potential failure. Rags and Riches explain that “the concept was just this couple that has seen their relationship go stale and they are trying to find some ways to find that spark again.” Rekindling the spark can range from going to lunch on a date to less than PG cheekiness in the love department; but ‘Misbehave’ is able to translate the ridiculous, sensual and serious moments in an entertaining three-minute (well, almost three minutes) song.
Penned with regular collaborator DeMarko Murphy, ‘Misbehave’ tips its hat to pop sounds of the 90s with a mixture of nostalgic rock tinting the edges. Pounding drums meet bold guitars with a slight grittiness; however, the shimmering synths laid beneath bind the instrumentation together in a whiff of 90s fascination. Playful and jovial, ‘Misbehave’ brings a smile to a toe-tapping melody. Yet, if you look a little closer you find the playful percussion and synth-filled shimmers mask a less-than-gentlemanly taste of poetic intrigue.
Bouncy and fun, I can hear this single being performed at festivals with audiences singing along. Rich vocals bring boldness to ‘Misbehave’, but just as they are light-hearted there is a sneaky cheekiness hidden beneath the surface. Finding the theme song for the nice but naughty edge of relationships, the lads “just wanna see you misbehave”.
For more from Rags and Riches, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
