BY: LILLY GOODMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Cover art courtesy albumoftheyear.com
Some could argue that “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” is Tommy Richman’s greatest piece of music, but after listening to “THE RUSH,” audiences were forced to question that notion.
Richman is a popular name in the music industry in 2024, with 36 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Richman’s music hit audiences ranging from the youth of America to some of the older generations. The nature of Richman’s music is productive, featuring busy digital backing tracks and soft choruses while also sustaining energy through the main Michael Jackson-esk vocals and captivation through mysterious lyrics.
After his hit single “MILLION DOLLAR BABY,” Richman topped the charts and covered social media platforms. As his music hits the ears, listeners might be interested in what his earlier works sound like. Before “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” was released in April of 2024, Tommy Richman had written, produced and released an EP called “THE RUSH,” in 2023.
“THE RUSH,” features five tracks including: “MESSY,” “LAST NITE,” “GLOCK 25” [feat. Zachary Moon], “FEVER” and “PRAY 2 U”. The EP’s short run time is 11 minutes. All tracks follow the spacey and busy guideline of his unmistakable signature, with each track featuring its own distinct sound.
“MESSY,” the first track on the EP, is the perfect opener, featuring elevator music before adding a catchy beat as the vocals start. His voice jumps around octaves through chorus and verse, showcasing his vocal range. He layers choruses behind the main vocals, adding space and dimension to the song. A listener will find that this track’s soft-hotel-lobby sound flows well with the rolling beat and swagger possessing lead vocals.
On the second song on the EP, titled “LAST NITE,” Richman goes on to paint an unfamiliar and dazed picture using lyrics as his paintbrush. The song starts with eerie whistle tones and beats that sound like steady dragging steps. The chorus starts soft but begins to crescendo behind the main vocals, adding suspense and depth before the beat drops. The lyrics serve as fuel for mystery, depicting his emotions that appear to flip after the post-chorus. The backing track, pairing up with the background chorus add-ons, main vocals and vague lyrics makes for a perfect song to start the Halloween season.
Zachary Moon is featured on the third track of the EP, “GLOCK 25”. Moon’s vocals are essential in establishing the sleepy sound of the song. Unlike many of Richman’s songs, the backing track doesn’t possess a busy atmosphere, but the snare-type beat and loose harmonies tie the song together.
“FEVER” is a fan favorite off of the EP, ranking number two with over 124,000 streams on Spotify. The beat drops within 10 seconds after the common hook line — featured at the song’s beginning and end. Richman stresses a beat that carries through the music, accented by the keyboard tones and vocal add-ons in the backing track behind the main vocals. A key change occurs mid-song, smoothly transitioning back to the original key and hook. Listeners will find that the synthesizer tones at the end of the track might mash up very cleanly with Travis Scott’s hit song “FE!N.”
“PRAY 2 U” is the final track on the EP. It has a feel of lo-fi ‘80s dance music, with a more modern sound, sculpting the song for listeners younger and older. Despite the peppy beat, the mysterious lyrics make the listener wonder what provoked Richman to write them. It isn’t one of his busier tracks, making it a perfect song to have in the background of studying.
Richman’s “THE RUSH” is one of the most underrated works he has produced. “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” was a chart-topping track with the target audience mainly Generation Z, but “THE RUSH” fits a certain sound that even your mom can listen to. Featuring characteristics similar to ‘80s music, Richman simultaneously applies a modern spin to more current trends in the music industry. After listening to his April 2024 hit, listeners hungry for more should consider the five out of five star EP. His sound is unmistakable, and “THE RUSH” is the ideal representative of Richman’s brand.
goodmaln24@bonaventure.edu
