“Sunny Boy,” the sophomore album from Ritt Momney, the indie-pop singer-songwriter hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, stuns with its laid back, bright sound.
After gaining recognition for the breakthrough single, “Young Adult,” Ritt Momney released his first studio album “Her and All of My Friends” in 2019. Originally a high school group, Ritt Momney became the solo act of Jack Rutter in 2018. Heavily influenced by his relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rutter’s early music reflected the impact of church life on young people. Ritt Momney gained the most recognition for the cover of Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Girl Put Your Records On,” which began trending on TikTok, the social media platform that features short videos and clips.
When asked about the inspiration for the album by Broadway World Music, Rutter said the album reflects learning that life and healing is sometimes more about what you need to lose in order to grow and not necessarily about what you can gain. The debut single from the album, “HEADSTART,” encapsulates the message of the album with lyrics like “Cuz’ there’s no part of mе that can’t be torn apart/If you’re not ready to leave, then I’ll take the headstart.” Reflecting a torn relationship and taking the steps necessary to remove oneself from a bad situation, “HEADSTART” has the lyrical force Ritt Momney fans crave. Echoing vocals and dissonant songs are also features of the track, pulling together the idea that opposing forces can come together.
Ritt Momney has grown instrumentally since his debut, gaining more electronic sounds and elements. These are displayed prominently on the album’s ninth track, “Escalator.” Synthesized beats and notes accentuate the lyrics “Call me a ghost/But mind you/I’ve got some pain so real it came alive,” to create a haunting ballad about pain and loss. While this may not be the Ritt Momney, “Put Your Records On” listeners are used to, it is certainly a more compelling and evolved form of the young artist.
The titular track, “Sunny Boy” falls in the second slot on the album and sets up the rest of the track list perfectly. The second verse reflects the struggles of living during the pandemic era with the lines, “These days stuck in my phone, I hardly feel like I’m free/Caged up in my body, hardly feeling like me/Dirt on my mind, my feet are so clean.” Artfully demonstrating the impacts staying in one place can have on the mind, “Sunny Boy” reflects what it means to be hopeful in the midst of despair. As the name suggests, “Sunny Boy” does follow a rather light and breezy instrumental pattern, giving it a “drive with the windows down” feeling.
Ritt Momney gives fans of indie-pop a refreshing, double take album with “Sunny Boy.” For those who cannot get enough of the band, the “Sunny Boy” tour will kick of Feb. 25, 2022 and travel the U.S. “Sunny Boy” is the perfect COVID-19, breakup, feel good, catch all album that indie-pop has seen in a long while. Here is to hoping this is only the beginning for Ritt Momney.
Image from Ritt Momney via YouTube
