Rising Artist RYLAI Debuts with Emotionally Charged Single “Without You”
Today marks the official debut of genre bending Alt-Pop artist, RYLAI, with the release of “Without You.” Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, RYLAI introduces himself to the world with a soul-baring track rooted in self-reflection, transformation, and the healing power of music.
At its core, the track expresses both regret and gratitude, reflecting on a time when RYLAI admits he "should have loved [himself] more and taken better care" of his emotional well-being. Driven by emotion and introspection, RYLAI creates songs with layers to unpack — where nothing is accidental and every sound has a purpose. In a world where so much feels uncertain and fragile, RYLAI’s journey begins with that same sense of instability.
From a young age, he turned to music as a sanctuary — a place to disappear, escape, and find comfort in when the outside world felt chaotic. “When everything was falling apart around me, music was the only thing that made sense,” he says. “It still is.” That spirit lives at the heart of “Without You,” a track that captures both gratitude and regret. “I wrote the lyrics with intentional ambiguity, I wanted the lyrics to stand alone and also fit into the larger narrative of my upcoming releases,” RYLAI explains. “They could be for my younger self, a past lover, potential fans — or music itself.”
The production of “Without You” spans continents — with most of the song recorded in Seoul, and key sessions taking place in Los Angeles with co-producer Dylan Buzz Gold. RYLAI’s instrumental contributions include viola, violin, and synthesizer, underscoring his hands-on approach to every part of the song's creation. The track was written entirely by RYLAI and produced in collaboration with Dylan Buzz Gold, Scandi, and Colby Lapolla. Collaborators on the track also include Scandi (who provided the original beat) and Colby Lapolla, who contributed vocal production and textured effects.
RYLAI’s music is more than sound — it’s storytelling. Each release this year will connect to a larger narrative, revealing more with every track. “There’s always something to unpack,” he says. “Art is where we go when the world doesn’t make sense. And right now, we all need a place to escape.”
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RYLAI is a rising singer-songwriter and producer born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. His passion for music began in the quiet aftermath of a pivotal moment at the end of sixth grade, when he started exploring melodies on an old digital piano that had sat untouched for years. Though he had taken piano lessons as a child, it wasn’t until then that he truly connected with music — creating original ideas that gradually turned into songs.
Influenced by a wide range of artists, RYLAI draws vocal inspiration from Naul of Brown Eyed Soul, whose emotional head voice and rich chord progressions left a lasting impression. He also cites Ado for her unparalleled vocal intensity and expressiveness, and Seo Taiji, a Korean pop-rock icon known for his genre-bending approach to music. Kendrick Lamar remains one of RYLAI’s biggest influences — both for his lyrical depth and for the way each of his albums tells a cohesive, meaningful story. Inspired by that model, RYLAI’s own music follows an overarching narrative, with each release revealing a new chapter.