Chesapeake, Virginia artist rhêtorík may be best known for his role as Logic's longtime tour DJ, but the producer and songwriter is ready to showcase his talents as a solo artist with the impending release of his EP. Back in October, he shared a taste of what's to come with his debut single "Shelter," and now he delivers "Caged Up," which rhêtorík wrote, produced, recorded, and mixed himself.
Check out "Caged Up" below along with our Q&A with rhêtorík. The song will be available to grab at your usual streaming services Wednesday (May 30). You can pre-save the song on Spotify.
You’ve spoken about the importance of sharing “Shelter” as your first solo single. What went behind choosing “Caged Up” as the record to follow “Shelter”?
“Shelter” talked about my times sleeping in McDonald’s, or the trains, or being crippled with depression in my room. It was a longing for stability in any facet of my life to be honest. “Caged Up” is how you feel when you get out of that hole. It’s also a song about longing, but this time for the exact opposite—the impermanence of lust. I felt like it was the perfect emotional yang to "Shelter"’s yin—light, summery, and guaranteed to put you in a good mood. The perfect sour then sweet combo.
Where did the inspiration behind “Caged Up” come from?
How do I say this appropriately… The inspiration for “Caged Up” came from a self-imposed bout of strictly platonic relationships. That’s what we’ll call it. I shut down all old flings, new flings, potential flings—anything. I wanted this project to be a reflection project, so I didn’t want anyone new to influence it while I was writing. And as you can probably assume, this celibacy naturally left my hormones feeling a little… caged up.
You’ve spent time and worked with a number of artists, most notably Logic. What kind of advice has he given you as far as pursuing a career as a solo act?
I think the biggest thing he’s continued to remind me of as a friend is patience, and that ultimately good music and good people always shine through. Ironically, during his come up I would always say the same thing to him with all the confidence in the world, but you really lose that perspective when it’s your hard work at stake. It’s come full circle. I always feel stressed thinking that I’m not working hard enough, and it’s been invaluable to get that reminder from a friend—especially a friend who can show you how the patience worked out for the best.
What can fans expect from the upcoming project?
Big sounds, big emotions, and a big surprises. I have music ADD, so you might get a dose of five different genres in one song—but it feels so right. I made it for the people who love big arena-type production, and equally as much for the people who love depth and things to pick apart and analyze. It honestly almost feels like two projects—the one you get at face value, and the one you get after picking it apart for depth. I always want the first reaction to be a feeling, but I’ll leave the floor open for critical thought if you want to take it there. Are these songs really about what you think they’re about?
