While some prefer to capture memories through pictures and diary entries, RICEWINE prefers to put them to song. Treating his discography like a time capsule, the Thai-Australian singer-songwriter makes music that reflects everything from once-in-a-lifetime adventures to daily mundane musings.
“It’s all about the textures. I’m very interested in incorporating elements of nature and the world into my music. I like to sample sounds from conversations or places that I visit and put it into the music,” RICEWINE tells Bandwagon.
“It kind of serves as a time capsule to that particular period in my life. I feel like there are a lot of sounds in everyday life that we take for granted or don’t pay attention to. When you place those sounds into a song it kind of forces the listener to pay attention if that makes sense.”
Growing up in a musical household, frequently going through artists’ discographies with his family, Talae Rodden had always dreamt about doing music.
Now, going by the moniker RICEWINE – a name that refers to his multicultural heritage, the 21-year-old’s dreams have morphed into reality, showing itself in the form of globally well-loved tracks and sold-out shows throughout the region.
“When I found out how to make my own music it just stuck. It felt like such a great medium to express ideas. It’s funny because I never really thought that doing music as a career was a real option, it’s kind of something you don’t really think is possible,” he shares.
“The more I did it though, the more confident I became in myself. I realised that it was something that could be achieved if I worked hard.”
Like most musicians, Talae started out as an independent artist, sharing music online under the guise of RICEWINE. Through the years, he’s emerged from the sidelines to the front stage, becoming one of the region’s most exciting acts.
View this post on Instagram
Influenced by acts like Gorillaz, Talae has always been one to blur the lines between genres, weaving a soundscape that’s intricate and complex yet soothing and approachable.
Melding the sounds of hip-hop, indie pop, and R&B – not to forget his abundance of samples, the ‘Growing’ hitmaker creates the type of music you’d soundtrack serene sunrises, late-night introspection, and the capricious nature of your 20s to.
Lyrically, Talae’s music takes a similar course. Fuelled by his own personal adventures through life, loss, and love, a lot of his discography tells relatable stories of experiences we’ve all had – whether it’s remembering to practice ‘Selfluv’ or dealing with the turmoils of a breakup – in a new and often enlightening perspective.
I don’t think that the music necessarily has to have an impact; if people can relate to my music I’m happy.
When asked about his music-making process, Talae shares that it’s not as spontaneous as his music seems. A product of routine, his songs usually come out of hours of sitting at his desk stirring up inspiration and ideas.
“Usually I just wake up and get into it. I’ll spend from about 9:00 - 3:00 in one burst trying to write new things and then return later in the evening,” he says.
“I make all the music by myself so it can be quite time-consuming. I find that I actually have to sit down and work at writing otherwise it never comes. I don’t really wait around for the muse, I have to be pushing myself to write something.”
“I think that as I was getting more popular, I kind of started to think more about how people would receive my music and how well it would perform. You just kind of have to let go of all that and dig deep into your mind to find ideas,” he shares.
The best music is created when no one is watching.
View this post on Instagram
With his distinctive approach to music, RICEWINE has become a well-known name in the indie music scene, reaching all corners of the world from the US to Indonesia.
One of his most popular tracks is ‘Maybe’. A calming melody against the backdrop of the soothing sounds of the rain and campfires, the track comes as part of his 2017 album Flood.
“I have no idea why it’s so popular, I guess it just resonates with people,” he shares on the success of ‘Maybe’. “I still find it bizarre that people actually listen to my music, I'm very grateful for everyone that listens and the opportunities it has given me.”
View this post on Instagram
Most recently, Talae dropped ‘Departure’, a track sonically reminiscent of who RICEWINE was intended to be.
“I was really happy with the song ‘Departure’. I feel like it was a great mix of indie and hip hop, which was something I was always attempting to do in my earlier music,” shares Talae.
The track comes as one of two tracks he’s released this 2021, following ‘Already Gone’, and serves as a precursor to an album he’s currently working on.
“I’ve just recently moved back to my childhood home for a bit to write my next album. It’s where I wrote Flood and Mornings so I’m feeling very creative and relaxed. [The album] is more acoustic than my previous ones. I feel like there is something in there for old and new fans,” he teases.
With the next year slowly coming up and the rest of his musical journey to look forward to, Talae has a lot of goals planned, from putting out the album to going on tour.
"It’s been really nice to meet all the different people that connect with my music. I like how listening to a certain piece can conjure up memories of when you first heard it. I would love to go on tour when the world opens up.”
But generally, the young artist just plans to take it all day by day, and relish in the life he's dreamed of since he was a kid.
“My dreams are pretty small, to be honest. If I can continue to do this for the rest of my life I’ll be pretty happy. To be able to spend all my day making music is a blessing,” says Talae.
“I remember when I was younger all I wanted was to be able to support myself through my music. That dream has come true so everything else is just a bonus now.”
Listen to RICEWINE's 'Departure' here.
Like what you read? Show our writer some love!
-