Review: Ride Along – AYLA
- by Nicholas Gaudet
- in Reviews
AYLA’s newest single. ‘Ride Along’, is a force not to be reckoned with – a driving energy that’ll inspire you to conquer your day.
The song wastes no time establishing itself. After an incredibly brief intro, giving a bit of breathing room, the pulsating drive sets its course. The syncopated synth-bass gives contrast to the four-on-the-floor rhythm established by a simple kick drum and snare. AYLA’s voice hovers atop the instrumentation, softening the aggressive nature of the tune, but offers a grit that hints at the true power of ‘Ride Along’. The subdued nature of the verse serves wonderfully as an entrée to the powerful chorus, which is driven by a pulsating triplet-feel bass that acts more like a machine gun than a bass. That cycling feel, like a train rushing at a hundred miles an hour, is the strength of this track. It’s so powerful, in fact, that It trumps the drums rhythmically, though the drums with the continuing four-on-the-floor beat and hi-hats match the bass, supporting that drive. The song follows a traditional verse-chorus structure bridged by a section that allows the composition to breathe for a few measures before breaking proper measure etiquette and plunge the listener right back to the final chorus. The song ends at its peak, with the instrumentation stopping abruptly at the end of the chorus and letting the sounds fade naturally – the best way to end a song such as ‘Ride Along’.
AYLA did a wonderful job incorporating post-disco and EDM together in a very powerful track, ‘Ride Along’. It feels fresh, exciting, and aggressive in the best way possible. The feel from start to finish feels menacing, especially with her vocal performance that sounds almost antagonistic. Its short length invites repeated listens, and works beautifully with the fast-paced nature of the song to begin with. The usage of both digital and authentic instruments, such as the electric guitar, wraps the context perfectly, making ‘Ride Along’ one of the most exciting pop tracks of the year.
