Disco pop queen RALPH is here to take you away on a technicolor dream. The Canadian songstress will be releasing her debut album, _A Good Girl_, on September 28th. She is treating us, on this album, with collabs with TOBi and Milk & Bone. RALPH sings of different varieties of relationships, from the relationship you have with your self to catching the feels to being the manipulative partner in a relationship. RALPH gives us an in depth scoop into the meaning behind her songs:
**For Yourself -** Inspired by the wise words of RuPaul, ‘For Yourself’ is an anthem about independence and self-acceptance. The most important relationship we have is with ourselves, so it’s important to remember and celebrate that. I hope this song can act as a powerful personal mantra for everyone.
**Long Distance Lover -** I wrote this song in LA and it was one of the best writing sessions I’ve ever had, so the track is extra special to me. This song is an homage to all the long distance dating I’ve done (which is weirdly a lot) and the love/hate relationship you develop with your phone. I literally stole the line “meet up in the middle” from a text convo I had with someone who was living across an ocean, and it inspired the rest of the song - the issues that arise because of time differences, and all the missed calls and waiting.
**Gimme -** I had Cardi B’s ‘Lick’ on my workout playlist and listened to it for weeks, thinking about the lyrics and catching a lick (ie: getting lucky, getting money, getting what you want and deserve). I think the words made an impression because I went into the studio and found myself writing this tongue-in-cheek disco/pop track about working hard and having it pay off. I love that even though it’s a little over the top, it still has real elements of Ralph - instead of name dropping Hennessy and Cristal, I talk about a good, expensive bottle of red because that’s what luxury is to me.
**Tables Have Turned -** I wrote this song during the early months of a relationship, where I really liked this guy but wasn’t fully obsessed yet, which made me feel like I was still in control. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I lost the upper hand and couldn’t stop thinking about him - his smile, his eyes, the way his t-shirt clung to his chest. ‘Tables Have Turned’ is about the moment where everything shifts and it’s exciting but also really scary because you become vulnerable.
**Weather -** I wanted to write one more catchy pop single for the album, but it didn’t feel right to release a summer-love banger just as fall was approaching. Instead, I wanted to capture those end of summer nostalgic emotions, when the nights become cool, people start leaving the city and the public pools close. The lyrics are about questioning your summer fling and wondering whether it was fueled by the heat and too many tequila sodas, or if there’s something more to it.
**Bedroom Eyes -** One of my best friends Matt asked me to write a flirty, fun dance song that he could grind/jump around to, so I wrote ‘Bedroom Eyes’ with that as my goal. It’s fun to have a song on the album that’s less emotionally charged and relies more on a catchy hook and wicked production to get the audience feeling fired up. I also specifically avoided using gender pronouns so that the song could feel relatable for all listeners.
**September Fades -** This song is important to the album, because it owns and explores being the manipulator in a relationship, whereas my previous EP was mostly songs about being hurt by others. I wanted the album to be about relationships, but I wanted to honestly confront that we are all complex and capable of being the one to hurt others. I wrote ‘September Fades’ when I was with someone who deeply cared for me, and although I knew I could never reciprocate in the same way, it felt so good to be loved that I couldn’t end it.
**Dark Clouds -** I wrote this song for a close friend who was going through some tough mental health issues. I could see her hurting but couldn’t seem to help, it’s excruciating to watch someone you love struggling with voices in their head that neither of you can control or erase. I just hoped that I could write her a song and play it for her and someday have her realize how much I cared about her.
**Girl Next Door ft. TOBi -** I had been obsessed with TOBi’s lyrical genius for a while, so when I wrote ‘Girl Next Door’ and realized it was the perfect track for a smooth rapper to slide in...it just made sense to ask him. We both related to the concept, of hoping for change and success but wanting to stay grounded and humble, so the collab was easy and so so fun.
**Cereal ft. Milk & Bone -** One of the first shows I ever did as Ralph was opening for Milk & Bone years ago, and I’ve admired them ever since. When I wrote ‘Cereal’, it immediately felt special to me - it was the most emotional song on the album, the most raw and challenging for me to create. I knew it needed something extra to really draw out the feels, and the chilling high harmonies and layered voices that the girls provided were more than I could have asked for - I love this song so much.
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Written by: Collin Schreiber
Photography by: Jacqueline Ashton
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