RIPE – SINGLES REVIEW AND INTERVIEW

Boston-based Ripe is an amalgamated ensemble that heralds the best of several genres. Cradling elements of rock, funk, R&B and jazz, the band infuses their sound with lush melodies and textured harmonies. Also, Ripe‘s musicianship is par excellence with a constant shifting of danceable rhythms and musical spontaneity.

Ripe was formed when the members met at the Berklee School of Music in 2011. The group consists of Robbie Wulfsohn (Vocals), Jon Becker (Guitar), Sampson Hellerman (Drums), Calvin Barthel (Trombone) and Nadav Shapira (Bass). Ripe‘s music transcends definition with their upbeat strut that is highly infectious.

The band released three amazing singles last year that solidified their stranglehold on funk swagger. Ripe easily embeds pop sensibilities to liven up their melodious pot in order to create lively grooves and ambiances. A good example of this is the awesome track, “First Time Feeling”. The band’s cadence is extremely groove laden with sublime arrangements. Wulfsohn’s vocals are stellar with an exuberant quality. The tune’s refined pop nature exhibits a heartfelt sense of joy and well being.

Another quality release is the funkified “Five in the Morning”. Here Ripe shines. The song is a pure delight with cool smooth rhythms and brassy interludes. If your feet aren’t moving, then there’s a problem. “Little Less Polite” is the third single from last year. The tune features a bouncy swing beat with an addictive chorus. Again, the band’s catchy intonations work perfectly with Wulfsohn’s singular vocals. “Little Less Polite” is a snappy composition with an orgasmic tempo.

Robbie Wulfsohn graced AMP with the following interview.

AMP: The band has a huge sound. How would you describe your music?

ROBBIE: Generally we’ve been taken to calling ourselves pop/funk just for simplicity sake, but also now I might take to calling us Huge Sound as a genre.

AMP: The Boston area has a very strong music scene. How has that helped the band?

ROBBIE: It’s helped us in two different ways. On one hand, when we first started out at Berklee, the full immersion in a scene that sometimes had more musicians than listeners felt like a real baptism by fire. On the other hand, having now spent a decade in the region, the amount of support that Boston stands behind things that it considers “Boston Things” has been really amazing to us.

AMP: How has your songwriting evolved since your last album?

Robbie: This could be a very long answer if I let it but the best way I can sum it up is that we’ve gotten clearer on what it is we want most to say. And so, our songwriting process has become more streamlined in its intent but also more experimental in its process now that we have a clearer idea of the direction we’re trying to go.

AMP: How did the pandemic and lockdown affect the band?

ROBBIE: I feel like everyone on earth is answering some version of this question, so I’ll keep my answer brief. We went through something that felt a little like shattering. Followed by something that has felt an awful like like rebuilding and coming back somehow both tougher and softer than we were before.

AMP: How does it feel being able to play live again?

ROBBIE: Unbelievable! Every show has in some way continued to feel like a first and it’s an honor to be a moment of catharsis for people.

AMP: Are there any new releases coming in the near future?

ROBBIE: Can’t tell you yet. Which telegraphs that the answer isn’t a hard no but also, can you imagine if we announced we were done making new music in the middle of this interview!

AMP: Best Boston dive bar?

ROBBIE: I’m partial to The Silhouette if you’re not trying to eat and The Avenue if you are but I love a good dive bar in general so this could have a long answer too.

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To learn more about Ripe, check out their website

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Stream music:  Spotify / Apple Music 

Purchase:  Amazon / Apple Music

 

 

 

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