Q+A: RYLEE BAPST

The Rylee Bapst Band bring a distinctive blend of blues, soul and folk to “Winter Blues”, the lead single from their debut album, Unprofessional. Hailing from Athens, Ohio, the group describe their sound as Appalachian Soul Music, and this release offers an engaging introduction to that identity, drawing together traditional influences with an easy-going contemporary edge.

Penned by frontman Rylee Bapst, “Winter Blues” is built around a colourful arrangement of acoustic guitar, blues piano, New Orleans-inspired horns and pedal steel, complemented by a rich, soulful vocal performance. Exploring the familiar melancholy of the colder months, the track finds an appealing balance between emotional reflection and playful warmth, never allowing its bluesy foundations to become weighed down.

That sense of spontaneity is central to the band's wider approach, particularly in their improvisational live performances, where no two interpretations are quite the same. “Winter Blues” captures that free-spirited character in recorded form, delivering a confident, personality-filled introduction to a band with a clear appreciation for musical tradition and the freedom to make it their own.

Check out our interview with Rylee Bapst, exclusively for FLEX!

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Where did the idea for the song come from, and when did you realise it needed a lighter touch?

In one hundred percent honesty, I was sitting in my horrible college apartment with minimal sunlight, hitting my bong (lighter touch haha) and was deep into learning Church Street Blues by Tony Rice. I fell onto that intro acoustic riff which starts on the same chord as the Tony Rice tune, and for whatever reason that chord at that time made me want to write about what I had been up to the last couple of days- a whole lot of fighting the Winter Blues and trying to write a song. I can specifically remember how and why I came up with each line even- the counting my steps line was because my girlfriend at the time had got a fitbit recently and we joked about getting her steps in a lot. The quesadilla line was because I had gone to famous Athens restaurant Casa Nueva, gotten a quesadilla, put salsa on it, and it didn't change the taste much. I truly had no money, no job, and no plans to book an interview. Each line is full on personal experience. 

Did you know from the beginning what you wanted the track to sound like, or did it grow into that mix of styles along the way?

I pretty much knew, but as the song lived on and other musicians got their hands on it, the song really evolved into its full form, and is still evolving every night that we play it live. There's always something new that happens!

Your live shows sound like they're a big part of what makes the band tick, especially when you never play a song exactly the same way twice. Do you ever surprise yourselves with where a song ends up onstage?

Every single night! That's part of the magic you hear with bands like the Grateful Dead. Sometimes when you open up spots in the song, nothing too shocking really happens. It's still great music, but it's not a life changing event. Sometimes though it's like the universe hands us a jam that influences every piece of music we will play forever, and that is happening more and more the longer we play together. That is the magic I am chasing with these songs and this band, and the magic that our most loyal fans come to be a part of too. Blues, soul and folk all have such rich histories, but your music brings them together in a way that feels pretty free-spirited.

Who or what has influenced you most, and are there any unexpected musical inspirations in the mix?

Athens, Ohio has inspired the hell out of me! There is no better place to find out that you are a bit of a hippy, then figure out how to make music that represents that. The people there have been so good to me, and support me so hard I could never do what I'm doing right now without that community. The album "Live" by Donny Hathaway was the most unexpected musical influence I think in my whole life. It was actually shown to me by my now bandmates Zach Winkleman (keys) and Landon Elliott (guitar) in a class. We had to do presentations, and they used "What's Going On" by Donny Hathaway in their thing and I had never heard anything like it. It immediately changed the way I listen to, write, and feel music.

Finally, with “Winter Blues” opening the door to Unprofessional, what are you most excited for people to hear on the album, and what should someone expect if they catch you live for the first time?

I'm excited for people to hear the diversity of the album. We've got one song on there that's a pretty soft country folk song called Find Myself in Frame, but there's also a straight up funky r&b tune called Song About a Dress. I'm pretty all over the place with my writing, and I'm extremely lucky to have a band that can pull it all off. People seeing us for the first time should expect to feel the music in their bones! Whether it makes them dance, cry, smile, or drink more beer, they're gonna feel the authenticity from us and want to be a part of our show over and over again.

Stream 'Winter Blues' now: