Riley! have announced their new EP To Live And Die In The American South, arriving on 17 July via Pure Noise Records, alongside the release of brand new single “Two Bucks” featuring Eric Egan of Heart Attack Man. The South Texas trio have also confirmed a packed run of headline dates across North America this summer, UK shows supporting Ben Quad this October and a North American support tour with Hot Mulligan later this year.
The five track EP marks Riley!‘s first release through Pure Noise Records and follows 2024’s Keep Your Cool. Recorded in Austin with producer Phil Odom, the record sees the band continuing to build on the blend of emo, punk and indie influences that has earned them a growing following both at home and overseas. Alongside “Two Bucks”, the EP also features guest appearances from Tades Sanville of Hot Mulligan and Gabe Wood of Saturdays at Your Place.
Speaking about the new single, vocalist Ryan Bluhm explained that it reflects the emotional cost of life on the road.
“As a touring musician, you miss out on a lot of your home life. It sucks. But you do it because it’s typically what gives a lot of us any real sense of purpose.”
Bluhm continued by explaining that travelling the world and connecting with fans through music helps ease the fear of leaving nothing meaningful behind. They added that Eric Egan immediately connected with the song’s message, saying it was reassuring to discover those feelings are shared by others in the touring community.
The EP explores themes of identity, belonging, grief and growing up in South Texas, with Riley! drawing on their experiences as an openly queer, progressive band from a deeply conservative part of the United States. Despite those challenges, they’ve continued to build a dedicated fanbase through relentless touring and a series of increasingly acclaimed releases.
To Live And Die In The American South arrives on 17 July via Pure Noise Records. Riley! begin their North American headline tour in July before heading to the UK in October with Ben Quad, followed by a North American run supporting Hot Mulligan throughout late October and November.
