Has there been a time where you’ve heard a song enough times coming through the speakers, you just want to run down and cut the cords to each sub woofer? Today is not one of those days. When someone gets a hold of a very popular song it could be easy to just copy the entire production and slap your name on the sticker. Then there are those times when an artist takes hold of the song and flips the production of the track onto its head making it seem like you’re hearing it for the first time. We may have heard the song “Hello” by Adele enough times to make our heads spin, but now it’s time to say “Hello” to Rilan.
If you haven’t heard of Rilan yet, be prepared to be taken on a pop adventure. A triple threat of singing, choreography and downright stage presence, we got our first taste of Rilan as one of the Warblers in Glee. After quite the successful premiere onto the tinsel town scene after relocating from New Orleans, Rilan’s debut EP “Chemicals” dropped in November of last year.
Okay, I get it. Adele is great. Though, sometimes her music can be so drab and depressing (please do not send us hate mail!). When Rilan took hold of this top 40 hit, a complete revamp occurred. Cue up the drum machine and low key synthesizers. With just a little touch of electric, the entire vibe of the song changes without eliminating the emotional content contained within the lyrics. With this more relaxed vibe in the melody it allows Rilan’s vocal prowess to carry the emotion of the lyrics to an on par level to the original.
Along with the cover comes a video that really carries the song to a beautiful artistic representation. Through desolate desert landscapes covered in a purple grey filter, backed by a solo drummer and keys, Rilan drops to his knees giving his heart to the one that had left him in the lyrics. With each little element enhancing the dark emotions of loneliness, you are left with nothing more than a video that takes “Hello” straight to your heart.