Ralph Puma is a veteran recording artist and producer who has been traveling the United States and making music since his 2008 debut EP, Introducing… Ralph Puma. That record introduced a skilled singer, songwriter and guitarist with pop hooks, punk energy and a touch of darkness. Now based in New Jersey, he recently dropped his first new music of 2023.
An avid practitioner of the occult, Ralph Puma says he has achieved enlightenment through melodic punk music. In recent years the singer has commercially released his back catalog of work, including three albums, an EP and a handful of singles. Although he has worked in classical, rock and even vaudevillian settings, the singer’s latest work is leaning in on his keen pop sensibilities.
“So It Goes” is the brand new single from Ralph Puma, released worldwide via all major streaming services on February 10, 2023. A solo acoustic guitar opens the track with a lo-fi indie-folk vibe. Ralph steps to the mic for melancholy c’est la vie relationship post-mortem. As the song progresses, an ensemble of drums, bass, electric guitar and strings builds the track to an emo punk heartbreak anthem.
Check out “So It Goes” (feat John Black & Tim Robbins) video below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Dive playlist, or listen on your favorite streaming service. We had the chance to chat with Ralph Puma about the song. Check out his answers to our 8 questions. And follow the links below to connect with the artist.
8 Questions with Ralph Puma
Where are you from?
Ralph Puma: I was born in Yonkers, NY– Currently living in South Jersey.
How long have you been making music?
Since I was 13 years old. Grew up doing musical theater, was obsessed with singing, picked up a guitar at 13, wrote my first song at 15, played my first show at 16, toured the country by 21.
Who are the musicians involved in your project?Â
It’s just me now, but I work with various collaborators. John Black is an incredible singer-songwriter & producer – we came up together in the Westchester, NY music scene- I recorded “So It Goes…” with him at his home studio Desired Effect Media.
He was incredibly helpful throughout the process and taught me so much about DAW’s and how to be more self-sufficient with all of this. He did all the arrangements of strings and the back up vocals. I just showed up, played my guitar and sang– everything else, That’s John on this one. Except the Bass– That was the legendary Tim Robbins of The Nuclear Heartbreak and American Pinup fame.
Who are your biggest musical influences?Â
Green Day, Thrice, Abba, and Billy Joel.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?Â
Comic Books.
What inspired you to create this project?Â
I haven’t released anything in about ten years. SO many projects didn’t work out, or I was too self-conscious and terrified to make the moves to do the thing I loved. Things just hadn’t clicked and worked out until right now.Â
I’m always writing music and have dozens of songs ready to go. “So It Goes…” is a cathartic letting go– musically it’s just familiar enough for the fans I do have, but a very thought out softer break away from my norm of loud fast pop punk. It’s a petition to break away from all of the negative things I allowed into my life.
What are your plans for the future (musically)?Â
Well, the next single I’m releasing and shooting a video for is called “Composure”. That one should be coming in the next month or two. I direct and shoot the videos myself as well, so it takes time. Also, a previously unreleased full length album from my old band Kill Me Kate. I probably shouldn’t say this, but that album may be a masterpiece.Â
I’ve gotten back half of the remixed songs and they are INCREDIBLE. I’m also collaborating with the drummer from Kill Me Kate on some songs that would be more in the vein of Zeppelin or Radiohead than Blink. Also… a pop duet, haha! I’m versatile and open to any and all collaborations. Just happy to be making this much music right now.
Is there anything else you would like to say?Â
“So It Goes…” is about loss, it’s about grief, it’s about the aftermath of separating from aspects of yourself, your friends, and your family that no longer serve you. Don’t cut everyone off, and join a cult… but maybe start to pay attention to your breathing and to how the people you keep close make you feel when you’re around them. If they make you feel more lonely in this already empathy-barren nightmare, maybe they’re not the best people to enrich your well being.
Ralph Puma is the greatest American songwriter, and anyone who doesn’t think so should die of gonorrhea and rot in Hell.
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