Nick Ryan returns with ArchNemesis, a Remix LP
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Inspired in part by Rihanna’s Rated R Remixed, the opener Welcome To The Nightmare establishes the tone immediately. Large synths, punchy drums, and a front-and-center vocal create a strong introduction that signals both intensity and clarity of vision.
Mid-album highlights Narcissist and Don’t Hold Your Breath shimmer with alt-pop gloss and a Y2K feel. The latter delivers one of the album’s most striking moments:
“Wasted days and wasted nightsIt’s easy to get jadedI’ve been fighting for my rightsBut feel taken for granted”
The emotional centerpiece, though, is Politics and Mind Games, a track that burns slow. Here, Ryan leans into vulnerability and frustration, singing:
“Singing somebody's liesWhile your soul inside diesFeeling forever aloneCause you're words won't be your ownI don't careBecause these politics & mind games are killing me”
Elsewhere, titles like "I Will Not Be Silent" and "Good People Are Hard To Find" read like manifestos, creating a cathartic feel.
“Hey! I don’t like you.You ghosted meSo I ghosted you too
Hey! What’s your issue?You’ve got crocodile tearsHere’s a tissue”
Production-wise, the project thrives in contrasts: It’s gritty and chaotic, yet meticulously sculpted. The result is a world that’s deliberately messy but perfectly arranged. ArchNemesis a confident release that positions Ryan as an artist intent on pushing forward in the alt-pop landscape, not just participating in it.
Nick Ryan Bio
Nick Ryan writes songs like documentation — clear, direct, and emotionally unfiltered. Rooted in alternative pop/rock, his sound carries the confessional sharpness of Alanis Morissette, the melodic sensibility of Sheryl Crow, the edge of Liz Phair, and the enduring songwriting influence of Fleetwood Mac and The Corrs. Hooks matter to him — but emotional accuracy matters more.
Active in the industry since 2009, Ryan has recorded five albums — three released and two arriving within the next year and a half — spanning studio records, a live acoustic project, and a remix album. He began writing lyrics in the early 2000s, started on drums before moving to guitar, and saved his own money to fund his first recordings in 2014–2015. He now releases music through his own Lion & Wolf Records and Lion & Wolf Music.
His latest project, ArchNemesis, reworks his earlier album Nemesis into a darker, house-driven remix record. Built from original vocal stems and produced remotely with LA-based collaborator Robert Eibach, the album leans harder into confrontation. Songs like “What U Did 2 Me” and “Bow Down” revisit experiences of narcissistic manipulation and channel them into something defiant and self-possessed. Inspired in part by Rihanna’s remix era, the project expands his sound into electronic territory while staying rooted in lived experience.
Onstage, Ryan delivers high-energy sets driven by a drummer’s instinct and a songwriter’s willingness to say the uncomfortable part out loud. His catalog centers on mental health, anger, and reclaiming autonomy — music for listeners who understand that not every story needs a romantic ending to feel complete
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