As we approach ‘A Nice Neighborhood to Have Bad Habits In’, it’s easy to get lost in its indie-folk haziness. Guided by malleable acoustic guitars and the occasional harmonica, the six tracks contained in the EP tend to glow in the dark, with Philadelphia-based songwriter Ryan Yingst crowning them with his evocative, nostalgic vocal tone.
What makes the EP so special and relevant is not only its lyrical authenticity and honesty; sure, those are all songs that hit listeners deep, material that can be reflected upon. Yet, it’s delivered gently and with compassion, a feature that might partly be attributed to Yingst’s feathery acoustic style. Furthermore, the record is not really a commercial operation; it’s not being written with ulterior motives, instead coming together over time. Those are songs Ryan wrote in the course of a few years, and they do reflect his own life, his own worries and his own joys as well.
Delving deeper into ‘A Nice Neighborhood to Have Bad Habits In’, Yingst explains: “It is a collection of songs that are built from the harder moments in life. It was a way for me to make beauty from the things that make life difficult. From addiction, loss, family disputes and chaos in an indifferent world, this project reflects without judgement and aims to provide commiseration without condemnation. It aims to give a moment to the hard things, so that we can find the answers for our growth within ourselves.”
Recommended! Discover ‘A Nice Neighborhood to Have Bad Habits In’, now: