From the busyness of the nation’s capital, a new wave artist who calls himself WRYT is bringing a genre-defying style of music that brings Grunge and Gospel influences into an exciting mix of melodies and messages. With EP after EP, the artist is now starting to define what could be the start of a new category of music altogether.
Mychael Wright, known to most as the musician WRYT, is the artist behind songs like “Ivory Tower” and “Milk and Honey,” among many others. When one listens to his songs, the meaningful lyrics masterfully blend with the heavy cobalt guitar riffs that are unlike what most music fans have heard. Taking the many influences he’s had, WRYT seems to be carving his own path and delivering to the world a kind of music that could be what a new chapter of music lovers has been looking for all this time.
WRYT started like many musicians in the beginning. He was a worship leader in a church community. So many of the singer and songwriter’s influences were out of the ordinary for someone who grew up in church. He loved to listen to nineties greats like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Lenny Kravitz, who all played a big part in influencing his guitar skills. He also listened to materials from older artists, including Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind and Fire, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and many others.
Later on, WRYT would get the chance to work with legendary producer Gabriel Solomon Wilson, as well as some of the most significant artists in Christian music, including Bethel Music, Natalie Grant, Kari Jobe, and John Mark McMillian.
In the beginning, WRYT invested all that he was into creating a career in contemporary Christian music, eventually releasing Gospel-themed tracks through the duo known as The Lovely Vine. But he would experience a crisis of faith that would cause a shift in his music and life direction. However, he stated that he never lost his faith. Instead, it only moved in another direction as he sought to write music that would speak on behalf of the hurting and challenge those pushing injustice and inequality forward.
Because WRYT’s office faced the Washington Monument and US Capitol building, he felt inspired to write music that would speak to those in power. In one of his songs, he writes, “we built cathedrals made of sand.” WRYT uses his music as an instrument to speak against corruption and greed amongst those in power. He hopes his music will directly confront those that take advantage of the marginalized for personal gain. “We’re all human,” WRYT explains. “but we seem to bestow power on many who don’t have our nation or individuals’ best interests at heart.”
WRYT’s music has connected with those who share his ideas and values, bringing listeners from far and wide. Apart from being creative masterpieces, the song’s messages powerfully pierce through music circles, speaking a sense of patriotism of another breed amongst a new generation.
The artist hopes his music will challenge those in power while inspiring those who aren’t to stand up for truth and justice during these trying times.
