Based in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana, Richard Rourke is a soulful singer-songwriter and dynamic frontman whose music captures the spirit of the city he calls home. Since forming his band in 2017, Rourke has built a devoted following with his blend of vintage soul, gritty funk, and heartfelt storytelling.
Together with his band, Rourke has been lighting up stages around the city and beyond, gaining momentum with each release. Their breakout single, “Kick It With You,” turned heads with its infectious groove and became a fan favorite, earning radio play and streaming success. The track marked a turning point in Rourke’s career, solidifying his place as a rising voice in the modern soul-R&B scene. Following up on that momentum, the band released “Some Days,” a tender and introspective soul ballad that received praise for its emotional depth and Rourke’s raw, expressive vocals.
Rourke and company look to continue their inevitable rise with the release of their smooth, jazzy new single “Skip Town.” Rourke has laid his claim to the middle ground between nostalgic soul and modern jazz in the past, but this latest single finds the artist presenting his sonic marriage in a lighter shade of soul and a heavy heart. Rourke and his band paint a poetic portrait of longing for something that was right in front of you throughout your woes, creating a relatable anthem with deeply personal undertones. Lyrically, Rourke gets vulnerable by detailing a personal revelation that creates a path back home, the same place he thought he needed to escape from. “Skip Town” balances the uplifting with the harsh realities in stunning fashion, all while a smooth concoction of twinkling keys and sleek melodies builds an irresistible arrangement. Rourke and his band are one of the more exciting young acts in the burgeoning soul scene, and “Skip Town” only begins to hint at what is promising to be a stellar career. The band’s new single introduces them as soul revivalists unafraid to push the boundaries of the genre, entering uncharted sonic territories that are lush and welcoming.
“‘Skip Town’ came together very quickly as both the groove and the lyrics seemed to present themselves to me across two writing sessions at my house in New Orleans,” explains Rourke when asked about his new single. “Because of this, the song feels very personal and raw to me because there was very little editing done to it aside from our drummer, Marco Saah, coming up with the half-time feel change in the outro (thank you, Marco). This song deals with the realization that you actually don’t have to run from your anxiety; you have to walk with it side by side.”
