Ryan Romero is a 28-year-old hailing from the Breaking Bad-famous Albuquerque, New Mexico, who releases music under the moniker Meadow Lake. The artist draws inspiration from a mix of musical icons like The Beatles, Nirvana, and Vampire Weekend—anything that sounds good. For this track in particular, his recently released “Dolla $ign$” single, he channeled the genre-defying energy of Gorillaz as my primary source of inspiration.
There are fewer things more hypnotic than a prominent bassline, and Romero’s new single, “Dolla $ign$,” waves its funky bass in front of you like a pocket watch. The new tune from the artist pairs political unrest with danceability, creating a layered environment for the listener to navigate. Romero employs a groovy simplicity to accent his soaring falsettos, allowing just enough room for the arrangement to make its mark. At the same time, the lyrics tell the tale of a city letting its people down. This juxtaposition between the songwriting and the instrumentation gives “Dolla $ign$” its refreshing presence. Rather than lean on funk’s past for direction, Romero filters his influences through his observant lens, reimagining these tropes for modern times. The artist’s new single is a delicate balance between reality and space-aged sonics, allowing Romero to explore every corner of his artistry with grace and empathy.
“’Dolla $ign$’ reflects corruption, power, and how greed infiltrates every layer of society. The line, ‘Imma sway like a palm tree, lined along these clean streets, Chairman Xi Jinping, knows exactly who you are,’ references the clean streets of San Francisco, which were spruced up in a disgustingly brief amount of time to impress Xi Jinping during his visit, all at the behest of Gavin Newsom,” explains Romero.
