When in Bali, rapper, and producer, Rūhboi, took some time to write and record his latest single “Gila” which channels the good vibes he took in during his trip and rearranges them into a loving memory. Named after the versatile Bahasa (Indonesian) word for “crazy”, which, despite being considered a swear, is also able to be deployed in a loving context among friends – especially at parties.
“The inspiration for the project came from the overwhelming unconditional love I was receiving in Indonesia from all these strangers as a foreigner” says Rūhboi. “There it felt like this oneness and energy exchange that was new to me compared to what I was used to in America or Pakistan. I made some really dope friends in a very short amount of time and I partied while doing some amazing stuff in nature, working remotely, and also focusing on my healing/self-development out there. This song was really just a recollection of the entire 3 month experience I had while being a digital nomad in Bali.”
As he spent his time partying and soul-searching, this song seems to have sprung forth naturally as a recollection of his travels, and you can feel the love and positivity that flows through it. Given that the title, “Gila” is often used in reference to someone else, Rūhboi shows that it was really the people he was surrounded by that made the trip so worthwhile. Atop a danceable groove and fresh rhymes, this is a song that simply gives what it gets – nothing but love; nothing but a crazy good time.
“Gila” is available now on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Find this and more excellent music on the Alchemical Records Multigenre Mixture playlist on Spotify.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
