Pessimistic and miserable aren’t exactly the words that first come to mind when listening to Ev Bird’s music. His new single, "The Ring" (feat. Boldy James) is out now marking his debut on Royal Mountain Records (Alvvays, Wild Pink, Mac Demarco). The track comes in line with news of a seven-track EP, Puff Piece – produced, mixed and mastered by Ev – which is out October 7th.

The Montreal-based artist crafts a summery and bright sonic journey channeling equal parts jazz, pop, prog, math and hip hop – a smorgasbord of genres that Ev molds into a sound that feels equal parts instantly familiar while refreshingly new. Puff Piece sees Ev Bird reckoning with mortality, helplessness, melancholy, sorrow and futility, with a smile on his face and a wink in his eye.

On lead single, “The Ring”, which features a verse from Detroit hip hop legend Boldy James, Ev sings of the mental health challenges that arise when pushing oneself nonstop can take, playfully singing, “I was in that 2 Star hotel, I was stuck in my cell / Looking like that Samara girl from The Ring that was stuck way down in the well." With some tongue-in-cheek wordplay and a cheery disposition, Ev masterfully breaks down the struggles and tribulations faced by young working-class kids with "The Ring" marking the perfect introduction to Ev’s sonic journey.

Speaking about the track, Ev says: "This track, in general, is about the toll that pushing yourself too hard takes on a person. I began to write the song by describing how I looked and felt on any given morning while on tour. As is the album's theme, the song also deals with mortality and the futility of life."

The debut track also marks Bird's first collaboration with A&R/Producer Noah Rubin who is known for his genre-bending work with artists like Flume and Wu Tang Clan among others.

Watch the music video for “The Ring” below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Ev Bird on his social media.

Stream and Share “The Ring”

Connect with Ev Bird: Instagram