It’s Your Turn Now, the second album from Australia’s Riley Pearce, explores how his life has changed since the release of his debut, including the big step of entering parenthood.
By Graeme Smith
Riley’s first child was born in 2022, and it was then that he started penning It’s Your Turn Now. Becoming a father granted him patience, and also gave a vulnerability to his song writing which comes through in each of the album’s eleven tracks.
The Beauty of It All starts things off with a gentle yet atmospheric moment that pairs acoustic guitar with ambient sound. When overlapping layers of ethereal vocals come in, we know we’re in for something special. It sets up previously released single How Will I Know nicely, which gives us an early, doubt-filled folk pop highlight.
Any Day Now strips things back and provides an intimate story. Slow This Down is delicate and ponderous. Coming Up for Air ups the tempo without losing any of the emotional impact before Losing Light gives us a gentle and loving acoustic ballad.
Human features guest vocals from Savannah Conley, an artist I had the pleasure of reviewing way back in 2020. She and Riley work beautifully together in this vibrant, toe-tapping number that builds steadily to a soulful climax. It’s another highlight.
The album is then rounded off by the introspective Only You, the heart-breaking Indefinitely (featuring Liang Lawrence), the raw honesty of Youth and the lullaby-esque album closer Forever.
With his new album, Riley Pearce explores life’s turmoil in a way only he could. He renders its light and shade expertly, infusing each track with plenty of authentic emotion. His compositions display an impressive range while never losing a comforting relatability.
It’s Your Turn Now was recorded and produced in Riley’s backyard shed-turned-studio. It’s out now via Nettwerk Music Group and you can check it out below.