RATBOYS, SINGIN' TO AN EMPTY CHAIR

Inside a rented cabin in rural Wisconsin, Julia Steiner (vocalist/guitarist ), Dave Sagan (guitar), Sean Neumann (bass), Marcus Nuccio (drums) set up their gear, made a homespun recording setup, and began demoing songs for what would become their sixth album, Singin’ To An Empty Chair. This was the second time that their band, Ratboys, had started forming songs for an album in this way. They had previously done it for their 2020 album, The Window, in Michigan, finding that concentrated time together, without many limits or much structure to their days, created space for songs to develop and evolve. This time around, the band followed their ideas further, fleshing them out and arriving at a broader, more refined version of their sound.

“It feels a little bit selfish to have this album as a communication tool for me, but life is short and I’m willing to try. I’m willing to go to great lengths to repair a broken relationship, so that’s where we’re at. I hope I don’t chicken out.”

Much of the initial writing for these songs grew out of Steiner’s therapy, particularly the empty chair exercise referenced in the album’s title, as she worked through interpersonal communication with an unnamed estranged loved one. The technique unlocked “Just Want You To Know The Truth,” the extended centerpiece of the album built from chronological memory. While Steiner’s lyrics can feel heavy at times, she sings with a light heartedness that suggests a belief that things will eventually be okay. The band’s alt country rock foundation reinforces that feeling, lifting the songs with catchy rhythms and bright melodic guitar lines.

Six albums in, Singin’ To An Empty Chair is Ratboys’ best yet. The writing is sharper, the performances more assured, and the album holds together with a center that sets it apart from past albums, all while carrying an infectious spirit of possibility and hope.