“Skip Town” comes as the second wave in what looks to be a welcome flood of new music from Richard Rourke, who’s shaking off the shadows of a pandemic pause with real finesse. Once known as Richard Rourke & the Voodoo Collective, this New Orleans outfit has trimmed the fat and found their groove. And what a groove it is—equal parts chill and soul, with that unmistakable slow-burn warmth that Sade fans will immediately clock.
Musically, there’s a silkiness that runs through the whole thing—from the muted trumpet that peeks in like a second thought, to the nylon guitar licks that feel almost meditative. But it’s Rourke‘s vocal that carries the message home. He doesn’t belt, doesn’t oversell. He glides. Singing about anxiety and self-doubt without drama, but with clarity, like someone who’s stared down the mess and decided to quietly walk away from it.
There’s a chorus here that lingers. Not because it’s flashy or big, but because it feels earned—like it waited until you were ready to hear it. And maybe that’s the real win with “Skip Town”: it’s not trying to be a saviour song. It’s just a good companion when you’re starting over, especially in a place where you don’t yet know the coffee shop names.
About Richard Rourke:
Formed back in 2017 in the thick musical soup of New Orleans, Richard Rourke and his band earned their stripes the honest way—backyards, dive bars, and eventually the legendary Tipitina’s. Since the early days of their more boisterous live shows, the group has simmered into a tighter, more intentional unit. Their 2020 EP “Time to Mind” hinted at a deeper shift, and now, post-pandemic, they’re ready to show just how much ground they’ve covered. With more singles lined up, “Skip Town” is a gentle but firm declaration: they’re not rushing, but they’re definitely arriving.
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