Sheldon Riley’s hauntingly beautiful vocals first captured the world’s attention at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy. A year later, he returns with his much-anticipated single, ‘INSANE.’ The song showcases Riley’s vocal range and emotional depth, and it’s easy to see how the global pandemic played a role in inspiring the musician.
The 24-year-old singer-songwriter found himself confined to a red zone during the pandemic and used the time to explore his creativity and delve deeper into his emotions. Riley says that he realized that his strength lies in writing music from the heart and telling his story directly. As a result, ‘INSANE’ is an emotional track that explores the complex theme of loving someone who doesn’t reciprocate the love in the same way.
In the accompanying cinematic music video, Sheldon Riley takes on the role of director. He brings his bold and entrancing aesthetic to life, delivering a visual experience that is just as captivating as his vocals. The music video features an outfit made from over 62 meters of ethically sourced human hair that Riley spent over 30 hours designing and constructing. The result is a stunning display of craftsmanship that demonstrates Riley’s passion and commitment to his art.
“I wanted to produce a piece that was innovative and original while still retaining a sense of darkness that is uniquely me and effectively conveys the intended story,” said Riley. “I was inspired by some of my favorite movies that explore the subtleties of insanity; big, dark films like the Harry Potter series, the Twilight Saga, The Addams Family, Where The Wild Things Are, and all of Tim Burton’s masterpieces.”
With his avant-garde style and raw, melodic sound, Sheldon Riley is known for pushing boundaries and continually innovating. He is currently working on his debut album, which is scheduled to be released later in the year. “When you’re creating songs the way that I’m creating them, it really is such a passion project,” said Riley. “It’s a huge piece of my heart that I give to the world and, ultimately, to people who are willing to listen, so I’m really excited and proud to be releasing music made the way I want to make it.”
‘INSANE’ is now available on all major streaming platforms, and Sheldon Riley’s fans can look forward to more groundbreaking music in the future.