Cuco releases new album Ridin’ via Interscope Records. The album navigates themes of heartbreak, joy, and personal history while embracing moments of sweet romance resulting in Cuco’s most ambitious and emotionally resonant work to date. Ridin’ also includes previous singles “Para Ti,” a song about unrequited love, “Phases,” “ICNBYH” and “My 45” featuring Jean Carter, which honor the classic soul sounds that have influenced Cuco’s musical journey while reflecting elements of his Chicano heritage.

 

 

Cuco shares, “You can’t do soul unless you love it unless you put in the time,” he says. “I have elevated my sound and my voice enough now that I can move away from the abstraction of synthesizers and just rely on my vocals, melodies, and moods.”

Ridin’ features production from Tom Brenneck (Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse). Brenneck, known for his guitar work with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Menahan Street Band, and contributions to Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, brings his vintage-meets-contemporary approach to the production. Together, Cuco and Brenneck craft an organic sound, with Cuco elevating his dreamy vocals an octave higher for a rich neo-falsetto.

The presence of Los Angeles car culture is another consistent theme throughout the record and is embedded in the flow of the album. Cuco shares, “Everyone listens to music while driving—it’s integral to your commute regardless of mood. You’re moving through life’s non-linear journey.”