Album Review: Ryan Hemsworth - RYANPACKv.2

If you were born in the 90s, you probably vibe with Ryan Hemsworth. Surrounded in a shroud of Pokémon and internet slang, the 20-something Canadian producer is the epitome of what happens when a millennial turns into electronic music’s biggest up-and-coming producers. On his new mixtape, RYANPACv.2, Hemsworth dishes out his own sparkling take on 2000s punk-pop and 2010s rap, living side-by-side in digital harmony.

Ryan Hemsworth was that kid in middle school who made really cool mix CDs for all his friends, and still is. That’s exactly where we find him on RYANPACv.2. While other producers his age are busy attempting a more polished, “mature” sound, Hemsworth simultaneously embraces what sets him apart and connects him to his fans. This is for the kids that grew up listening to whatever emo actually means, and who are busy commenting “dad” on every one of Drake’s Instagram photos.

Similarly to 2013’s RYANPACv.1, RYANPACv.2 is easily better than Hemsworth’s original work. Where RYANPACv.2 differs is in Hemsworth’s choice to highlight pop-punk as well as hip-hop. It’s not easy to reinterpret acts like Blink-182 and Sicko Mobb with kawaii-esque synths, and near impossible to pull off putting them back-to-back. RYANPACv.2 does it seamlessly.

Catchiness and aesthetics aside, Hemsworth’s production is what makes the real magic here. With equal parts nostalgia and trend-conciousness, he transforms a handful of throwbacks, etc. into something entirely his own - and puts a big smile on your face while doing it.