An ambient synth kicks off with a hypnotic melody, followed by a reverberating one-two snap beat as the suspense builds up to the first verse in “Rearranged Furniture,” by Samantha “Rat” Rios. It’s reminiscent of a Blondie or A Flock of Seagulls song, in true retro fashion and with a hint of naivete. Rios’ music falls under a pop sub-genre called outrun, a throwback to the classic 1980s pop sound created in the depths of the internet time machine.
“Rearranged Furniture” is about family life, Rios says, and the music draws from the inevitable changes of growing up in a tumultuous family unit. It’s a message “to the ones we lost in the fire,” as she croons in the song, a medley to the heartbreak of a broken home.
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Rios is a musical virtuosa, with influences ranging from new wave to classical. She says she prefers to compose a song, rather than just write one. Her music is all about recapturing the past, that wistfulness and wonder of the bullish ’80s. Rios believes she lived back then as a different soul.
“Just having that nostalgic feeling, there are certain chords that really are heart wrenching,” she says. “I want my music to evoke catharsis or melancholy, but also have a familiar aura about it.”
Her latest release, the Britishfold EP, combines the past and the present. Songs like “Flora and Fauna” and “Metallic Words” are somewhere in between 1985 and the fourth dimension. Although the self-produced quality is a little rough, the recording shows just a sliver of her potent talent.
On stage, her buggy demeanor and playful charm complement an unspoiled grace. At live shows, Rios’ dramatic expressions show off the exuberance of her talent. She has a special charisma and passion that is worth paying attention to.
“It’s like good, nervous energy that I’m trying to channel into the right directions,” she says.
Rios only started playing shows in January, although she has already built a small fan base on the web and within the ’80s throwback community, collaborating with labels like Retro Promenade that feature outrun artists from all over the globe. Rios says she’s now trying to claim her territory somewhere in between the local DIY and club scene.
Her father gave Rios the nickname “Rat” early on, but it’s a title that sums up her aesthetic today.
“I think (the name) encompasses the DIY, not extremely glamorous sound to my music,” she says.
Rios started playing music as a toddler. Throughout her life, her family encouraged and fed her taste and talent. One day, her mother bought her a Casio, she says. That was just the beginning. She started singing and then playing cello, hoping to major in music in college. Eventually, she decided to go to SMU to study theater, which she makes use of in her shows.
As Rios builds on her live act, she wants to focus on short-term goals. She hopes to have a full band by the time she plays King Camel’s Local Education Fest at Three Links on June 20. A cassette release on Art Peña’s Vice Palace label is also in the works. And while she enjoys serving her musical commitments, Rios says that ultimately what she wants to do is share her passion with the world.
