NASHVILLE, TN (January 20, 2023) — Today, singer/songwriter Rook Richards delivers “Euphoric Dream,” the first single of a monthly single rollout plan for 2023. Carried by enchanting and sensual acoustic guitar, Richard’s vocals feel like a warm hug. Written about the complexities of young love, the song is a bittersweet exploration of the universal experience of heartbreak; lyricizing about the anguish of finding love, in addition to sharing a perspective of optimism and hope for the future. 

Characterized by a harmonious fusion of genres including singer/songwriter, 90’s alternative and acoustic rock, Rook Richards has developed a distinctive sound of his own. Intertwining an eclectic mix of musical influences, ethereal vocals, and narrative-driven lyrics, Richards is gearing up to deliver one single per month throughout 2023.

Listen to “Euphoric Dream” here.

Watch the “Euphoric Dream” Acoustic Session here.

“It was a typical song about finding young love but through a tundra of cold hearts that are out there that couldn't care less if you added to their lives or not,” shares Richards. “It was the realization that the hope of someone you could really spend your life with was actually there.” 

Rook Richards — the musical moniker of Mike Richards — is a native to Alexandria, VA and his musical roots run deep in the soil. He writes music from the heart and for the people, exploring concepts of heartache and the importance of  perseverance in the lifelong pursuit of love and happiness. His overall message is one of hope, optimism and positivity. Creating music guided by his own honest and raw emotional experiences, he lends a supportive hand to his listeners, reminding them that heartbreak is universal, that you are never alone and that there’s never an appropriate time to lose faith.

Beginning his musical career in 2017 with the band — A Note Two Self — Richards started making large strides towards music; treating it like a language and immersing himself in it fully. Driven by an intense passion and purpose, he did everything in his power to make music his livelihood, releasing multiple singles, an EP, engaging in many local touring opportunities, and eventually deciding to dedicate himself to pursuing a solo path. 

Reflecting on his evolving sound, Richard shares, “The last project was headed more into a pop direction with those acoustic roots. Now, I'm looking to dig deeper and get into the heart of the music with a bigger focus on the lyrics. Through expanding my personal music library and listening to new genres of music, I’ve found myself particularly inspired by the country genre; the way that it's for the people and straight from the heart. Those concepts and intentions are what I want to take into my own sound as a genre blending singer/songwriter. I want to be an artist that can take the best from each genre and make it my own.”

Hand in hand with the rebirth of his sound came a new stage name, Rook Richards. Inspired by being the youngest player on his local hockey team, “Rook” was an abbreviation from “Rookie,” given to him by some bartenders at a bar in Old Town Alexandria. The name stuck, and Rook Richards was born.