Miss Ricky has always carried the shadows with her. Growing up in a troubled home in Milton, Ontario, the singer, songwriter, and producer found refuge in music and in long late-night drives with her older brother. Those nights shaped her, both as an artist and as a person, instilling a sense of escape and reflection that lingers through her sophomore album, Sounds At Night.
Entirely self-written and self-produced, the seven-song collection is both intimate and cinematic, a dark-pop and R&B journey through longing, desire, heartbreak, and self-discovery. While her debut hinted at her atmospheric instincts, Sounds At Night feels like a fully realized world, one where every synth pad and reverb kick carries the weight of late-night confessions.
The record opens with “Fantasy,” a thesis statement on what it means to want love while never truly believing you deserve it. Miss Ricky’s vocals float above lush, dreamy production, embodying the fleeting high of a crush that evaporates as soon as reality intrudes. “Places” builds on that foundation with more urgency, a reminder of how exposing it feels to want something lasting when you are unsure if anyone is ready to meet you there.
If the first two tracks dwell on longing, “Pick It Up” provides a sharp contrast. It is confident, even confrontational, a dark-pop anthem where Miss Ricky flips the script and refuses to wait for affection to come to her. That same playfulness brightens “Close to You,” a track inspired by 90s R&B that glows with the innocent rush of infatuation. For a moment, the album lets itself believe in love’s sweetest illusions.
But the vulnerability deepens with “Deeper,” a diary-like entry that pulls the curtain back on intimacy. Here, Miss Ricky’s voice is hushed yet firm, daring someone to accept her fully. The tension reaches its breaking point with “Down Right Dundas,” a tribute to Mississauga that also marks the emotional fallout of the album. The song aches with the weight of rejection, proving that opening yourself to love can be both liberating and devastating. The record ends not with despair but with quiet resilience. “Just One Step” reclaims self-worth, grounding it in Miss Ricky’s faith and spirituality rather than fleeting human affection. It is a reminder that her journey is not just about romantic desire but about finding a deeper kind of belonging.
What makes Sounds At Night compelling is its duality. The production is moody and atmospheric, built on late-night textures, but the writing is deeply personal, as if Miss Ricky is whispering these thoughts in the passenger seat during another midnight drive. The album captures the feeling of being caught between the thrill of connection and the fear of rejection, and it does so with a rare balance of vulnerability and control. Sounds At Night positions Miss Ricky as an artist unafraid to dig into uncomfortable truths while still leaving room for light. It is a project that lingers long after the final track, echoing like the glow of city lights against the night sky
Featured Images: Artist Supplied
