Jannick Boerlum
Swedish artist Rhys debuts a quiet pop anthem today in "No Vacancy." In a calming build-up, the 20-year-old puts a twist on the anti-love song by denying a relationship before it even starts. It's a charming mix of ego and fear, and the vulnerability of both shines through.
"No vacancy is about a very specific person who had been toying with my emotions for a little too long. Ironically, my current boyfriend," Rhys explained over email. "This song is about drawing the line, me or them. Everything is great now, but I would say he was a bit of a player when we started seeing each other. Parts of the text are direct quotes from him, so I think I should thank him for that - he gave me a good song! When I wrote it we were already together and I said 'Today I will write a song about you, it will be so nice!' Then I came home and said, 'yes, I wrote a song about you ... but it might not be so nice.'"
Listen below.