Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Rhye: Artist You Should Know

    There are bad words. Not because they are signifiers of a bad thing or because they are particular nasty sounding or hurt when you say them, rather they’re bad because…

    • Share
    By Mario Cotto • Mar 19, 2012 • 1 min read

    Having said all this, there are times when a bad word is the right word. Because it is fitting. Because it is a perfect indicator of the thing.

    Rhye’s “Open” is sexy.

    Literally, it is sexy. That is, it has qualities that are distinctly sexual in nature.

    Rhye- Open by Rhyemusic

    Outside of the sexual candor of the lyrics delivered in an ambiguously genderless falsetto whispering to “stay open,” the track’s steady rhythm shuffles back and forth like the piston on a steam powered locomotive.

    This is quiet storm, night train music, like Marvin.

    Rhye is the purposefully mysterious collaborative side project of a number of KCRW favorites. Since the mystery is part of the allure, I won’t hip you to any names…you can find out for yourself if you want to. But, do check it out, as it is one of those rare beautiful instances of something really achieving it’s intended goal. That is to make you feel it. Stay open. [This link NSFW.]

    — Mario Cotto

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Mario Cotto

      Host of Mario Cotto

      Music NewsBest New Music