Reiyo The Giant Releases "Can't Call Me" from Debut Album, Discusses Grief and Emotional Growth

Bronx-born, Atlanta-based artist Reiyo The Giant has released her latest single, "Can't Call Me," produced by Anwar Sawyer via Safari Riot. The track, which blends alternative R&B, soul, and atmospheric electronica, is part of her forthcoming debut album. In an interview with Kaltblut Magazine, Reiyo discussed the song's theme of reclaiming emotional authority after grief, explaining that choosing herself meant leaving first and setting boundaries. She also shared that her music often processes personal experiences through metaphor and imagination, influenced by her spiritual and existential nature. The debut album was shaped by profound personal change and loss, including the deaths of her great-grandmother, aunt, and uncle over three years, as well as a breakup and academic shifts. Reiyo noted that the record de-centres romance and explores how loss permeates all aspects of life. She cited literary and cinematic influences such as Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Bruce Nugent, Guillermo del Toro, and Michaela Coel, who taught her the importance of honesty and commitment to one's voice. Her artistic identity as Reiyo The Giant emerged from a desire for vastness and fantasy, allowing her to create a mythology around herself. Comparing her upcoming album to her 2021 self-produced EP "Romeo," she described greater emotional maturity and a collaborative relationship with her feelings. The interview was conducted by Escarlina for Kaltblut Magazine.