RAGS AND RICHES

The songs on this album talk about a range of topics... - Earmilk

On a Monday morning, there is little else we enjoy more than ignoring everyone and wallowing in a spell of indulgent self-pity. Nonetheless, having streamed RAGS AND RICHES’ freshly dropped album over the past weekend, we’d go as far to say that we had a slight spring in our step on today’s long commute.

With triumphant melodies, optimistic lyricism and anthemic beat drops, Always Gold have released six high-energy tracks that are pumping with the addictive charm of classic American pop-rock. Incorporating tropes of time, stress, money, happiness and anger, Always Gold caters to every mood and reflection — making it one of the bands most relatable bodies of work yet.

Speaking of the album, the band explains, “Our music is written to inspire others and spark hope for everyone to leave their legacy with the time they are given. No matter what is weighing on you in the present, or if you feel surrounded by your stress and anxiety, let that be a part of who you are and use that as motivation. This world is yours for the taking.” - Wonderland Magazine

From the gothic-hued hip-hop of rappers like Lil Uzi Vert to the spooky sinisterness of the beat on “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, there’s a rising trend of horror-inspired sounds in popular music. While this isn’t so much a new trend—some cite Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as the genesis of the phenomenon—it’s taken a stronger hold over the past few years, spurring some of the most intriguing and exciting music in recent memory.

And now, the Kentucky-based brother duo Rags And Riches have taken their stab at blending the classic pop sound with a spooky atmosphere. On April 30, the brothers dropped “The Beast,” a dancey track featuring an eerie xylophone, a head-bopping beat and lyrics exploring the struggles of mental illness. - American Songwriter

Kentucky sibling duo Tanner and Peyton Whitt aka RAGS AND RICHES combine their diverse influences as well as their brand of pop-rock to craft a jumpy new single called “Crossfire” featuring fellow Kentucky musician Cody Morgan. The track features heavy drums, gritty guitars and energetic vocals as the artists touch upon staying mentally strong through life’s battles and anxieties. - Rolling Stone

RAGS AND RICHES have fired their latest cannonball of flames with their new single “CROSSFIRE.” Putting on a disguise for this new pop/rock track, these cowboy-gangsters are bringing a whole new sound with this explosive release. Featuring Cody Morgan, “CROSSFIRE” is a blow torch of heat and gallant energy. The song is about finding your inner-strength and mental willpower in times of diversity and hardships. This is the song that makes you fly out your seat and grab life by the horns. If you're looking for your energy, motivation or musical life coach: these guys are your go to. - Earmilk

With their new single, “Edge of Time,” which is out everywhere tomorrow, Tanner Whitt comments “it’s a different approach than anything we have written. In a dog eat dog world, you need to live large and never settle for mediocrity.” - Substream Magazine

Oozing with confidence, "CROSSFIRE" echoes the sounds of Twenty One Pilots and Thirty Seconds to Mars. The energetic anthem is about the fight to overcome anxiety. Collaborating with fellow Kentucky musician Cody Morgan, the song gives two perspectives on how anxiety can affect us and how to battle it.

Passionate and fearless, "CROSSFIRE" explodes with spirited melodies and crashing percussion. There is nothing subtle about their delivery. Bold and brazen, the anthem highlights the brothers' shared love of striking guitars, throbbing bass lines, and assertive vocals.

Singing, "Brick by brick I'm building up my empire, break me down I blast back like a supernova," RAGS AND RICHES declare that they will not surrender. The adrenaline-packed song will take over your whole body with its stomping beat urging you to march forward.

This is the ultimate song to listen to if you need a little dose of fortitude. Tanner shares, "My verse was written from the perspective of how I let others' words tear me down and Cody's verse from the perspective of his internal voice tearing himself down through stress and anxiety."

Together, RAGS AND RICHES and Cody Morgan show that we all experience these suffocating feelings of anxiety and stress. Giving a reassuring nod that everything will be ok if we just keep strong and put up a fight, the band inspires us to never relent. - Pop Dust

There’s a good chance that some readers may already be familiar with RAGS AND RICHES. The Kentucky-based duo of Tanner and Peyton Whitt have made a serious name for themselves in the alternative-pop universe, and we actually featured their single ‘holiday.‘ at the beginning of this year. The pair have steadily released banger after banger ever since, and now the brothers return armed with an eight-track EP that is built off the success of ‘holiday.’. To say that this album has exceeded my expectations would be the understatement of the year. Let’s dive in!

‘Flavor’ is the featured song of the EP and blends the iconic funk drums of 80s Michael Jackson tracks with modern Dua Lipa-style basslines. A tune about a guy who has no dancing skills, it’s utterly infectious and irresistible. ‘Hello, Goodbye’ then brings a little attitude to the party before ‘Smoothie’ hits us again with a driving bassline and an electrifying energy. Just perfect!

An emotional journey that is bound to strike a chord with new listeners and fans alike, the Whitt brothers have clearly poured their heart and soul into this record. “These songs pulled things out of us that we didn’t even know we had in us,” they say. A must-listen for all music lovers! - Mesmerized

"Flavor" is the lead single from alt-pop duo Rags to Riches' newest EP, "I NEED A HOLIDAY." Their latest release recounts the band's fun, happy-go-lucky sound with a holiday twist perfect for listening to this December. Throughout the EP, Rags to Riches blends their staple humor with genuine heart, and "Flavor" exemplifies this. The track is about something we can all relate to: not being able to dance, as the duo declares, "I got flavor in all the wrong places baby!" in the chorus. It is funny and, unfortunately, very relatable, as well as, sweet, as the two sing about wanting to dance terribly with this girl they have feelings for. It captures a youthful energy in its high-tempo beat and conversational lyricism that is hard to deny. "Flavor" is infectious---a song that audiences are bound to dance poorly along to.

The track is highly energetic, from its production to its lyrics. Rags and Riches know how to write a pop song. "Flavor" has a chorus that is crazy catchy, from its strutting drum beat and head-banging guitar licks. When the duo sings on "the dance floor" in the pre-chorus, they create a beautiful falsetto harmony. The two are incredibly personable, as well. They have a strong songwriting sensibility, capturing the real sentiments of young people today under genuinely hilarious one-liners. I mean, come on, they wrote, "Won't you be my little baddie/ Cause under your spell I'm feeling supercalifragile"--that's incredible. That, alongside other lines about liquid courage and feeling like the frog to your SO's princess, are as witty as they are real. Their sound is reminiscent of bands like AJR or the Chainsmokers, mixing humor and heart. "Rags and Riches" captures the carefree spirit of Millennials and Gen Z, all while making an EDM banger in "Flavor."

Rags and Riches is made up of brothers Tanner and Peyton Whitt from Kentucky. The two have been making music for only a few years but have already made a huge splash on the music scene. The duo came out with their official debut in 2019 with the gritty "Speed of Sound," and have only gotten more creative from there. Exploring further EDM and alt-pop sounds, they released their first official album, "Always Gold" in 2022. Rags and Riches currently amassed 51,000 monthly listeners and 1.2 million streams on Spotify and over 300,000 followers on TikTok. The two have just released their second body of work, the EP, "I NEED A HOLIDAY," this month. I'm very excited to hear where they go next, and you can listen to Rag and Riches's discography, including "Flavor" on all streaming platforms now. - Pop Passion

We know just the record for those of you who love pop. I NEED A HOLIDAY by RAGS AND RICHES is here to leave you dazzled with it's smashing 8 pops. Have fun choosing which one of the catchy hooks, infectious beats, and thoughtful lyrics you like best.Nonetheless, my personal favorite is "Winter Lights". - Illustrate Magazine

Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in 'I NEED A HOLIDAY?'

2022 was coming to a close and we had just wrapped up a tour with our friend Jay Joseph. We wanted to pivot from Pop-Rock to full on Pop. It took us a bit to really figure out what RAGS AND RICHES sound like in that realm. The idea was to start all of the writing for ‘I NEED A HOLIDAY’ with bass lines. The dance side of the band needed to push through. That was the initial idea for this whole project.

How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for 'I NEED A HOLIDAY' to life?

We do everything in-house and have a studio at our parents’ house. That gives us the freedom to really take our time and develop each track thoroughly. We have complete creative reigns and vision for every piece of the project. Peyton is a GENIUS when it comes to producing and has been doing it now from the young age of 10.

What is your personal favorite song from 'I NEED A HOLIDAY' and why?

Tanner’s favorite: It would be a tie between “holiday.” and “Flavor.” Both of them have the most dance anthem vibes and in the best way of saying it “They don’t feel like my songs” haha.

Peyton's favorite: It’s super hard so either “Flavor,” “Hello, Goodbye,” or “Smoothie.” All of these are just extremely fun to play live.

Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?

Our parents always LOVED music, so they showed us everything from Dave Matthews, Eminem, Tupac, Vince Gill, Queen, and Led Zeppelin as kids. They also were youth pastors, so they needed someone to play music for the youth and Peyton and I started playing to step in. We immediately loved the feeling of being on stage and that developed us into that “10,000+ hours into something professional” or so they say. It was pretty evident before our 20’s we were born to do music full-time.

What has been one of the most significant moments of your musical journey so far?

I would have to say opening for Smash Mouth in front of 6 to 7 thousand people was a pivotal moment in our career. Not only did we gain a ton of new fans and momentum, but we became friends with Zach Goode the frontman of Smash Mouth and he has been a great person to just connect with. - Punk Head

Can you introduce yourself?



Hey! This is Tanner and Peyton of RAGS AND RICHES. We are a Pop band based in Lexington, Kentucky.

Can you describe "I Need A Holiday" in three words?


Love, Life, Party

What were the first and last parts of "I Need A Holiday" to be written?



The first part to be written was the bass line for the song “holiday.”, which still might be our favorite. Last part written was the ad-lib that says “Prada, A Louis, A Fendi, what’s up?” for the song “Boujee Broke”.

What’s your favorite lyric or production element of "I Need A Holiday"?



Literally the most underrated thing of “I NEED A HOLIDAY” is on the song “Flavor” at the end of the song we added a second chorus and no one catches the bread and butter references, but it says, “Liquid courage, still I could use another baby. Moves so smooth believe that it’s not butter baby. I’m on a roll, I know your eyes are feastin’ on me. So eat it up and watch me leave it all on the dance-floor.” Has to be one of our favorite things we have ever written!

Did you learn anything new about yourself while creating this song?
I think the biggest thing we both learned is how capable we are of writing many different styles of lyrics. We were able to make so many pop-culture references throughout, which can be difficult to write and make them timeless, but still relevant.





Is there a certain place that you feel the most creative in?

9 times out of 10 the best hooks have all hit me in the shower. It must be something about being relaxed and letting my brain shut off to a certain extent.



What was on your playlist as you worked on "I Need A Holiday"?

Harry Styles, The Band CAMINO, Jonas Brothers, Stephen Sanchez, Judah & The Lion, Imagine Dragons, Nicky Youre, OneRepublic, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo.

If you could transport listeners to the perfect location to hear "I Need A Holiday" for the first time, what would that place be?


I would have to say on a warm weather road trip or vacation with friends and/or family around. With the windows down driving down the coast would be a picture perfect moment to listen to it all the way through!

If you had to describe your music to someone who couldn’t hear, how would you describe it?



I would have to say our music is euphoric. It takes you to certain places, moments, and gives you all the best feelings.

What comes next for you?


We are working on a potential sophomore album and overall creating some of the deepest songs we have written so far. We wanted to share that side of us with our fans. Also, will be doing some extensive touring for the first time since early 2022.

Make sure to listen to “I Need A Holiday” on Spotify and follow RAGS AND RICHES on Instagram to see what they’re up to! - Tongue Tied Mag

As the curtains begin to close on 2023, the alt-pop scene is ablaze with the dynamic energy of Tanner and Peyton Whitt, the powerhouse duo behind Rags and Riches. Their latest EP, aptly titled “I NEED A HOLIDAY,” is a testament to their musical prowess and creative evolution, born from the success of their earlier single, “holiday.”

Beyond the surface, the duo has artfully crafted an EP that transcends the conventional boundaries of pop music. “I NEED A HOLIDAY” is a sonic journey that strikes deep but remains lighthearted.

The track serves as a musical canvas where the raw struggles of the human experience are painted with clever wit, irony and entertainment. More than just a collection of songs, the EP effortlessly serves as a vehicle for age-old nostalgia.

The creative process for “I NEED A HOLIDAY” began with the duo taking a unique approach based on advice from a friend. The Whitt brothers set out to create songs that not only sound great with a full production but also resonate when stripped down to just an acoustic guitar and vocals.

“THESE SONGS PULLED THINGS OUT OF US THAT WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WE HAD IN US.”

Featured track, “Flavor,” is a vibrant composition blending Michael Jackson’s iconic funk drums from the ’80s and Dua Lipa-like bass lines. Tanner Whitt explains, “Peyton and I got together with our good friend DeMarko Murphy and set out to write this witty and creative pop-culture referenced track. It’s the story of this guy trying to woo a girl with his dance move but can’t dance AT ALL…”

Rags and Riches first caught the public’s attention with their debut single, “Speed of Sound,” in 2019. The track quickly became a sensation, amassing over 915K streams and 525K video views. Serving as their breakout moment, “Speed of Sound” laid the foundation for their successful debut album, “Always Gold,” which garnered 1.4M streams in its first week.

With a relentless work ethic, Rags and Riches have performed over 250 shows in 40 states, amassed over 5M+ career streams and 2.4M video views in just four years and shared the stage with notable acts like Smash Mouth, Fitz & the Tantrums, Judah & the Lion, and Durry & Leah Marlene. Their dedication recently earned them two Lexington Music Awards for Pop Artist of the Year and Song of the Year.

As Rags and Riches continue their meteoric rise, “I NEED A HOLIDAY” stands as a testament to their growth as artists and promises to be a resonant force in the world of alternative pop. The EP is not just a musical collection but a sonic exploration into the depths of human experience, making it a must-listen for fans and newcomers alike. - The Bridge Mag

RAGS AND RICHES execution of their message is delivered in an anthemic pop rock stylings, with irrefutable catchiness. Some days you need a little bit of fire in you, and this track could be it. - Atwood Magazine

Combining dynamic choreography with a strong beat and simply heartening lyrics, the video is the perfect visual for a track that deserves to be represented beautifully. - Troika

While Adam Levine may have tried his best to give Pop a Rock edge, clearly RAGS AND RICHES are a band blessed with the ability to create perfectly polished buzz saw riffs with raw vocals.

If this is what they’ve cooked up with their debut track, I can’t wait to hear what else they have in the pipelines. - A&R Factory

This is a band that isn’t afraid to experiment with unconventional sounds either, with their guitar sometimes sounding like a powerful buzz saw. The arrangements are thoughtful and complex. - BuzzMusic LA

The song itself is packed full of energy with a killer guitar riff that carries the entire song, plus some pretty intense drumming. If RAGS AND RICHES continue to pump out music like this, they will be headlining festivals in no time, and I for one would love to see their swagger live. - The Girls at the Rock Show

Fans of Imagine Dragons, Twenty-One Pilots, and Thirty Seconds to Mars will find themselves at home with the band’s new release. - DOPE CAUSE WE SAID

Today, we are teaming up with the duo RAGS AND RICHES for the release of their highly infectious new single ‘Not A Stranger,’ a track that captures the mood of the song’s theme to perfection. - Vents Magazine

The relatable lyrics and the incredible instrumental (*featuring insane drumming by Peyton) make for a track that you just can’t skip over or ignore. - DOPE CAUSE WE SAID

Made up of brothers Tanner and Peyton Whitt, RAGS AND RICHES are an American based pop rock duo who are absolutely crushing it within the genre at the moment. - We Write About Music

The lads might not have a record deal right now, but if they had a big budget label funding “Summer Nights” bet the house it would be all over Top 40 pop stations across the country and beyond. - Bravado Press