Oct 18, 20232 min read

Sierra Torres Debuts Her Solo Project, Gin Wife, With "Rat Race"

Updated: Apr 25

Gin Wife "Rat Race" The Cage, a music blog powered by Cage Riot - Craig Claro, Editor — Photo Credit: Jesse Lendzion

We had the opportunity to check out "Rat Race" by Gin Wife, aka Sierra Torres, and it's totally badass.

The song's opening makes me feel like it's honey being poured out of a glass. It's thick and slow-moving, but you know it will be sweet. With a strong alt-rock feel, it quickly jumps out of its skin to deliver its sharp message. The smooth and full vocals are an absolute standout performance. They propel and carry the song beautifully.

I really enjoyed the song's attributes: The song has highs and lows but also manages to hold a steady flow that builds without stopping. The drums are unrelenting and fall right in with the bold and in-your-face message of the song. I also appreciated the guitar solo that did this incredible thing of - appearing - and then blending right back into the song - as if it escaped and then was re-absorbed, which was a great use of the shoegaze genre aspect of the mix. Most guitar solos hit and then dropped like "I'm done," whereas this was like I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere, and just kept on going. Excellent creativity, allowing many genres to be represented and paired well.

The end has a drop that gives a Broadway sensation and almost feels like a duet with only one singer. This felt this way because one singer compliments and outdoes themselves with a nearly barge-in-on-myself technique, quickly quipping in at the end of a verse with what felt like an alternate "personality," if you would. Great job with the mix and production process. S/O to the engineering team.

Gin Wife says, "It's been an honor getting to work with such a killer team on this track; I got real lucky to have such good pals who happen to double as phenoms on their instruments."

Listening to the lyrics, the message here is one of dropping a reality bomb on that bullshitter we all know and can see right through. Gin Wife tells us, "I don't wanna be the one to tell you what is true. Feigned affection used as a weapon is not the way to get where you want to". Ouch, these lyrics are a punch in the (parts that hurt a lot). Soooo many times, I want to look someone in the eye and tell them I know you are full of it and only an idiot can't see through you. This song makes me think maybe I should use it as a tool and email or text it to them with a "get the hint, asshole" message attached. Definitely created a connection for me to this song.

"Rat Race" by Gin Wife is available on all major platforms, and you, too, can listen and deliver to someone who needs to get the hint today!