Photo: Rowan Daly

After five years, indie-rock band Ra Ra Riot have released a new single, “The Wish,” co-written and produced by Rostam Batmanglij. Ra Ra Riot is renowned for both their cultivation of live music environments and rich studio production on albums like The Rhumb Line (2008), The Orchard (2010), Beta Love (2013) and Need Your Light (2016). Live magnetism and sonic knowledge come through with each ethereal layer of “The Wish.” In addition to Batmanglij’s steadfast work on the single, the atmospheric aura of “The Wish” is the product of mixing by Andrew Maury and mastering by Grammy Award-winning engineer Emily Lazar (Coldplay, Beck, Jacob Collier). 

“The Wish” was inspired by a shared recent interest in fingerpicking, said vocalist Wes Miles in a press release. “To me, the song’s about the power of imagining a different world – not necessarily in a fantastic or escapist way, but in an empowering way. About manifesting these deeply held wants and desires,” Miles added. Miles elaborated that in pursuit of instrumental movement, Batmanglij added organ and mandolin to his organic riff and “nebulous story.” The project then came to fruition “almost in real time,” according to the press release, marking a new approach for both artists. Alongside Miles, Ra Ra Riot consists of bassist Mathieu Santos, guitarist Milo Bonacci, violinist Rebecca Zeller and drummer Kenny Bernard. 

Regarding Batmanglij’s production, Miles stated, “Rostam and I love working on songs that can read as both happy and sad at the same time and using that tension to amplify and understand the depth of these feelings and visions.” He added that though the pair “have been longtime collaborators” on many different projects, working together is “always something fun and exciting and new.” “The Wish” honors and exemplifies this creative impulse—Batmanglij’s mandolin positions the track’s intricate choral harmonies and sparkling guitar riffs in exactly the right balance. 

The excitement of their first release in five years precedes their slate of Northeast headline shows on May 2, May 3 and May 4, when the band will traverse D.C., Boston, and New York at venues like 9:30 Club, Royale and Brooklyn Steel, respectively, before joining Vampire Weekend on the Midwest leg of their summer tour. With Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot will start in Kansas City, Mo., at the Starlight Theater on July 22, make their way to the Pinewood Bowl Theater in Nebraska on July 23, then head back to Missouri on July 25. 

The band will then perform for two consecutive nights at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on July 26 and 27 before embarking on another stint of back-to-back shows in Minneapolis at The Armory on July 30 and 31. Ra Ra Riot will then close their run with Vampire Weekend on Aug. 1 at Milwaukee’s BMO Pavilion. These dates with Vampire Weekend are a notable addition to the band’s repertoire, which includes tours with Young The Giant, Death Cab For Cutie as well as festivals like Coachella, Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza. 

To stream “The Wish,” click here. For tickets and more information, please visit: www.rarariot.com