Rising British producer Ryder shares “Running Gums” featuring South London rapper Louis Culture, out 30th January 2026.
The lead single from his forthcoming EP ‘RYDERHOOD 2’ (February 2026) captures the duality of angst and vulnerability through a collaboration born from mutual respect and a three-year connection.
When Ryder first moved to London in 2022, he spent most weekends working until late, getting home around 4-5AM. One track kept coming up via shuffle on Spotify as he listened to music to fall asleep: “Together” by Louis Culture and HALINA. The opening lines “pull yourself together make it work” stuck with him.
“Three years later, I reached out to Louis via Instagram and arranged a session,” Ryder recalls. “Upon meeting him, I was going through a confusing time in my personal life. He offered a lot of advice on what it means to grow up, progress in music, and deal with grief. ‘Running Gums’ was made on our second session. Out of the 10 or so tracks we’re sat on, that’s the one that cut through.”
“There’s a lot going on at the moment,” Ryder explains. “Running Gums covers it.”
For Louis Culture, the collaboration bridged generational and creative perspectives. “Working with Ryder has been real insightful because of the years between us and I guess the dialogue that we share having entered the industry in two different eras and ways,” he says. “‘Running Gums’ for me captures the duality of angst and vulnerability; being a bit tongue in cheek about life whilst also acknowledging you’re going through it, or have been.”
The track exemplifies Ryder’s production philosophy: “avant-garde sounds that have soul, that don’t always fit into a strictly 4×4 template.” Drawing from influences like J Dilla, Labi Siffre, Moby, and Kanye, the 21-year-old Hull-born producer has built a reputation for genre-bending work that refuses easy categorisation.
Following his breakout debut EP ‘RYDERHOOD’ (May 2025)—which featured BXKS, Ciel, and Daniela Wizard and earned acclaim from Clash, Complex, NME, The Face, alongside radio support from BBC 6 Music, Radio 1, and 1Xtra—Ryder embarked on a trilogy of EPs that would define 2025-2026.
“The whole idea behind this trilogy is bringing artists into a different world than they’d usually reside in,” Ryder explains. “In terms of how my sound has evolved from the first instalment to the second and third, I’ve wanted to place more focus on music that makes you move, music that can be enjoyed communally.”
‘RYDERHOOD 2’ features Louis Culture, JayG, Dré Six, Skit, and Rushy, whilst the forthcoming ‘RYDERHOOD 3’ (June 2026) will showcase Jamaican R&B pop star J’Calm, Tai Funds, Ojerime, and N4T.
From pirating music software on an eBay laptop at age 11 in Hull to collaborating with some of London’s most exciting emerging artists, Ryder’s journey has been guided by mentors Aaron Whyte and Leon Jean-Marie, and driven by an eclectic musical upbringing shaped by his dad’s love of ska, rock reggae, and alternative ’90s bands like Belle and Sebastian.
“I like working with artists that I would listen to even if I wasn’t producing,” Ryder says. “I have found that I can work so much more productively and creatively when I’m in the studio with an artist I genuinely love to listen to.”
“Running Gums” arrives as proof of that philosophy—a collaboration three years in the making that captures the complexities of growing up, staying grounded, and finding connection across generational divides.
“Running Gums” feat. Louis Culture is out 30th January 2026. ‘RYDERHOOD 2’ arrives February 2026.