RISE feat. stayMellow’s “Talking To Your Ghost Again,” released on 23 October 2026, is a single from Liverpool that faces loss and grief without hurrying toward comfort. Paul Kinley wrote it for his twin brother Steve, the band’s original singer, who passed away in 2022. It is a tribute made with obvious care, and that care can be heard from the first seconds to the last.
The song opens with a gradual build. Guitar and synth arrive alongside sound effects and ambience, and the introduction settles into a hush that pulls the listener in. The atmosphere and the energy land together, so by the time the vocal enters, the attention is already won. It is an introduction that grabs you immediately and keeps hold of you.
stayMellow’s voice is the centre of the performance. His tone is warm, rich and smooth, and he delivers the lines like a storyteller with a soulful, passionate edge. The vocal is captivating and distinctive from the first verse, and it reaches its emotional peak in the chorus. The harmonies sit high in the mix on purpose, which keeps every line sounding like expression and never like decoration.
The arrangement is richly layered and well balanced. Acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, synths and ambient effects each have their own space, and every one of them works in support of the vocal. Brian Petch’s guitar playing is melodic, atmospheric and emotional, and the twin 12-string parts from Petch and stayMellow bring the band’s progressive rock side forward more than on recent releases. The bass is deep, warm and driving, while the drums are tight, energetic and dynamic. Paul Kinley’s keyboards bring warmth and texture to the whole picture.
Lyrically, the strongest quality is emotional honesty. Loss, memories, nostalgia, change and loneliness sit next to healing, resilience, hope and personal growth, and the song never pretends those things are separate. It does not chase easy closure. Instead, it accepts that some bonds and some wounds never fully fade, and that acceptance is exactly why it feels so relatable. The path from reflection to acceptance is clear from the first verse to the last line.
The pacing is moderate and balanced, which gives the song room to breathe and lets each section land properly. The final chorus is the climax, where the full band and the voices come together at their most open. Rob Whiteley and Paul Kinley’s production at Whitewood Studios is professional and detailed, and it captures the rich, recognisable RISE sound without crowding the emotion at the song’s centre. When the track ends, reflection and nostalgia are what remain.
“Talking To Your Ghost Again” sits with grief honestly and leaves the listener with warmth instead of closure.
~ Daniel (DULAXI Team).
This is a song for personal reflection, night-time listening, headphones and long drives. Listeners who love emotional storytelling, lyrical songwriting and introspective music will find a lot to hold onto here. RISE and stayMellow deserve real appreciation for the songwriting, the storytelling, the vocal performance and the authenticity running through every moment. The advice is simple: keep telling authentic stories through music, stay true to your artistic identity, and keep sharing songs that connect emotionally. With a new EP planned for early 2027, there is plenty to look forward to.
For more information about RISE, click on the links below.