Sam Ryder’s soulful and spectacular voice blasts off like fireworks all throughout his pristine pop music. The Essex, England-based singer is a true 21st-century success story: After years of playing in rock and metal bands and trying to break into the songwriting game in Nashville, Ryder took to posting cover songs to the internet during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, and quickly caught the attention of stars like Sia and Justin Bieber. In short order, he skyrocketed to social media stardom—and it’s not hard to hear why. Although 2019’s “Set You Free,” on which he showcased his impressive vocal acrobatics over soft guitar chimes, hinted at what was to come, his post-lockdown work is where he really shines. The soaring and impassioned “More” (2021) explores his metal influences, and The Sun’s Gonna Rise EP offers the best of his poignant originals thus far, such as the melancholy “Whirlwind” and the sun-blasted “July.”