There is a certain kind of confidence that does not announce itself. It hums quietly in the background, steady and assured, and only reveals its weight once you sit with it for a while. Garrett Anthony Rice understands that kind of confidence instinctively. With Purple Man, released on January 26, 2026, the Greystones based songwriter delivers a track that honors rock history without being trapped by it, speaking in his own voice while acknowledging the giants who helped shape the language he now uses.
Purple Man is dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, but not in the obvious ways one might expect. There is no attempt to recreate Hendrix’s sound or mimic his wildest gestures. Instead, Rice approaches the tribute with restraint and respect, absorbing the spirit rather than copying the surface. The result is a song that feels alive, gritty, and grounded, pulsing forward with purpose rather than nostalgia.
The backbone of Purple Man is its looping, insistent guitar riff. It locks into place early and never lets go, carrying the song with a steady momentum that feels both hypnotic and physical. The tone is rough around the edges, but there is clarity in its direction. This is rock music that understands groove as much as it understands grit. There is a looseness to the playing that keeps it human, paired with a tightness that shows discipline rather than excess.
Vocally, Rice does not oversell the moment. His delivery feels measured and thoughtful, as if he is in conversation with the music rather than competing against it. That balance is crucial to what makes Purple Man work. It is not a loud tribute. It is a considered one. You can hear the respect in the spaces he leaves open, allowing the guitar to speak where words would only get in the way.
What makes Purple Man especially compelling is how naturally it fits within the wider context of Rice’s current creative arc. Released as part of a double single alongside In the Night We Shone, it offers a sharper, more electric counterpoint to its shadow soaked companion. Where In the Night We Shone drifts and glows in low light, Purple Man plants its feet firmly in the dirt and pushes forward. Together, they suggest an artist who is carefully mapping out a larger story rather than chasing isolated moments.
That larger story is Equinox, the ambitious double album Rice has been shaping with patience and intent. Purple Man feels like a fragment from that bigger picture, offering a glimpse into how Rice navigates influence without surrendering identity. He is clearly aware of rock’s lineage, from Hendrix to later figures who carried that spirit forward, but he treats that lineage as a living conversation rather than a museum exhibit.
There is also something quietly modern about the way Purple Man carries itself. While its roots are unmistakably tied to classic rock traditions, its pacing and structure feel contemporary. The song does not rush toward a climax or rely on explosive moments for validation. Instead, it maintains a steady forward motion, trusting the listener to stay with it. That trust speaks volumes about Rice’s songwriting maturity.
Rice’s background adds further weight to the track. Having released his debut album under the alias CONSULT in 2023 and drawn attention from industry veterans soon after, he has taken his time stepping into this new phase of his work. Living in County Wicklow for the past two decades, he writes from a place that feels settled but restless in the best way. Purple Man carries that duality. It feels rooted, yet searching. Familiar, yet curious.
The song also avoids turning Hendrix into a mythological figure frozen in time. Instead, Purple Man treats him as a living influence whose impact continues to ripple outward. By filtering that influence through his own sensibilities, Rice keeps the tribute personal. It becomes less about reverence and more about dialogue, a guitarist speaking to another guitarist across generations.
On Apricot Magazine, we often talk about artists who understand how to honor the past without being consumed by it. Garrett Anthony Rice belongs firmly in that category. Purple Man does not rely on flashy gestures or heavy handed symbolism. It works because it trusts the fundamentals. A strong riff. A clear sense of purpose. An understanding that rock music, at its best, is about feeling as much as sound.
As Rice continues to build toward the release of Equinox, Purple Man stands as a strong marker along the way. It shows an artist comfortable with his influences and confident enough to let them inform rather than define him. For listeners who value rock music that respects its roots while still looking forward, this track offers a satisfying reminder that tradition only stays alive when it is allowed to evolve.
