Red Leather Paints a Haunting Picture of LA in "The Only Time It Rains In Hollywood"

Singer-songwriter Red Leather recently their debut single and video, "The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood." The music video features cinematic scenes of silent suffering, acting as a commentary on the homeless population in Los Angeles.

"The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood" is a full-bodied, acoustic-guitar-led song filled with warm, Spanish-style guitar riffs and passionate vocals that over the course of the track grow in intensity and pain. The anonymous artist introduces various characters, sharing their gut-wrenching stories of failed dreams and loss in the city of angels. In the song's hook, he sings, "The only time it rains in Hollywood Is when somebody cries / People come out here to chase their dreams / But dreams come here to die."

The accompanying music video is a striking piece of work that follows the mysterious, red-clad musician as he walks and performs down the streets of Hollywood Boulevard. Viewers see scenes of both sides of the titular part of LA, juxtaposing the glamourous, neon-lit streets with raw footage of people experiencing homelessness. As the artist relays the stories of people who have lost everything due to falling victim to gambling or drug addiction, the increasingly tense music is paired with clips of an often ignored community.

The nomadic Red Leather train hopped from the outskirts of Reno, Nevada to LA, where he has been writing songs for more than a year. After posting his music on TikTok, he has acquired a dedicated following of over 250,000 fans. This foreboding single is set to appear on his forthcoming debut album RENO, which tells the story of his travels, addiction to drugs, and spiritual journey.

Watch the "The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood" video below: