Having worked with artists like Alex G, Tinashe, Mitski and many others over a 15-year period, Ryan Hemsworth has developed an incredible ear for talent while honing his craft as a shape-shifting producer, at ease in every genre. Though known for his prolific production and seemingly endless, high-profile collaborations, Numbskull is Hemsworth’s first solo album since Elsewhere in 2018, and his first on Topshelf Records. On Numbskull, Hemsworth balances a complex mix of influences ranging from shoegaze to lo-fi to metal, all filtered through the lens of his globe-trotting pop background. Hemsworth embraces these heavy, distorted influences on the explosive lead single “One Step,” a thunderous foundation for Sarah Tudzin of Illuminati Hotties’ noisy vocal performance. Hemsworth’s ties to the hardcore scene have deepened over the years, leading him to Ian Shelton of Militarie Gun, who introduced Hemsworth to Dylan Kern of MSPAINT, whose raw, noisy vocals on “No One Else” recall the Beastie Boys in a song that feels spiritually indebted to video game menu music. But the Canadian producer explores his heavier influences through much more than electronic pop on Numbskull. Take “Never Learned” with Tegan and Sara, the album’s anchor and pivot point. It’s an unexpected clash of crushing guitars and blast beats, with Hemsworth playing the role of rock band frontman in a pressing, infectious emo anthem about surrendering to who you really are.