FEATURE: Spotlight: Rianne Downey — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Rianne Downey

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EVEN though she has…

received some airplay from big stations, I still think there are some as-yet unaware of the brilliant Rianne Downey. The Glasgow-born, Liverpool-based singer-songwriter is a simply awesome artist! Someone whose music gets right into the heart and head; I think that everyone should check out what Downey is putting out there. Her new single, Beautiful View, came out this week. It is among her very best work. I am going to come to some fairly recent interview with her. If you are near any venue Downey is scheduled to play, then do make sure that you go and see her. She is a tremendous talent we are going to hear from for years. In February, Back Seat Mafia spent some time with a Scottish shining star. Since then, I feel Rianne Downey has been heralded and spotlighted by some major radio stations and publications. Surely she will be on everyone’s ‘Ones to Watch in 2024’ lists?! She is an artist who fascinates me:

“Give us a potted history of yourself

My name is Rianne Downey. I am a singer/songwriter from Glasgow, living in Liverpool.

Things kicked off during lockdown when I started to upload covers from my bedroom. Everyone seemed to love them and my following grew from there. The anticipation grew online for my own original music and so I released my first single in February 2021 and from there, things have grown bigger and bigger eg. My debut EP vinyl release selling out in a week. Having my songs played on BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6. Playing up and down the country at IOW Festival, Truck, TRNSMT and SXSW. As well as some amazing support slots – Paolo Nutini, Liam Fray, The Snuts, DMA’s, The Lathums, and The Coral.

In November 2022, I was awarded the Breakthrough Artist of The Year Award at the Scottish Music Awards.

Who inspired you to start making music

My mum always said I could sing before I could speak. When I was younger, I discovered Ska through listening to Amy Winehouse’s covers of The Specials. I was obsessed with the sound & became obsessed with their style & attitude. I became heavily influenced by Skinheads and Mods. I found a collection of my parent’s old CDs which is how I discovered Oasis, and The Stone Roses and from there I became obsessed with the 80s/90s indie movement and who inspired those bands which then opened my eyes to all kinds of amazing musicians throughout the years. I wanted to be able to express myself and have a voice of my own through music. Paolo Nutini was a huge inspiration to me, being from Scotland and writing unbelievable, universal tunes that became the soundtrack to my childhood. It made me want to do my country proud like Paolo, defy the Scottish small town mindset odds and perform for a living”.

Tell us how you write

I’ve never found a proper routine or strategy for writing a song. I tend to always be switched on and looking for lyrics/inspiration in everyday life. My brain doesn’t switch off. I’m constantly listening to music and singing to myself, hoping that the right melody will come out. I usually just sit down with my guitar and figure out what I want to say or what theme I want the song to have and go from there. I usually need to be in a room myself with no distractions.

Tell us about your live show What would be your dream gig

My live shows are about to kick off with a bang. It’s sounding and looking massive and the set list is flooded with bangers now. I can’t wait to show everyone what I’ve been working on. My bucket list gigs would be headlining the barras then the hydro. Glastonbury in any capacity and touring Europe and America! I’d also absolutely love to support Paolo Nutini again.

What can we expect from you in the near future

I’m not going anywhere anytime soon! I’ve got a load of songs ready to release to the world and each one is better than the last and I am so excited to show everyone. I head off on a UK Headline tour in March and onto a number of festivals in the summer. I can’t wait for the gigs to just keep coming and getting bigger every time.

Tell us your favourite records that are rocking your headphones/tour bus/stereo

Strangers – The Kinks

Every Night – Paul McCartney

Hazy Shade of Winter – Simon & Garfunkel

I Just Imagined You – Blossoms

Radio – Paolo Nutini

Reason to Believe – Karen Dalton

Under the Skin – Flyte

Little Bitch – The Specials

Bluebird Wine – Emmylou Harris

Devil to Pay – Johnny Cash”.

I hope that more people line up to speak with Rianne Downey. 2023 has been a busy and exciting one for her. No less because her ticket sales surged following her TRNSMT performances in July, where the legendary Paul Heaton introduced her as a Celtic fan! Hailing from Bellshill, Downey took to the TRNSMT main stage alongside Heaton, having previously played with him on the headline slot at Neighbourhood Weekender earlier this summer. There are some cool interviews out there with Rianne Downey. This is what went down when she spoke with Bodega Nottingham back in July:

“Hey Rianne, we’re really looking forward to welcoming you to The Bodega! How are you feeling ahead of the show?

Why thank you! I’m looking forward to coming. I’ve never even been to Nottingham before so the response to the gig already has totally blown me away. I can’t wait to meet a bunch of new folk, play my tunes to them and have a big ole sing song. Feeling very grateful.

You recently released your new EP ‘Method To My Madness’ and we’re loving it over here, how are you feeling post-release?

I’m glad you guys are loving it! The love and support my EP has received has been so heartwarming. I put my everything into this EP and the fact the songs are resonating with people really means the world, I feel like I’m doing my job right and the years of graft are paying off. Vinyl selling out in a day and being played on Radio 1 & 6, pinch me!! It’s given me the bug to keep writing and releasing songs. If my songs can help anyone in the way music has helped me, then I feel like I’ve made it!

Where does that distinct country tinged pop stem from? Is it something you’ve been surrounded by for a long time?

My granny and papa listened to loads of country on the radio growing up so I think its always been in my subconscious. I always loved country music. Johnny Cash’ Ring of Fire was the first song I had on my first mobile phone haha. I love how raw the music is. I think it’s an amazing thing trying to find the most simple but beautiful way to tell a story or to find the positives, humour, heartache and most importantly, the truths within our human experience and put them on a pedestal so that others can find the words or the answers they’ve been looking for. That’s what I think country/pop music is. Plus I love a good line dance.

A lot of the tracks on the new cut are bitter-sweet, is it important that there’s an emotional depth to your music?

I feel like my best work comes when I write from experience and let myself feel everything that’s in my soul at that time. I think a lot less and just sing the words that need to be sang. Most of the songs I loved and that have helped me throughout my life always seemed to be the songs that came from deep within the writer’s soul and I’d love to carry that on through my music. It’s the best way to connect with yourself and with others when you can put it all out there. And I think that’s why a lot of us love music because it makes us feel connected to/part of something.

What goes into prepping for a tour as extensive as this one?

A lot of rehearsals, Travelodge bookings, setlist rearranging, outfit picking (cowboy boots are a given though)! A whole load of things to think about but I’ve got a lot of gigs over the summer at festivals and sharing the stage with Paul Heaton on his summer tour, that’ll get me match fit and ready to take to the stage in November. My main priority is that everyone who’s bought a ticket has a grand ole time at the gigs and I’ll make sure they do!

Lastly, if money wasn’t a factor, what would be your dream rider?

Unlimited pasta

Unlimited Vocalzones (cause they’re expensive

American Sour Patch Kids

Pornstar Martini’s made fresh”.

I am going to end with a pretty recent interview from Gigantic. It is exciting looking back and seeing what Rianne Downey has accomplished so far. As she says in her own words in the interview, next year is going to be a big one. I am sure that we are going to hear a lot of new music from a gleaming jewel in the new music crown:

“Fusing pop, country and folk, singer-songwriter Rianne Downey is the fresh new talent who is captivating listeners and fast transitioning from online sensation to becoming the latest recipient of the Breakthrough Artist of The Year Award at the Scottish Music Awards.

Born in Glasgow and now based in Liverpool, Rianne Downey first attracted attention as a lockdown star, playing viral bedroom covers of her favourite songs with just an acoustic guitar which revealed her tremendous talent and incredible voice. The rising star has continued to impress, writing prolifically and releasing three EPs in just two years including titles Fuel To The Flame which sold out in just a week, Come What May and her latest four-track offering Method To My Madness which dropped this summer.

When she isn’t in the studio, Rianne is now a major player on the festival circuit, having already made prominent appearances at Glastonbury, SXSW, TRNSMT, Isle of Wight Festival and Truck Festival. She has also played support for such major names as Paolo Nutini, The Coral, DMA’s and The Snuts!

And now, Downey announces headline dates of her own seeing out 2023 with shows at The Bodega, Nottingham and Crofters Rights, Bristol.

We were honoured to be able to fire off some questions at the prodigious six-string player, asking her about the influences on her music, her meteoric ascent and her favourite festival experiences.

What inspired you to start songwriting and who are your influences?

When I first heard Jake Bugg, I thought he was amazing. I was 12 and just discovering indie music. I loved Jake Bugg because he took country/folk music and made it indie. He made my favourite genres cool again! It inspired me to pick up an acoustic and learn to finger-pick. I didn’t have the confidence to properly start writing my own tunes ‘til during lockdown when my covers online started to blow up. I felt like I could actually be a proper musician, so I thought “it’s now or never”. My biggest musical influences for writing were definitely Johnny Cash, Dolly, Simon & Garfunkel and The Doors. I’ve recently been taking a lot of influence from Townes Van Zandt and Taylor Swift. Might be a mad mix but I love what I love and take what I need from it all haha!

You have an incredible voice. How did you build on your natural talent and become so exceptional?

Thank you so much! My mum said I could sing before I could speak, I think the music’s always been in me. It was the only thing in life that truly made me content. I feel alive and like I have a place in the world when I perform. I just spent all my time when I was younger practising in my room or going to theatre school or playing gigs of all kinds. I went to singing lessons for a few years when I wanted to be on Broadway too haha. I gave all of myself to music and I think that’s what’s helped me get this far. It was always all or nothing for me because I love it so much.

How did it feel to be named Breakthrough Artist of The Year Award at the 2022 Scottish Music Awards? That must have been a huge honour!

It was such an honour. I was so surprised but so buzzing. I didn’t expect such a prestigious award so early in my career. It’s literally just the beginning and I am so grateful for the recognition”.

Any plans to drop a debut album in the new future? What else have you got in store for Rianne Downey fans?

I don’t know how much I can tell you but let’s just say 2024 is the big one. That’s the year. I’ve got plenty more tunes on the way and a big, shiny set ready for all my gigs. It’s only getting bigger, better and a lil more country pop, yeehaw!”.

A phenomenally talented artist who I have so much time for, Method to My Madness is among this year’s best E.P.s. From the Scottish treasure Rianne Downey, here is an artist who will command some huge stages at festivals next year. I’d love to hear her collaborate with some major artists. That question about a much-desired debut album too. I am sure this will all come to fruition next year. Beautiful View is another slice of brilliance from Rianne Downey. Following a year with so many great memories, we look ahead to 2024 and those artists who will define it. I feel that the tremendous Rianne Downey is going to be…

RIGHT at the front!

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