Live Report: Sara Ryan on the Hot Press Y&E Series

Originally hailing from Newbridge, Co. Kildare, and currently based in Cork City, Sara Ryan has spent recent years crafting her own unique blend of folk, soul and pop.

Since the release of her acclaimed debut single, 'Belle', in 2016, the singer-songwriter has been crowned 'New Artist of the Year' at the Irish Folk Music Awards, and has brought her stunning live show to international audiences – while earning praise from the likes of Christy Moore.

In November 2019, Sara released her debut album, Breathe, which powerfully showcased the depth of her artistic vision. Next year, you can look forward to a highly anticipated new body of work, immersed in electronic pop.

Kicking off her livestream set with her 2018 single 'Euphoric Recall', accompanied by acoustic guitar and double bass, Sara's vocals are well and truly in the spotlight. Telling a memorable story with richness and empathy, Ryan next offers up a rendition of 'Cravin'', a tale about looking for love in all the wrong places.

Her impressive range is what transports her soulful brand of folk music into another realm, as shown in follow-up track 'The Sea'. Inspired by County Clare, where much of her family live, Sara describes a longing for the ocean and a search for home in a beautiful way. Down-tempo, earnest, simple; 'The Sea' is one of her most effective songs yet. Next up comes 'The Weight', taken from her 2018 debut album Breathe.

A song about the struggle to make a clear decision and learning not to rely on the permission of others, Sara dedicates 'The Weight' to her best friend Grace. Her second-to-last number of the night comes in the form of the gorgeous 'Human', which was written after a conversation with a homeless man on the streets of Cork city. After emerging from a restaurant in the rain one winter, Ryan encountered a man asleep in a doorway, with no home to go to. The story is told throughout the track, her voice as gripping as ever.

Finishing up her set with 2019 track 'Roots', Sara takes influence from country music for her final performance. With new music on the horizon "soon", stay tuned for Ryan's imminent breakthrough.

Check out Sara Ryan's full Y&E Series performance below:

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Up next on the Hot Press Y&E Series...

Tuesday, August 31: ROBERT JOHN ARDIFF
Initially rising to prominence as a member of the Choice Music Prize-nominated band Come On Live Long, Robert John Ardiff has since enjoyed serious critical acclaim as a solo artist – clocking up millions of views on Spotify. The Dublin singer-songwriter has toured extensively around Ireland, as well as playing shows in Europe, the UK and the US. He released his acclaimed second album, The Corridors of Love, earlier this year. 'Tightrope Walker', one of the standout tracks from the album, also features in Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video's Modern Love.

Wednesday, September 1: BRAKE LOOSE
Based in Dublin, Brake Loose are putting a fresh new spin on the hard rock sound – with a penchant for including provocative spoken word poetry within their songs. Led by Venezuelan frontman and poet Alex Murillo, the band have gigged extensively throughout the city – establishing themselves as a formidable force on the Irish scene. With a string of acclaimed singles, including 'Dublin Daze', 'Sexy Lady', 'I'm In Flames', and their latest release, 'Cosmic Girl', they've built up a loyal fanbase – with 32,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Brake Loose are currently crafting their debut album.

Thursday, September 2: WILLZEE
Blurring the boundaries between high-intensity hip-hop and poignant spoken word, Limerick's Willzee is at the forefront of a musical movement that's bringing his hometown of Limerick to the top of the Irish rap scene. He also channels his talents into script-writing – winning the 2019 Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition with his script for the film Innocent Boy. Following collaborations with delush and Mic Righteous, he's set to release his debut album later this summer via the Berlin label Welcome to the New World. He's released two solo singles so far this year – 'A Dream Of Peace' and 'No Remorse'.

Friday, September 3: LAUREN ANN
Following the release of 'Don't Take It Out On Me' and 'How It Works' in 2020, Lauren Ann returned with 'Angel Eyes' earlier this year. Although she's just 18-years-old, the Northern Ireland artist draws inspiration from the likes of Nirvana, Pixies, No Doubt and Suede – allowing her to craft a sound that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Following her lauded set at Stendhal Festival last month, Lauren has firmly established herself as a remarkable rising star.

Keep an eye on hotpress.com and our social media platforms for more information...