PR Post: Paul Ryan - ‘Eyes of an Enemy’
- Feb 12
- 2 min read
Birmingham-based singer-songwriter Paul Ryan has releases the hauntingly powerful album titled "Eyes of an Enemy" with Olivia Thomson.
“Eyes of an Enemy” introduces the listeners into Paul Ryan and Olivia Thomson’s’ World, with their gorgeously crafted and restrained sound. Capturing a blend of folk and melancholic indie elements, with influences ranging from Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Lana Del Rey.
The album stands as an extremely literate and poetically intelligent collection of songs, which lyrics are ranging from existential themes to critical analysis of the world we live in, in a political sense, as well as social. Songs like ‘Burning Neon’, ‘Worth the Know’, and ‘Train on Wrong Rails’ create a movement and atmosphere that makes this a unique story and experience.
“Existential crisis of no memory” - is a pivotal moment, Eyes of an Enemy II. is the absolute point of the record where there is a fracture, a broken confrontation, and the journey is never the same once that point is reached.”
- Paul Ryan
Following divorce in 2021, Paul Ryan started work on his debut record, The Divine Sky - which went to set the foundational tone of the beginnings of his folk trilogy. Paul wrote around 50 songs for this project with 9 tracks being released. By fall of 2024, Paul had been performing consistently across London, after local gigs in Birmingham had earned him praise as a solid live performer. He finally finished his debut album by November 24’, and by this stage Paul had already garnered praise for his performances at the 24’ Nick Drake Gathering and headline performance at the Flapper and Firkin in Birmingham.
In January 2025, Paul began work on collaborating and recording for Eyes of an Enemy, this time teaming with Olivia Thomson for his middle chapter of the three-album arc. Major achievements throughout the year were added, especially for his performances in April miniFEST 2025, at the Hare and Hounds - then headlining the same venue in Birmingham a month later in May.
His music is being mentioned with the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, such as Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Paul McCartney, but with a more modern scope and tackling difficult topics, without any difficulty it seems. These are some of his many influences, but he has his own world view and unique style which is rare in today's climate of music.
“Never demonstrative, but never in the background, the songwriting imposes its mark without forcing itself - a very beautiful album, the antithesis of our times with their claimed vulgarity.”
“This record shows where Paul is now - it does not try to sound big or dramatic. It leans into restraint, with raw acoustic textures and an atmosphere that unfolds with confidence.”
“This is an album that wants you to sit with it rather than dip in and out - a slow burn that reveals deep emotional textures when you listen closely.”
- RGM
Comments