Rianne Downey – Do Or Die
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Run On Records in assoc. with Modern Sky
Bedroom demos and daydreams have turned into sold out shows and rapidly disappearing vinyl runs for the sensational Rianne Downey, entering the warm summer months with her third single, Do Or Die. Coming from the same ‘sink or swim’ burst of creativity as when the 21-year-old faced the bleak reality of Covid’s shutdowns, the track is a countrified, honey-voiced note to self and an intended source of strength for every soul that finds themselves lost once in a while.
Downey’s debut, ‘hometown’ show at Glasgow’s legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut (Fri 24 September) sold out in quick order, establishing the young, gifted former busker and queen of the ‘indie socials’ as a new voice to reckon with. Her debut, vinyl Fuel To The Flame EP, released on special edition red and marble black plastic, has also ascended to collectors’ item status, selling out rapidly to knowing new music fans.
Similar to previous singles, the BBC Radio 2-supported, Stand My Ground, and Fuel To The Flame, given airplay by BBC 6 Music, Do Or Die finds Downey wearing her influences on her sleeve, in thrall as she has always been to the towering talents of Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline. Worked through the filter of her Bellshill upbringing and a pure and unending love of Amy Winehouse, The Specials and indie-titans l
ike Stone Roses, the result evokes the glacial cool of First Aid Kit and refined confidence of Taylor Swift.
She says: “Why wait for tomorrow? There’s been times when I have really wanted to do this, but not wanted to fail. At the end of the day, there’s no option but to. ‘Do Or Die’ is about getting to the point of trying. Now is always the right time.”
The third track to appear from the Fuel To The Flame EP, Do Or Die is the result of free-flowing sessions at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool with The Coral’s James Skelly in late 2020. In addition to her sold out date in Glasgow, the young, Scottish singer-songwriter will play at Manchester’s Night and Day Café on Thu 23 September 2021.
Her success with online audiences over the last 12 months has come via her own, inspired takes on classics, gently fingerpicking her way through classics including Stone Roses ‘I Am The Resurrection’, The Beatles’ Here Comes The Sun and Dougie Macleans’ 1977 folk hymn to Scotland, Caledonia. Turning rousing anthems into lullabies has, against all odds, proved the secret ingredient to turning Twitter’s baying mob into a litter of puppies, ready to be tickled.
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
