Derek Ryan’s highly anticipated fourteenth studio album ‘Long Shot Love’ is out now. Released last Friday 13th September, the brand new album features 12 tracks (10 original songs) including the hit singles ‘In Between The Jigs & The Reels’ featuring The Kilfenora Céilí Band, ‘The Kickham Inn’ and new single ‘The Only Lie I Ever Loved’ released just last week featuring Olivia Douglas.
2024 is said to have been the biggest year yet for Derek Ryan, after concluding his 23-date Irish concert tour which kicked off in January, selling out iconic venues such as the Ulster Hall in Belfast, a stand-out appearance on RTÉ Radio 1’s Collin’s Collection, Scottish tours and another UK tour announced for October. The summer of ’24 was one Derek will never forget, playing at the iconic Belsonic ‘Farmers Bash’ in Ormeau Park, Belfast in June to over 20,000 country music fans.
“Most of this new album was written and recorded in Ireland, and some tracks in London. I really wanted to perfect this album and used every opportunity I had when there was any break in our schedule. It’s been a jam-packed year to try and write and then record this new music, but I’m happy to see the end result and I hope the fans love this album as much as I do!” said Derek.
Last week, Derek released one of the songs from ‘Long Shot Love’ featuring Olivia Douglas called ‘The Only Lie I Ever Loved’. Derek shared his excitement about the new single and how his admiration for Olivia’s talent shines through in their new collaboration, “We’re both from a trad Irish music background. Olivia’s a brilliant accordion player and has been my special guest on many of our concert tours these past few years. I knew she was perfect for this song when I was writing it and it’s only now we have had the time to sit and record it together.”
Co-written with Derek Ryan’s long-time collaborator Gerry Carney, ‘The Only Lie I Ever Loved’ stays true to Derek’s signature style that fans know and love.
An upbeat track on the album, ‘Beat in the Heat’, was inspired by Derek’s Beat in the Heat trip in Costa Del Sol, which is on its third year running and sees over a thousand guests annually attend. Week One of the trip sold out in record time this year, with Week Two packages now on sale. Derek Ryan’s trip to the sun will feature a host of special guests next May including The Tumbling Paddies, Lisa McHugh, Philomena Begley and Johnny Brady to name only a few.
“After the running success of our Beat in the Heat country music trip in Torremolinos, I knew I wanted to write an upbeat, catchy song for all the guests to sing and dance along to out in Spain. I can’t wait for May next year to get back out there and perform it live for all the guests!”
A previous single which has already been getting huge airplay for Derek, is his unique collaboration with Ireland’s oldest Céilí Band, ‘In Between The Jigs & The Reels’ featuring the Kilfenora Céilí Band, which stands out as a testament to Derek’s connection to his traditional Irish music heritage. “This track is out and out the strongest reference on this new album to my traditional Irish music roots,” Derek said.
Derek’s admiration for the Kilfenora Céilí Band dates back to his childhood. “Growing up with a love of traditional Irish music, I was a member of Comhaltas and we had our own Grúpa Cheoil and Céilí Band in Bagenalstown. I remember winning the All-Ireland bodhrán in Clonmel when I was 9 years old. We performed early on the ‘Guinness Gig Rig’, and later that night, the Kilfenora Céilí Band headlined and I was just blown away! I was mesmerised by their dynamic sound and performance. It’s a memory that is as clear as day in my mind. I’ve always wanted to collaborate with them. This song and the timing felt right, so I approached the Band and was delighted that they were eager to get involved,” Derek said.
In addition to the 10 original tracks on the album, Derek covers ‘Leave Her Johnny’ a traditional shanty folk song and ‘Cover Me Up’, a nod to American Country music’s hottest act Morgan Wallen, who Derek went to see live in the 3Arena, Dublin just last week.
The album finishes with a beautiful tribute song to Derek’s late mother Sally called ‘The Flower’ which follows on from Derek’s hugely successful hit ‘To Waltz With My Mother Again’ which he wrote the night after his mother sadly passed away. “The Flower is from a different perspective of grief. You can be back in your home place, the same house you were reared in, it’s the same four walls, but when your mother isn’t there the heartbeat of the home is gone,” says Derek. “I performed it a few times on stage and it really resonated with those who have lost either their mum or dad or other loved ones.”
Derek will soon be going back on Tour in January 2025, with a number of new dates to be announced in the coming weeks. Fans will be delighted to hear the hits from ‘Long Shot Love’ played live for the first time.
Derek Ryan’s new album ‘Long Shot Love’ is out now and available to buy now from sharpemusic.com and derekryanmusic.com.
