Paul Ryan’s new album “Eyes of an Enemy” doesn’t rush to explain itself. It opens quietly with the instrumental acoustic piece “Eyes of an Enemy I.” No vocals. No statement. Just space. It less like an intro and more like being invited in, like the door is already open and you’re just stepping inside. From that first moment, the album marks a chapter rather than a collection of tracks. A slow entry into Paul’s world shared closely with Olivia Thomson.
This record shows where Paul is now. It doesn’t try to sound big or dramatic. it leans into restraint. The acoustic sound is raw. The atmosphere is warm. The pacing is careful. It’s the kind of album that lets each song breathe, even when the emotions underneath feel heavy.
“Burning Neon” arrives gently, guided by acoustic guitar and Paul’s vocals which are catchy. The melodies are soft. Easy to follow. If you listen closely, Olivia’s voice sits in the background, light but meaningful. It’s subtle, but it matters. That quiet harmony adds texture not just to the track, but to the whole project. It sets the tone for how their voices work together across the album. Less like two singers trading lines and more like one shared voice.
“Longed for Life” leans fully into that idea. They sing together, almost inseparable, and it gives the track a human feeling. The songwriting is honest, like a page from a personal journal rather than a polished performance. The sound is intimate. Nothing is forced. It just unfolds.
As the album moves forward, the arrangements stay simple but never empty. “Worth the Know” stands out with its instrumentation and mix, both clean and controlled. The melodies stick. It’s one of those tracks that shows growth without announcing it. You can hear the confidence, but it’s quiet.
“Sofia Stands so Near” shifts the mood again. This one is emotional. The songwriting is honest and the delivery is touching. The acoustic backing supports the song without taking attention away from the words. It like something that needed to be written more than performed.
“Heart Sunk Without You” is where Paul really stands out. The writing is reflective. The vocals are expressive. There’s a clarity here that hits hard without being loud. Everything is balanced. It captures the emotional core of the album in a very natural way.
Then comes “Train on Wrong Rails” a song that stays with you. It’s emotional, but also immersive. The harmonies are warm. This is one of those songs that pulls listeners in slowly and before you know it, you’re playing it again. And again.
The second part “Eyes of an Enemy II.” mirrors the opening, but this time with vocals. It’s like returning to the same place with new understanding. The mix is smart and feels just human. It connects the album in a thoughtful way.
“Drinking Wine” brings a shift in energy. Catchy melodies. Memorable vocals. Smart production. It’s the kind of track that sticks instantly without breaking the album’s mood. A real highlight.
“Charles Bukowski” leans into warmth. Both voices feel close here. Touching. Personal. Nothing extra. Just feeling. “Carry Me Home Again” closes the album, the journey is complete. Same energy. Same quality. No drop-off. It finishes quietly, confidently and with intention.
This album is less like a release and more like a carefully paced journey. The instrumentation stays simple. The production avoids over-polish. That choice makes every line land harder. You feel the words. You feel the melodies. Olivia’s voice and harmonies add so much to this project, giving it depth and contrast without ever taking over.
We loved how real and personal this album feels and how it pulls listeners into Paul Ryan’s world without forcing anything. It’s a strong release from an artist who knows exactly what he’s doing and it’s easy to see why this record is getting attention.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Paul Robert Ryan (Born July 2nd, 1987) is an independent singer-songwriter, and visionary folk artist from Birmingham, England. He is best known for his critically acclaimed albums The Divine Sky (2024) and Eyes of an Enemy (2025), which explore deeply personal and societal themes through poetic lyricism and evocative soundscapes.
Emerging onto the music scene in late 2021 following a personal upheaval and divorce, Paul began crafting songs that drew immediate comparisons to icons such as Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, and Cat Stevens—thanks to his emotive vocal delivery and introspective, literary song-writing.
By 2022, he began working on his debut album The Divine Sky while performing across notable venues in Birmingham and London, including The Night Owl (Digbeth), The Distillers (Hammersmith), Bishops (Fulham), and Hope & Anchor (Brixton). His haunting 2023 single, Lost at War, served as a raw, autobiographical piece chronicling the emotional turbulence of his earlier years. He also released a stripped-back cover of Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence, further showcasing his ability to reinterpret iconic songs through a folk lens.
Against the odds—both financial and personal—Ryan independently released The Divine Sky in 2024, a record that quickly positioned him as a compelling new voice in modern folk. Critics praised the album’s lyrical depth and emotive weight, framing his emergence as not just a comeback story, but the rise of a serious artistic force.
In addition to his studio work, Paul Robert Ryan has steadily built a reputation for his captivating live performances. In 2024, he was featured at the Nick Drake Gathering, where his emotive set was singled out as a standout of the event. The following year, he supported Welsh psych-pop outfit YNYS at The Victoria (2025), played to new audiences at miniFEST 2025, and headlined the iconic Hare & Hounds in Birmingham—a significant milestone that affirmed his rising status on the UK’s independent music circuit.
Building on that momentum, 2025 saw the release of Eyes of an Enemy, an ambitious and cinematic follow-up that pushed Ryan’s artistry into new territory. Collaborating with rising talent Olivia Thomson and renowned producer Brett Shaw (Florence + The Machine, Lady Gaga), Ryan expanded his sonic palette while preserving the lyrical richness that had become his signature. Tracks such as Worth the Know, Sofia Stands So Near, and Carry Me Home Again reveal a more textured, layered approach—fusing dreamlike storytelling with folk’s raw emotional core.
The album’s lead single Worth the Know, released April 28th, 2025, features Thomson’s ethereal harmonies and a poignant 4K music video directed by Connor Pope, offering a visual accompaniment as vulnerable and gripping as the track itself. Critics and fans alike lauded the project’s literary density, surreal imagery, and narrative arc—placing it in the realm of cult classics. Thomson also co-wrote standout tracks Longed for Life and Charles Bukowski, contributing to the album’s evolving emotional and philosophical scope.
As Eyes of an Enemy solidified Ryan’s place in the evolving folk canon, he set his sights on the final piece of a planned trilogy. His third studio album, Silent Sun, is scheduled for release in late 2026. Intended as a narrative and thematic bridge to his first two records, the album is expected to complete an ambitious arc across three consecutive years—an extraordinary artistic feat in today’s age of singles, algorithms, and short attention spans.
Paul Robert Ryan’s body of work is a testament to resilience, artistic integrity, and a refusal to conform to fleeting trends. Through introspective storytelling and a fearless commitment to craft, he is not just reshaping the contours of contemporary folk—he is building a legacy.
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