Eddy Lee Ryder – Blue Hour

By starrymag | September 27, 2023

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Eddy Lee Ryder is a stage name adopted by New York singer and songwriter Liz Brennan. Ryder’s music paints languid, sadly beautiful portraits of love and life on the margins with the moody and satirical depth of Father John Misty and the country-influenced textures of Roy Orbison or Glen Campbell but with a captivating voice all on her own. Her first EP, Expected to Fly, picked up where Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, and Heart left off, and the upcoming EP, Blue Hour, continues to tap into her intense wanderlust and heartbreak all while her dark sense of humor weaves through haunting lyrics.

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) My sound is influenced by the classic melodies and singing of the 70s. I try to blend together classic sounds and textures with modern elements. However, in my lyrics, I sometimes refer to myself as “demented pop.” It weaves in heartbreak and humor. I often feel like I write for the outcasts, the ones that hide in the back of a party while eating chips and laughing.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) My influences range from Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush to Sharon Van Etton and Father John Misty.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Holy Sh*t I Love You.”

A) I had a particularly bad ending with someone, but I was trying to write a story about the initial spark. I wanted to remember the experience in a positive way. But I was in too dark of a place, and the song came out as an unlikely murder ballad.  I tried to write a timeless lyric like Paul Simon’s: “Let us be lovers, we’ll marry our fortunes together,” but it came out, “There’s a house on the hill, we’ll find the owners to kill and grow old.” It evolved from there, and I recognized how messed up the lyrics were, so I tried to punctuate them with these very positive, major sounding “oh ohs.” Despite the contrast between the dark lyrics and music, I think the emotion of the experience comes through truthfully.

 

Q) What kind of fan response have you been receiving to the song and what makes it connect with so many listeners?

A) I’ve gotten so many different kinds of responses to this track. I showed this first to Jeff Harris, the photographer I work with on everything, and he teared up right away. I was like, “Thanks, but I’m not sure it’s a teary-eyed one!” My friend’s husband, who is not impressed by anything in life, muttered, “Yeah, that’s a good one,” which might be my greatest compliment of all time. But I have also gotten sixty-four comments from an older man I may have struck a chord with, offended by my use of profanity. So, I think this song is striking a chord in both directions. But I think that the point of music is to have some sort of emotional reaction- so I think this song has done that!

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) I have not made a video, although I still hope to! I do have some fun shorter social media videos I have put together for this one – including some videos around the billboard I have up in Nashville!

 

Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) Not usually. Sometimes I will hear some music and start singing along and create a song- but it usually comes with a lyric and melody hand in hand. Other times, I will just strum, and a few lyrics will come very naturally, and I will build the song from there.

 

Q) Your EP Blue Hour out now! What song on it holds a special significance for you and what makes it so close to your heart?

A) I love these songs! I wrote them at the same time as another upcoming project, but these didn’t fit in. However, I still very much love these songs and wanted to put them out in the world! These stories are all about finding a little bit of light in a dark place.

 

Q) Which track on the EP maybe challenged you the most creatively?

A) “Blue Hour” was by far the hardest song conceptually! It is probably the most challenging song I have ever completed since my initial songs when I began writing. I knew it would be a song about climate change, and I don’t think I hear many of those. It started with my friend and me on Zoom, and she thought I sang, “Sally turned three in a park in DC…” which I did not. But I was also like, “Hey, I kind of like that. Now, how do I tell that story about Sally?” So, it tells a story about how those who try to do their part to fix the world’s problems for their children but eventually end up as cogs in the machine that perpetuates those problems. The blue hour is the time of day when the last bit of light hits just before the darkness and the song is about finding joy in the dark.

 

Q) What songs off your EP are you looking forward to performing live?

A) “Inflatable Lover” from the EP always seems to be one of the biggest crowd pleasers.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from exploring Blue Hour as a whole?

A) I hope they can relate to the stories. They are all told in unique ways, so I hope someone out there is like, yes! I need to hear this warped story.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I loved playing at Doug Fir in Portland and Tractor Tavern in Seattle. It was a very fun tour I went on with Howie Day. I also really like Nod Hill Brewery in CT. They have always treated me and my band extra great and the guys there make it so much fun!

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Left field artist: Bryan Ferry. I am in love with his voice. Other than that, artist dream collaborations would be Sharon Van Etton, Anna Calvi, or Weyes Blood – they are some newer artists I am in awe of.

 

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) I am currently listening to Lola Kirke. I love her songwriting – and have been in that headspace with my upcoming music.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I guess it is the way of the world, and there is no avoiding it! I have actually met some amazing people there who have connected to my music. Although I still wish we were in the past, and I could have met them in real life!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you! Like actually. I love creating stories through songs more than anything, so it is incredibly important to have a core group of people who genuinely appreciate it. It’s a hard biz, no denying it, especially for a tiny independent artist like myself and I have gotten some unwavering support through the years from people who continuously encourage me to keep going.