Rianne Downey has raised the bar in the country music scene with the release of her astounding new album, The Consequence of Love. With ten tracks ranging from upbeat tunes like Good in Goodbye and Sunblind to heart wrenching country anthems like The Song of Old Glencoe and Angel, the album is a must-listen for all country fans.
Produced by Grammy winner Ryan Hadlock (Zach Bryan, Brandi Carlisle) and recorded at Seattle’s Bear Creek Studio, the album cements Rianne’s position as one of the strongest voices in country music at the moment, with stunning vocals that sound straight out of Nashville. With influences including Patsy Cline, June Carter, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and more recently Sierra Ferrel, Noah Kahan and First Aid Kit, the Scottish singer is a force to be reckoned with.
The album sets off with cheerful track Good in Goodbye featuring powerful lyrics on finding joy in endings and setting the tone of the album. Once you’re hooked in, soon comes the beautifully heart wrenching The Consequence of Love. Sharing the name of the album, this track showcases Downey’s undeniable talent and versatility. Whether it be happiness, heartbreak, or healing, she is a master of writing about love.
Her songwriting mastery is potentially at its finest in Angel, a stripped back song as angelic as the name suggests. Speaking of the track, Rianne said “Angel is one of those songs where I sat back and thought, ‘Did I just write that?’ It’s probably the track I’m proudest of. A classic fingerpicked country tune, I wanted it to feel timeless, like it could’ve been written today or in the 1950s.”
She added “I think women are taught from a young age that we have to perform or serve to be worthy, and we’re constantly made to feel like we’re not enough. I spent so much of my life believing I had to be useful or accommodating to be ‘good enough’. This song captures the moment I realised you shouldn’t have to perform for anyone. You don’t need to be ‘enough’ for the right person. Just being is enough. At its core, it’s a song about seeing the light after a long time in the dark. I can be cynical, a bit of a pessimist, but someone came into my life at the right time and it genuinely felt like an angel had been sent to me.”
Rianne’s words are unsurprising given that the feeling that stands out most to me from the album as a whole is hope. The end result is simply spellbinding.
Rianne is currently on tour and is set to play The Jacaranda on 24 October as well as Arts Club on 8 November.
Stream The Consequence of Love now.
Follow @riannedowney on Instagram for updates.
