Youthful and timeless, a charming musician to keep an eye on
Scottish singer-songwriter Rianne Downey played a short set to a packed-to-the-gunnels Assai Records on Friday, October 17th – the date of the release of her debut album, The Consequence of Love. Downey herself sang and played some guitar, and was joined by a very strong accompanist on guitar, banjo, and backing vocals.
Downey came onstage with the grace and confidence of an established country star. Between songs, her stage banter was natural and effortless, never straying from the point or feeling abrupt or stilted. Her persona is sincere, charming and humorous, helped by a strong, crisp Scottish accent.
Her songs are steeped in American folk and country tradition: there is a simplicity and familiarity to them, without being boring, straying into the territory of same-ness, or sounding distinctly like anyone else. Downey tackles all the subjects a good country songwriter should: love, loss, heartbreak, growth, learning and moving on. She isn’t attempting to do anything new or groundbreaking, and nor does she have to; what her songs discuss are the fundamentals of living and learning, and they’re explored from an angle unique to her while still being accessible and applicable to just about anybody. Although the show was sold-out, several passersby stopped outside the open door to listen, showing again the draw of her music to the general public.
The title track of her album is heartfelt and sincere, combining a musical timelessness with youthful expression. The final song of her set was “Good In Goodbye” – the opening track of the album and released last month – is a solid country-folk anthem for young and old alike, and clearly already popular with the audience.
Rianne Downey’s true not-so-secret superpower is her voice. Powerful, strong, and clear with a reliable vibrato, Downey makes singing sound as easy as laughing. Her singing style is strongly country-inspired, and she is able to turn the dial up on that style when it suits her. She lets her native accent slip through naturally in tracks like “The Song Of Old Glencoe,” showing her American-style singing to be a conscious and cultivated choice.
Downey appeared to be genuinely touched by the audience’s affection for her, thanking the crowd profusely for their support and voicing how excited and grateful she is for her opportunities. Her album, now widely available in-store and on streaming, promises to be just the beginning of a long and fruitful career – one that will take her all around the world and back to her beloved Scotland.