Released on October 8, ‘Singing With Angels’ is the new single from Americana duo Annalyse And Ryan. The self-released single is an ode to the legend John Prine, who died after a battle with Covid-19 in April last year.
The husband and wife duo, comprising Annalyse McCoy and Ryan Dunn, are based in the Hudson Valley region of New York, and their latest single is a waltz-infused track, with a gritty undercurrent to the seeming whimsy. While Ryan sings the bulk of the song, Annalyse is not in any way overpowered. In turn, her backing vocals don’t overshadow Ryan’s either – the beautiful harmonies are a clear expression of their closeness. Together with the steel guitar stylings of Cindy Cashdollar, a 5 time Grammy winner, the song feels like an instant classic, as they create the incredibly powerful image of Prine, watching from Heaven, “singing with angels”.
‘Singing With Angels’ was inspired by a chance meeting between the duo and John Prine himself, when they were out shopping for groceries in Nashville, Tennessee. The experience had a profound impact on Annalyse and Ryan.
Ryan says,
“We started writing this tune soon after John passed – having followed his horrific journey through this unthinkable virus and learning that it had taken him, we were devastated as so many in the music community were. The comradery we felt in the entire process of recording this song was palpable – all parties involved put their hearts into this project, and it came together because of this intense sense of community and love. Musicians have had a hard year and we’re just starting to come out of the haze. It’s important to us to pass along the stories, traditions, and styles of those who came before us and inspired us. And there’s nowhere else John Prine could be now but singing with angels.”
The song comes with a music video, shot simply in the studio. Annalyse And Ryan give it all they’ve got; although there’s nobody watching, they sing just as if they were singing for a packed audience. There’s passion and love in their performance, and as Annalyse adds,
“Even if you didn’t know him personally, John Prine had this innate ability to make you feel like you were his best friend simply through his music. He expressed so well what it was like to be human, even in those tiny throwaway moments when you think no one is watching – those moments that may seem meaningless, but they’re the ones that always tell the real story.”
Watch the video for ‘Singing With Angels’ below. You can find out more about Annalyse And Ryan online on Facebook, Instagram, their official Website, and Spotify.
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