Original Magazine x Rianne Downey
The term overnight sensation is well known in the music industry.
Time and again, musicians find themselves suddenly illuminated by the spotlight after one crucial performance. For Rianne Downey, some would label her explosive introduction on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury as such: a shining moment that firmly placed her on the map as a country and folk artist.
However, Rianne’s incredible rise in the industry was far from instantaneous. Instead, the self-proclaimed folk fairy spent years developing her original blend of pop, folk, and country, carving out a space for her voice on the internet and the streets of Glasgow before joining Paul Heaton on stage. Her personal style grew as she coaxed fans into giving country and folk another try. Nevertheless, even Rianne was uncertain about whether she wanted to be defined by these genres.
In conversation with Original Magazine, Rianne admitted that she was initially hesitant to market herself as a country singer:
Hat - Jessie Western Waistcoat - Kulakovsky / Jacket - Jessie Western
Dress - By Dais / Boots - Steve Madden
“I always loved country music, and I sort of realised as I was growing up that it wasn’t very cool with the young folk. And then, as I got a bit older (I was like 12,) I discovered The Stone Roses and Oasis, and my world changed. I still loved Johnny Cash and all of that stuff, but I felt like I had more of a community with the people who loved the same music as me and did music.”
Instead, Rianne created something different, meshing her folk charm with traditionally popular songs. Wanting to fit into a community of music lovers, Rianne admitted that she chose to cover songs that weren’t originally country or folk.
“Most people like Oasis and The Cranberries, so I thought I’d try to make country a bit cool.
It’s been a gradual build. I was also fighting the country thing because I was so scared of it almost being a gimmick. There is a thin line. I feel like I’ve found the middle ground. There’s not a lot of country and folk in the UK, so I’m trying my best to bring it forward.”
On her recent tour, Rianne began to reintroduce her audience to what real country music can be. She has created a pre-show playlist that focuses on the music she loves before getting on stage (no matter the genre). However, the music she listens to backstage is a little different.
“I have a playlist for the crowd outside, but I still need to make one for me. I usually listen to CMAT before I perform and Glen Campbell. I walk on stage to The Rhinestone Cowboy, but I love listening to Southern Nights, Gentle on My Mind, and Fleetwood Mac. I love loads of old sixties tunes before I go on stage, like Que Sera, Sera. I’ve got it tattooed on my wrist in my papa’s handwriting.”
Jumper - By Dais / Top - Commando / Belt - Toga / Skirt - By Cookie H.
Boots - Topshop / Necklace + Earrings - Luna Charles
Now, Rianne is preparing to release an album filled with her unique blend of styles. After working hard to show people what it means to be a country and folk singer (though she does not want to be exclusively referred to as such), the musician has collaborated with some of the best in the industry to push her music further.
“The producer [of the album] is Ryan Hadlock. He did The Lumineers’ first album. He did Zach Bryan’s Something in the Orange, which is pretty cool. The studio is in the middle of a forest in Seattle. I lived there for a month while recording it, and I felt so at one with myself and with nature. That’s the dream.
When I think about young Rianne and what her dreams would be: definitely doing that in America. It was all very dream-like, but it was also my wake-up moment when I thought, I could do this.”
Dress - Rat & Boa - Shelleyjdress Rental / Top - Stylist's Archive / Boots - DIA Studios / Belt - The Charities / Earrings - Ahkeke / Ring - Ahkeke
Hat - Jessie Western Jacket - Kulakovsky Top - Stylist's Archive Shorts - Speltham Store Boots - Chloe Ring - The Charites
Jumper - Hayley Menzies Belt - Jessie Western Shorts - Jaded Rose Boots - Kenneth Cole Earrings - Lag World
Working with Original Magazine for this editorial, Rianne is determined to show how her personal style continues to evolve as she settles into her sound. She has decided to carve out her own space in fashion, mirroring her brave surge in the music industry. It is this bravery and growing self-confidence that has propelled Rianne to stardom.
For Rianne, however, her journey in the music industry is entirely anchored to her younger self.
“I keep saying that I’m doing wee things, but they’re quite big things, I guess. They keep popping up. It’s not until after it—I could just be walking to the shop or something like that—and then I go, God, I’ve done this. This is actually my life. It makes me think back to when I was younger and all these things I dreamed of doing. It’s mad.
Hat - Jessie Western / Jacket - KulakovskyTop - Stylist's Archive / Shorts - Speltham Store
Boots - Chloe / Ring - The Charites
Top - Noon By Noor Belt - Jessie Western Jeans - Agolde Shoes - Jessie Western Coat - Agro Studios Necklace - Luna Charles
Team Credits
Talent: Rianne Downey / Modern Sky UK
Photographer: Ellis Carroll
Videographer: Rachel Ross
Stylist: Eden Lovessee-Clark
MUA: Louisa
Words by: Anya Duncan