Premiere: Ryan Irby Enchants With Holiday Wonder On “Snowglow”
Even though Christmas is less than a week away, there’s still plenty of time to discover some new and exciting holiday songs this year that will surely boost your holiday playlists with some original musical delight. Singer-songwriter Ryan Irby has a special song just for this occasion that he’s releasing this coming Friday entitled “Snowglow,” a delightful treat that blends together his signature intricate sound with the enchanting spirit of the season. Today, The Auricular is proud to premiere this festive and heartfelt track ahead of its official release on Friday, December 22nd. So take a listen below and make sure that the holiday spirit is still going strong as we enter the final sprint to the big day.
“Snowglow” is a lush baroque song that’s full of redolent charm and melodic wonder. Opening with a bright bouncy tempo, it mirrors that magic joy a peaceful snowfall can bring, with each flake adding to the tranquil beauty of the landscape. Before long, a robust guitar line cuts through, like a crackling fire that keeps everyone snug inside while enjoying the frosty sight outside. The lyrics grow that sentiment, highlighting the sense of community and family that bring warmth to the chill (“The ice will wind us ‘round the fire\ We’re safe and warm within the glow\ The jagged edges of the world outside\ Are softened by the fallen snow“).
Intricately designed, the song builds on familiar holiday archetypes while building its unique narrative, both musically and lyrically. Harmonies are lavish and plush as Irby is joined by backing vocalists Keely Burn, Sophie Colette, and Doc Thomas to build a choral sound that engulfs the song in a hearty sonic embrace. The tempo, led by drummer Alonzo Jefferson, keeps everything at a lively pace that also feels in search of something just within reach… clarity, closure, or even closeness. Each verse follows that search, spilling through the air with a nebulous grace that symbolizes the wind carrying such enchanting sensation outside. The lyrics are equally breezy, zeroing in on that closeness we all crave during the season (“As morning blooms\ We’ll spring from our rooms, and\ Feel not a moment of gloom”) while also pointing to the esoteric pull the end of a year always brings (“With ancient songs\ We’ll all sing along, in\ Harmonies golden and strange\ And sleep \ With carousel dreams, and \ Promises of the new day”). All of this comes together to make a song that stands out in casual listens as well as deep dives, perfect for that busy morning of prep work but also that introspective reflection as the day winds to a close.
The release of “Snowglow” caps off a particularly productive year for Ryan Irby that saw the release of his debut album Apogee in May, a densely packed collection of progressive folk and chamber pop compositions. The album featured over a dozen guest musicians from the local scene, including Erika Blatnick (Rikki Rakki), Kailey Conner, and Ali Foley Shenk (WKNDR). Songs like “Ley Line” showcased his striking sound, while “Rocky Mount” revealed his savvy approach to arrangement as well as a willingness for collaboration. That collective spirit would carry on later in the year with Never Stuck In One Place, a five-track EP released by Keely Burn that Irby was featured on as part of her backing band The Tea Lights, alongside Eliza Frances, Doc Thomas, and Alonzo Jefferson. Jefferson and Burn both contributed to Apogee as well (particularly on the stand-out track “Prism Cell”) while the two and Thomas all helped Irby on this latest Christmas song.
If you’re looking for that perfect blend of festive joy and musical enchantment to elevate your holiday spirit, “Snowglow” by Ryan Irby is the song you’ve been waiting for. Enjoy it on repeat these next few weeks as we all begin to wind down and recharge for another hectic year of promise, golden and strange just like those harmonies within this wonderful song.
“Snowglow” is out everywhere on Friday, December 22nd on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Bandcamp. To keep up-to-date on Ryan Irby, make sure to follow him on social media.
