By Colin 
Ria Hanley is preparing to release her most emotional track to date. ‘River Song’, out on 26 September, is a folk-country pop anthem that captures heartbreak, resilience, and the quiet strength of walking away. Following her recent single ‘Golden Girl’, this new release is poised to mark a defining moment in her journey, blending honesty with cinematic scale.
Ria describes ‘River Song’ as the song she never planned to share. “It poured out of me when I needed music to say what I couldn’t,” she explains. “It’s about falling into someone else’s fire, drowning in their chaos, and realising too late that love had become fear.” The track turns those words into something powerful, transforming personal pain into universal strength.
Emotional depth and striking sound
‘River Song’ combines intimacy with grandeur. Ria’s voice leads the way, rich with emotion, while the arrangement builds around her in waves. Acoustic textures sit alongside modern country-pop flourishes, creating a sound that feels timeless but urgent. The production has a cinematic sweep, evoking images of wide rivers, open skies, and storm clouds parting.
Fans of Phoebe Bridgers, First Aid Kit, and Maren Morris will recognise the way storytelling and vocal presence intertwine here. Yet Ria makes the sound her own. Her delivery is haunting, soulful, and direct. Each lyric feels lived-in, every phrase loaded with meaning.
The single’s strength lies in its honesty. There is no distance between the listener and the songwriter. Ria places her heart in the open and invites you to stand in the story with her. That openness gives the track its resonance.
A song for survival
Although written for herself, Ria hopes the song finds its way into other people’s lives. “This song was never written with the intention of being released – it was something I needed for myself, an outlet,” she says. “But I hope people take what they need from it, and that it helps them wherever they are in their story so far.”
That balance of personal release and wider connection is part of what makes her music special. She writes with honesty, then releases songs into the world where they take on lives of their own. Listeners who have faced heartbreak will recognise the feeling of finding light in the aftermath.
Momentum continues to build
Ria has already been making her mark across the UK. Her earlier songs have been played on BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Solent, Amazing Radio, Express FM, Voice FM, CMP, and Melodic Distraction. She has featured in The Rodeo, CLOUT, and Elnews, with BBC Radio Solent even naming one of her singles as “Song of the Week”.
With every release her profile grows. ‘River Song’ looks certain to carry that momentum further, presenting her as one of the most compelling new voices in UK folk and country.
Review
‘River Song’ is breathtaking. From the first line, Ria’s voice commands attention. Fragile and strong at once, it carries the song’s emotion with striking clarity.
The hook is unforgettable. It rises with clarity and lands with warmth, catching the ear immediately and refusing to let go. The production is polished and balanced, adding depth without ever pulling focus from Ria’s voice. Every element feels purposeful, serving the song rather than overwhelming it.
What makes the track shine is how its mood remains consistent yet captivating, flowing like the river it evokes. Instead of relying on dramatic shifts, it sustains an atmosphere that draws the listener in and keeps them suspended in its current.
The song’s beauty lies in its honesty. It does not disguise pain with clichés. It presents loss and survival with rawness and dignity, allowing listeners to find their own meaning. Ria turns heartbreak into something healing, showing that endings can also be beginnings.
‘River Song’ is more than a highlight of her catalogue so far. It is a release that demonstrates her ability to craft music that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. It confirms Ria Hanley as an artist with the vision, presence, and voice to stand out.
You can follow Ria on Instagram and pre-save ‘River Song’ here.