Ryan Wayne claws his way back from the brink in his powerful and personal new folk-rock single The Lion In The Wall — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The accomplished Americana / roots-rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist returns with the fifth preview of his upcoming album Functioning Dysfunctionals, set for release on May 9. A spiritual heir to Neil Young’s tragic masterpiece Tonight’s The Night — which featured Young’s sendoffs to a bandmate and a roadie who succumbed to heroin — Lion In The Wall is a multi-generational tale of addiction, failure, and the fragile redemption found in the compassion and understanding of a dying father.
To the slow, arching, intoxicated sway of swirling production, three-part harmonies, sonically treated guitars, and a tender-hearted fiddle, Wayne explores the universal weight of struggle and the quiet grace of acceptance, as both the dad on his deathbed, and the son with his habit, are lost in a morphine haze. “At its core, this is a song of reckoning,” he Wayne. “Where love and regret walk hand in hand, and understanding comes too late, but never too little… The track is masterfully mixed and given additional production by the immensely talented Annelise Norohna.”
Wayne is a Canadian singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Born and raised in the blue-collar town of Oshawa, just east of Toronto, he grew up surrounded by music. His father is a songwriting truck driver, and Wayne spent countless summer nights singing with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends at the family cabin.
He first came to recognition as a founding member and songwriter in the critically acclaimed, award-winning band The Warped 45s. Wayne has toured the globe, sharing the stage with artists such as Drive-By Truckers, The Skydiggers, Elliott Brood, Deer Tick and more. He’s also done session work and production work with a range of artists, including Dan Mangan.
In early 2022, after several years away, Wayne suffered two strokes. As part of the healing process, he was drawn back to music and recorded his widely acclaimed debut album Crow Amongst the Sparrows with Grammy-winning producer and mixing engineer Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith).
Check out Lion In The Wall above, hear more from Ryan Wayne below, and visit him on his website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
