The 5 Best Loren Ryan Songs, Ranked

Having shared the stage with Jessica Mauboy and Kelly Rowland, proud Gamilaraay woman Loren Ryan was known as an R&B artist before making the switch to country music. Hailing from Tamworth in north-west New South Wales, she writes original songs and translates well known Australian songs into her traditional language.

After releasing a string of singles as well as two EPs, her first album Songs for Charlie was funded by ABC Kids as part of a project called Indigenous Lullabies. The kids’ country album incorporates words and verses in the Gamilaraay language and the musical backing of the didgeridoo and clapsticks.

To celebrate the newly crowned Toyota Star Maker, we have trawled through Loren’s release history to find the top five bangers by the First Nations singer-songwriter!

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5. Eventually

Loren released her single Eventually ahead of her appearance in the 2022 Toyota Star Maker final. It was her first iTunes number one single. The song is a heart-warming take on the common phrase ‘everything happens for a reason’ and trusting one's path.

“Sometimes as a musician, you can get a little frustrated if things don’t go to plan or you don’t have as much traction as you wish, and sometimes you only get very small wins on the road when you’re making original music,” Loren explained. “I can be quite an anxious person. When things don’t happen, I can get a little down. I was sitting on the couch and thought ‘I’m doing all the right things. I’m working hard every day and it’s going to happen. I don’t know when. I don’t know how, but I just know’.”

4. Little Darlin’

Little Darlin’ is about a toxic relationship, the complicated feelings that come with that but the eventual blessing of her daughter. The song, which showcases her incredible soulful voice, powerful songwriting and emotional range, was added to high rotation on ABC Country in 2021. Little Darlin’ is one of three tracks off her 2021 EP of the same name.

3. Flame Trees

In June 2020, Loren shared a video on social media of her singing the Cold Chisel classic Flame Trees with the chorus sung in her native language Gamilaraay. Her cover was a viral success and eventually resulted in a recorded release.

She captioned, “This is and always will be one of my fave covers to do. To sing in lingo is a privilege my parents, grandparents and generations before them never had.” 

2. Yilalu 

Yilalu was awarded ‘Best Lyric’ at the FretFest/Regional Song Contest in 2020. She premiered the song live on ABC News Breakfast, which reached over 300,000 viewers, and ABC’s New Years Eve Live TV Special. 

Loren said, “The message behind it is about everyone coming together. I used to hear my elders talk about the positive things they wished for the future, and they’d always say, ‘not long now’ and ‘Yilalu’ in Gamilaraay means ‘in the by and by or before long.’" 

1. Bounce Back

Bounce Back is the first song of a whole catalogue of music with a new sound for Loren-her sound. Written with Billie-Jo Porter, we first heard Bounce Back at the 2022 Deni Ute Muster before its official release, and instantly thought it had potential to be the next country-pop hit. The saucy track, which serves as a dopamine hit and confidence boost, has so far peaked at #31 on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart.

Loren said, “Bounce Back is about staying in motion no matter what and not breaking your stride for anyone-especially those who try their best to put you down and hold you back.”

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Keep up to date with Loren Ryan on her Facebook page here.