A Dublin pop star could become the next Dermot Kennedy with her new anti-Valentines song about not wanting a boyfriend.
Sophie Doyle Ryder was named on RTE 2FMs Rising list for 2022, following in the footsteps of Dermot, Fontaines DC, Wild Youth, and Denise Chaila, among other Irish stars.
The 19 year-old singer-songwriter's voice has been compared to big names like Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Anne Marie.
And she is excited to release her first track of 2022 “Don’t Want No Boyfriend” from her Debut EP “Beginners Luck”.
The aspiring superstar told Dublin Live about how her passions, how she started singing, and how her musical family and friends have pushed her at every turn to keep going in a tough industry.
She said: “I grew up in a very musical household, my dad is super into singing, his mam and dad were in the church choir and everything.
“I grew up around Coldplay and Elbow, my dad would always talk about the meanings of the songs, the songs were so simple and so good.
"I really loved the whole message behind music and the emotional release you can get by writing down words and putting it into a melody. I always loved it, it’s a form of poetry to me.
“I started singing lessons with Lauryn Gaffney when I was about 11 years old and she’s been in my life ever since, she’s actually my manager now.
“She’s a big motivator for me and she always told me that I could do it even when I questioned myself. It’s Lauryn who pushed me to focus on music and I’m really glad she did because it’s my whole world now, I couldn’t imagine my life without it.”
Sophie’s previous releases have earned over 32 million Irish radio impacts and have peaked at number two in the Irish Breakers Chart.
In addition to International Spotify playlist placements, she has received airplay in the UK, USA and Australia.
But this journey all began on family holidays to Spain, she says.
“I used to go to Spain every year and I’d sing karaoke in Harmon's Bar in Elviria, I’d sing the entire Adele album in one night, I loved it,” she continued.
“The poor people in the pub were trying to have a good time and I was singing heartbreak songs.”
Her new single, Don’t Want No Boyfriend was written in Summer of 2021, it’s all about wanting to have fun and not falling for someone. The feel good tune was inspired by an exciting feeling of being free.
Sophie didn’t want to release a typical generic love song this Valentines, instead she wanted to do something to celebrate being single.
She said: “I’ve had a few boyfriends but every single time they just turn out to be typical boys.
“What is the point especially when you’re young? There’s so much life to live, there’s so many things to experience and when someone is holding you back, I want to live my life and everyone is only discovering who they are, so it’s important to find out who you are by yourself.
“I was in a relationship for three years as a teenager and that’s insane. That’s when you’re meant to find out who you really are.
"I've written a million songs about him now so I don’t regret it but if I wasn’t with him I wonder how I’d be now, would I be any different, would I’ve experienced different things?
“My whole life was this boy. I took the train to him everyday, I spent all my time with him and realistically I look back and think that it was so silly. I’ve learned from previous mistakes and the next time I get a boyfriend, he has to be a good one.
“I’m only 19, I can’t even think about planning a wedding, I can barely plan my day today.”
So if you want to forget Valentines and enjoy Galentine’s Day, Sophie's ultimate living-in-the-moment song is for all singletons not wanting to partner up.
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