A night of doubt and uncertainty in a Dublin hotel room has become the inspiration behind East Cork singer-songwriter Ryan Phoenix’s debut single Turn It Around.
The track, which will be released worldwide on Friday, August 14th at 8pm, was written following one of the most challenging nights of Ryan’s musical journey, the night before his appearance on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show.
Now, as he prepares to bring his music to the stage at Charleville Park Hotel as special guest for Irish music legends Bagatelle, Ryan has opened up about the moment that transformed into a song about resilience, reflection and finding a way forward.
Ryan revealed that he initially considered keeping the experience private but felt the message behind the song was something that deserved to be shared.
The night before his television appearance, after travelling to Dublin, Ryan found himself alone in his hotel room ahead of one of the biggest moments of his career.
After spending time sitting in the hotel bar, he returned to his room where the excitement and anticipation slowly gave way to uncertainty.
“Somewhere between leaving the bar, walking back through the hotel, and closing the door behind me… solitude became loneliness,” Ryan said.
He opened his notebook hoping inspiration would come, but instead found himself staring at a blank page.
“For the first time in my life, the blank page in front of me reflected exactly how I felt inside.”
Ryan said he began questioning everything, the music, the dream and whether he still had anything left to give.
Eventually, he fell asleep at his desk and woke with just 20 minutes to prepare for his RTÉ Radio 1 interview.
Later that day, he walked onto The Late Late Show stage.
It was only afterwards that Ryan realised the difficult night before had become the beginning of something new.
“I didn’t know it then, but that night was becoming a song. That song is called Turn It Around.”
The song carries a message for anyone who has faced difficult moments privately while continuing to move forward.
“If you’ve ever smiled while carrying something nobody else could see… I hope this song finds you.”
For Ryan, music has always been about connection, creating moments that allow people to feel understood.
That belief was reinforced recently as he paid tribute to Glen Hansard after watching his funeral service.
Ryan described the farewell as one of the most moving services he had ever seen, saying it was not only a goodbye to an incredible musician but a celebration of a life that touched countless people through music, kindness and honesty.
“It wasn’t just a farewell to an incredible musician, husband, friend, brother, son and father. It was a celebration of a life that touched so many people through music, kindness and honesty.”
Ryan said the performances, stories and emotion shared during the service were a powerful reminder of the ability music has to bring people together.
“Rest easy, Glen. Thank you for the songs, the inspiration, and the legacy you’ve left behind. Ireland has lost one of its finest.”
The tribute reflects the same message at the heart of Turn It Around, that music can provide comfort, hope and connection during life’s most difficult moments.
The next chapter of Ryan’s own musical journey will bring him to Charleville Park Hotel on Friday, September 18th, where he will open the show for Bagatelle.
Performing as support act for one of Ireland’s most iconic bands represents a major milestone for the East Cork artist, who says it is a privilege to share the stage for what promises to be a memorable night of Irish music.
From a quiet hotel room in Dublin to one of North Cork’s biggest music venues, Ryan Phoenix’s Turn It Around captures a powerful message, that moments of uncertainty can sometimes become the moments that change everything.
Tickets for the Charleville Park Hotel show are available from the venue.