Following up the slow release of a successful string of singles over the last three years, (“I Ain’t Mad”, “Slow Down” and “Last Forever”), Newfoundland-based country singer Chris Ryan is back at it with an upbeat new song about a last chance for butterflies. “Less of a Stranger” is Chris Ryan’s take on the dangers of putting yourself in the dangerous position of seeing that special someone walk into the room and change your life forever.
Working with British Columbia-based Cymba Music songwriter-producer Davor Vulama, Ryan and Vulama have crafted an upbeat tune about “one more taste of danger” and a chance of making “that girl less of a stranger.”
Of course, at the heart of it is the fact that most of us haven’t encountered any strangers in a very long time. “Less of a Stranger” was born in the dark social vacuum of the pandemic.
“My new single, ‘Less of a Stranger,’ was written during the COVID-19 pandemic, amid lockdowns and across time zones. This was a unique experience for both myself and my co-writer Davor, to say the least!” says Chris Ryan.
“At its core, the song is about seeing that one person walk into a bar that you automatically want to know more about. The song’s inspiration though was me thinking about life getting back to normal and being able to do those simple things we all missed doing over the last year, like having that memory-making, spontaneous good time with friends and strangers.
“I’m so excited to share this new music with my fans and the Country music community.”
The song implies a nostalgic return to normal dating conventions addressed in the most country of manners: last calls, last songs, and a hint of line-dancing. There’s even a line about having someone walking across the room (without the aid of arrows on the floor) and kissing someone directly on the neck.
Chances are, though, we’re going to have to re-define “first base” as seeing someone without their mask for the first time. Guess we’ll just have to see how that goes.