Emerging from Western Sydney’s thriving indie scene, singer-songwriter and guitarist Ryan Thomas returns with his new single ‘Hang Fire’. Having honed his craft since the age of 15 through solo performances, blues jams, and his time in pop-punk outfit Lucid, Thomas continues to shape a sound that blends indie-rock energy with melodic pop sensibilities.
Drawing influence from artists like Sam Fender, The 1975, and Kings of Leon, ‘Hang Fire’ delivers a vibrant, 80s-tinged anthem driven by punchy guitars, shimmering synths, and a standout saxophone performance from Hugo Lee of Icehouse. Beneath its infectious groove, the track carries a relatable message about procrastination and the weight of unfinished decisions, capturing the tension between hesitation and action.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Definitely the guitar, when I was 11 or so I was coming home from Ikea one night with my family, and highway to hell by ac/dc came on the radio, and as soon as I heard it all I wanted to do was play guitar!
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
When I started it was all AC/DC and Rolling Stones, I went through a metal phase for a while, but then dad got me to watch the blues brothers one night and the blues took over my life for the longest time!
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first CD I got was also highway to hell, still one of my favourites!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Something that would make me a lot of money! No there’s a few but I’d say one that springs to mind would be James Taylor’s “Mexico”.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I definitely try to take in what’s going on around me and bend it to fit into a song. I love creating characters and stories within songs that aren’t necessarily real, but trying to make it feel real and vivid. I do find I need to be “in the mood” to write though, and usually most of my songs get written or finished at 2am or later.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I've had a massive shift in what I listen to recently. I've been listening to a lot of Tommy Emanuel this year, he’s got such a way of making the guitar speak in such a unique Language. I’ve also been learning bluegrass music for the want of something to do, stuff like Tony Rice, David Grier, Trey Hensley and Jake Eddy. Last night I also went to see the music of Elden Ring played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, which was fantastic.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
John Mayer a hundred times over and then some!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I’d say when I get to see and hear peoples appreciation for my music, and they tell me whatever they’re going through was easier because they heard my song, even if the subject I wrote the song about doesn’t have much to do with they’re situation. In their mind it is, music is funny like that.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Being a “content creator” has its moments, cause I signed up to be a musician not an influencer, but you gotta play the game if you want to win. But the most frustrating part is trying to generate a long lasting fan base that will come back to another show and follow what you do. There's so many people trying to do the same thing. It's like, how do I get over the noise and be the one that gets heard?
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Make as many friends as you can, and don't play all your cards at once. If you can do something epic in your show, don’t do it 30 seconds in, every 30 seconds.
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Ryan Thomas' new single 'Hang Fire' is out now. Check it out in the player below.