How 'Lose' Sparked RYMAN’s Breakout Moment

I first came across rising Nashville artist RYMAN during the 10 or so minutes a week I allow myself on TikTok to upload podcast content. (If I keep the app downloaded on my phone, I will unfortunately spend hours glued to it and become wildly unproductive — so for my own sanity, it stays deleted. Growth.) His song Lose popped up on my feed, and within 30 seconds I was in deep. It felt like Kacey Musgraves’ production met with the heartache of indie-folk — but it wasn’t the glossy pop-country hybrid currently at radio. There was something raw about it, something that lingered. Paired with the infectious melody and perfect cadence of the word “fucking” in the opening lines:

I gotta tell you last night I was fucking it up I was nervous so I kept refilling my cup You said I was high but I wasn't...

I hit follow. Then I hit play again. And again. And I streamed the song so much when it dropped that it became #1 on my On Repeat playlist on Spotify.

From Nashville Roots to Viral TikTok Success

A few months later, I sat down with RYMAN on the Music You’re Missing podcast and found myself face-to-face with a 20-year-old who writes like he’s lived a few extra lifetimes. Raised in Nashville, his name is no accident — literally inspired by the Ryman Auditorium’s namesake, Thomas Ryman. His dad, a local musician turned pastor, passed on more than a unique name. He gave him a deep appreciation for music: Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and a love for storytelling that goes far beyond a catchy hook. All of it has shaped RYMAN’s sound and attitude.

Despite those inspirations, RYMAN is carving out a lane of his own. He calls it Y’alternative — a blend of country and alternative — and the name fits. But it wasn’t always that way. “I was really big into indie bedroom pop,” he told me. “But as I got older, I became obsessed with the songwriting aspect of things.”

His early work was self-produced in his bedroom before catching the attention of now-defunct label Cinematic. He signed with them as a sophomore in high school right before the pandemic hit. “I was 15,” he said. “What are you supposed to write about when you're 15?”

It wasn’t until a few more heartbreaks and life shifts that his lyrics started matching his musical ambition. When the label folded, he gave college a shot, enrolled at Belmont, dropped out after a semester, and decided to go fully independent. “It’s been a blessing in disguise,” he said. “I actually know what I want these days.”

What he wants now is clarity, authenticity, and above all, to write songs that hit hard. Lose is proof. When he first posted it on TikTok, it got maybe 100 likes. Months later, he reposted it on a whim — and it exploded. What changed? Nothing, really. Just more people were ready to hear it. “It was encouraging,” he said. “Just because a video doesn’t blow up the first time doesn’t mean the song is bad.”

Since then, Lose has gotten love from major artists like Role Model, Beabadoobee, and Lola Young — all people RYMAN once listed as his “dream peers” in a 2020 Instagram story. Now they follow him.

What’s Next for RYMAN: Independent Momentum and a Growing Fanbase

What makes RYMAN stand out, though, is how fast he moves. He writes, records, and posts with a rhythm that feels both instinctual and intentional. His follow-up single Lucy came from a chance co-write with Nashville songwriter Abigail Osborn. It was the first song in a while that felt “really authentic,” he said. He posted it and hit 40,000 views almost immediately. “I thought, okay. I’m going to strike while it’s hot.”

RYMAN’s career is unfolding in real time — built on gut instinct, genuine songwriting, and a refreshing openness about the awkwardness of growth. He’s not just writing lyrics that make you feel something, he’s letting you in on the journey while it’s still unfolding. That includes the anxiety of firsts: first tour, first cities, first time outside of Nashville. All while still being independent.

He’s opening for Ben Kweller — a dream scenario that slid into his DMs. It’s the kind of plot point that would feel too perfect in a movie, but RYMAN’s story plays like a coming-of-age indie film, complete with a killer soundtrack and a vintage hat collection (which, by the way, clocks in at “well over 50”).

Between navigating stage plots, hospitality lists, and merch runs — including upcycled crewnecks stitched with his girlfriend on vintage blanks — RYMAN is quietly building a catalog of what will likely become fan-favorites. He just wrapped production on a song called Green, which he wrote and posted the day before Lucy dropped. It took off on TikTok before Lucy even had time to breathe.

RYMAN has momentum, sure. But what makes him exciting isn’t the metrics. It’s the fact that he’s still having fun. Still learning. Still humbled by every comment and co-sign. “Sixteen-year-old me would be on the floor freaking out,” he laughed, reflecting on the artists who now interact with his posts. But don’t mistake his humility for hesitancy — he knows what kind of artist he wants to be now.

When I asked him where he sees himself a year from now, his answer was simple: “Making a record. Playing my music for more ears. Just... doing this.”

And based on everything I’ve seen so far, he will be.

About Music You’re Missing

Music You’re Missing is a Boston-based music discovery podcast and creative platform spotlighting emerging artists and industry voices. Hosted by Brendan Jeannetti, the show features in-depth interviews with rising talent across genres, viral music trends, and behind-the-scenes insight from music industry experts about today’s music landscape.