Album promotional photo shoot with Olivia Thomson. 'Worth the Know' and 'Longed for Life' are the first singles recorded and released April 28th and May 30th respectively. 

'Eyes of an Enemy' recording begins at Dead Pidgeon Studios, Hornsey - London UK on Thursday, January 30th, 2025. Photography/cinematography by Connor Pope.

All songs are written by Thomson/Ryan - and Mastered by Producer Brett Shaw (Florence + the Machine). Sound engineer and session musician Georgia Fullalove provides bass guitar, lead guitar, 12-string arrangements, keyboards. Grammy award winning musician Felipe Ribeiro also provides work on Korg Kronos 2, Rhodes keyboards. Paul with guitar arrangements, with co-lead vocals with Olivia. Olivia also contributes backing vocals on all recordings.

QMC: Beyond the album: a complete artistic proposal

Eyes of an Enemy is not only a musical project, but also a visual one. The album artwork and promotional photoshoots, which include intimate portraits of the artists, complement the album's introspective concept. The project aims to connect with those who value authenticity, musical poetry, and a timeless aesthetic.

With other tracks already available such as The Divine Sky, Multitudes, Danielle, Finger On Destruction and Lost at War, Paul Ryan continues to expand his audience and seek to establish himself as a leading voice in the British alternative scene. The full album is released on December 5th. For now, fans can dive into Worth the Know and Longed for Life, two pieces that herald a deep and carefully crafted body of work. "Longed for Life” is a rich, emotionally resonant single that marks a strong collaborative step for Paul Ryan and Olivia Thomson. With its layered vocals, atmospheric guitar work, and thoughtful production, the track captures a delicate balance of folk intimacy and indie-pop dreaminess.

"Longed for Life" is the second single off their anticipated album Eyes of an Enemy, released on May 30th, 2025. It’s the kind of song that unfurls slowly, rewarding listeners with each replay—an ideal preview of the full album Eyes of an Enemy. Paul and Olivia co-lead the vocals, with Olivia also handling all backing vocals. Their voices beautifully intertwine, creating a layered, harmonious experience.
 

Music Review World (Grace):
Rates the single “Excellent.” Notes how the track is “intricate,” with vocals and instrumentation blending beautifully. She applauds its hopeful and positive feel, considering it a strong indicator that the full album will be equally promising.

QMC “Worth the Know”: A first look at the album’s sonic universe:

"The first official single, Worth the Know , premiered on April 28th on all digital platforms, accompanied by a beautifully intimate and curated music video. The song, just over three minutes long, combines ethereal guitars with a restrained rhythm that supports lyrics filled with reflection and emotional sensitivity. Paul Ryan and Olivia Thomson share lead vocals on this track, creating a vocal interplay that evokes the fragility and honesty that will set the tone for the album."

In addition to his studio work, Paul Robert Ryan has steadily built a reputation for his captivating live performances. In 2024, he was featured at the Nick Drake Gathering, where his emotive set was singled out as a standout of the event. The following year, he supported Welsh psych-pop outfit YNYS at The Victoria (2025), played to new audiences at miniFEST 2025, and headlined the iconic Hare & Hounds in Birmingham—a significant milestone that affirmed his rising status on the UK’s independent music circuit.

Building on that momentum, 2025 saw the release of Eyes of an Enemy, an ambitious and cinematic follow-up that pushed Ryan's artistry into new territory. Collaborating with rising talent Olivia Thomson and renowned producer Brett Shaw (Florence + The Machine, Lady Gaga), Ryan expanded his sonic palette while preserving the lyrical richness that had become his signature. Tracks such as Worth the Know, Sofia Stands So Near, and Carry Me Home Again reveal a more textured, layered approach—fusing dreamlike storytelling with folk’s raw emotional core.

The album’s lead single Worth the Know, released April 28th, 2025, features Thomson’s ethereal harmonies and a poignant 4K music video directed by Connor Pope, offering a visual accompaniment as vulnerable and gripping as the track itself. Critics and fans alike lauded the project’s literary density, surreal imagery, and narrative arc—placing it in the realm of cult classics. Thomson also co-wrote standout tracks Longed for Life and Charles Bukowski, contributing to the album’s evolving emotional and philosophical scope.