Another success from Bristol, England-based artist Ryan McMurtry, “Let Me Be Me” conveys a lush folk introspection in its blend of warming vocals, trickling acoustics, and caressing flute. While just two minutes in length, “Let Me Be Me” makes a stirring impression with its timeless-sounding production; it was recorded on reel-to-reel tape, and bears an aesthetical likeness to classics like John Martyn and Nick Drake, as a result.
We last heard from McMurtry via last year’s Ashes EP, which was amongst the year’s finest folk-forward efforts — showcasing a commanding tonal range of both sparser beauty and expansive orchestration. His first release of 2025, “Let Me Be Me” continues that tendency for strong songwriting. McMurtry describes the track as “about celebrating who you really are and thriving by being your true self in life.”
The calming acoustics and balmy flute interplay cohesively throughout, moving seamlessly from the get-go and McMurtry’s vocals enter. “If you let me be, I’ll shine my light,” he sings, affirming those aforementioned themes of personal authenticity and treasuring those who cherish you for who you are. “If you just let me be the things I long to be,” he continues, complemented by vibrant flute incorporations. “Let Me Be Me” is another memorable folk success from Ryan McMurtry.
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The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Indie Folk.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
