Berlin-based songwriter Ryan O’Reilly releases the official studio version of “Elizabeth,” a reflective and memorable alternative folk gem written nearly 20 years ago. Originally penned in 2006 before a summer tour of Canada with future Dwayne Gretzky founders Tyler Kyte and Nick Rose, the song channels O’Reilly’s deep admiration for Gram Parsons into something more country and bluegrass-inflected than typically associated with Irish or English songwriters.

“Elizabeth” offers a preview of O’Reilly’s forthcoming album Native Companion, set for release on April 14th, 2026, his birthday. Inspired by David Foster Wallace’s essay collection A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, the album title nods to the collaborative spirit that defines O’Reilly’s journey from Toronto’s Dwayne Gretzky community to Berlin’s L.A. People. The record features contributions from Spencer Cullum Jr., classical cellist Anastasia Povekvechnykh, Jadea Kelly, Missouri songwriter Ian Fisher, and screenwriter Christopher Moynihan.

What can you share with readers about your new project?
This is my fourth studio Album. It’s a mix of collaborations with co-written songs by artists like Ian Fisher, Tyler Kyte and screenplay writer Chris Moynihan – vocal performances from Jadea Kelly, Madison Malone and a lead role for award winning Czech artist Anna Vaverková who plays piano on many of the tracks. Half the record was recorded in Toronto with Toronto band Dwayne Gretzky playing and produced by Tyler Kyte at ‘Dwayne’s World’ studio. One song, which is about Ireland was recorded in Dublin at the famous Windmill Lane studio and the second half of the album was recorded in Berlin with Swedish producer Liam Blomqvist at his studio L.A. Recordings.

How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the past?
In some ways it’s a bringing together of all the different parts of the last albums. There are some songs where I’m enjoying a connection to the past and others where we’re trying something new. I think it creates a really interesting flow when you listen to the songs in the track order. The opening track was a song I wrote when I was 20 and the album comes out on my 40th birthday – so It’s a celebration of twenty years of making music with talented musicians across the world. But there are songs like Goodbyes at The Party which is sonically a little different from what I’ve done before.

What about this single makes you most proud?
That’s hard to say because I really enjoyed the process on all of these songs. But maybe because of the story Elizabeth as the opening track has a special significance for me. Tyler Kyte, Nick Rose, Spencer Cullum and I have sang and busked this song on street corners and house concerts and dive bars up to beautiful churches and theatres in Europe over twenty years. So for a dynamic and entertaining version of that song to kick off this record is sort of perfect.

Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
Just to capture these last few years. I believe art is all about People. Time. and Place. So the last few years I’ve been a bit of Gypsy, playing in Japan and China, The Canaries to the Azores and all over Europe and North America with many trips to LA, Nashville and Toronto between periods in Berlin. So it felt accurate that the record be split between places and incorporated the artistic collaborations I’ve been enjoying.

What inspires you to create music?
I tend to write lyrics first so I look for detail and create a narrative. I write a lot and use that to find inspiration and something I think is important to say.

What motivates you to keep going?
Well thankfully I’m quite unemployable after 20 years of touring. Except I do lecture in songwriting at BIMM University now which I enjoy. But Songwriting is my favourite thing and performing is my second favourite and over the last years I’ve enjoyed the studio process more and more. So even with the state of the industry being pretty dire and money draining away from art I still love making music and can’t really imagine doing anything else. And thankfully for 20 years I haven’t really had to (I was a David Bowie tour guide in Berlin briefly during the pandemic but I guess that’s still music adjacent)

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why?
A lot of my heroes might be hard to collaborate with. I might not be able to keep up with the lifestyle of Townes Van Zandt or Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan is obviously in his own world. Many years ago I got to sing on stage with Anaïs Mitchell and it is still one of my favourite moments in music so if it’s a living artist then probably her. And even though it would be hard on my liver I would have loved to have written a song with Shane MacGowan.

 If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

What was the last song you listened to?
Hurts Like Hell by Charlotte Cornfield

 Favorite all-time bands/artists?
Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch,The Pogues, The Clash, The Band

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
@ryanjoreilly on instagram

I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?
Native Companion comes out on April 14th while I’m on tour across Germany