Eddy Lee Ryder Premieres Her Latest Single, “Rose”

Oftentimes, chance encounters are the best encounters, and Eddy Lee Ryder can certainly tell you about one. Today, she debuts her new single “Rose.” This is the first new music from Ryder since a rather productive 2024. Last summer, she released her debut full-length album, Sweet Delusions. She followed that up with Sweet Delusions: Dreamland Sessions (Deluxe-ish), which featured bonus tracks, including live recordings and demos.

She was all set on taking a break from writing and recording for a while, until a chance encounter led her to write the track “Rose.” The song is inspired by an actual woman named Rose, who really left an impression on Ryder. It’s the type of unexpected meeting that happens to us all from time to time. And we often end up leaving that meeting feeling like we are better off or have learned a valuable lesson.

Here to explain her meeting with Rose and how it inspired the song is Ryder, who states:

“‘Rose’ originated right after my Sweet Delusions album. I actually wanted to give my mind a break from writing for a little bit. But after meeting Rose, that no longer felt like an option.

“My encounter with Woodstock’s infamous Rose took place at a beloved restaurant in town called ‘The Red Onion.’ I was sitting at the end of the bar, and someone asked me if I was heading out. I said, ‘No, but I think she is,’ pointing at a woman, around 70, who resembled someone like Helen Mirren or Diane Keaton. She swung her head over to me and said, ‘Honey, I’m just getting started!’ She then said, ‘You look so familiar, how do I know you?’ I told her that she didn’t, and she introduced herself, saying, ‘I’m Rose, I’m from Saugerties. My husband lives in Hunter; we can’t stand each other. He’s just angry because I had an affair. If only he knew I had two affairs!’”

She continues: “I then told her my family didn’t much care for my uncle’s wife, if she was looking for another boyfriend. She said to me, ‘Honey, I never needed help finding a man!,’ a line too iconic to leave out of the song. She then proceeded to tell me about her four boyfriends, aged 74, 59, 59, and 31. It turned out that the 31-year-old was my neighbour who had asked me out two nights before (it’s a small town). Because I am in the phase where I think everyone is a serial killer, I declined.

“But Rose told me she was going to take the 59-year-old to Greece (once her hip was feeling better after the cortisone shot kicked in) and the 31-year-old would need some company while she was away, and that, ‘We could share.’ I was like, ‘I’m good, Rose.’ We talked until they turned off the lights in the restaurant. And the song ‘Rose’ was born.

“After that experience, I decided I wanted to write about everyone from that restaurant and the characters from town. The song about that 31-year-old is already written, and I love it as much as ‘Rose.’ There is a guy from the bar who avoided me for about two months because he was so nervous I was going to write a song about him. He wasn’t actually on the list, until then.”

Ryder is an accomplished singer-songwriter whom we have supported over the years. Overall, the rollout and response to Sweet Delusions were very successful, and it has inspired her to really follow her heart when it comes to her songwriting. She is proceeding with a number of projects, all very unique. Ryder is currently working on a rock opera about World War III. If that isn’t original, we don’t know what is. She is also writing some new songs that are specifically inspired by ’70s-era female artists such as Heart and Stevie Nicks. Add in a potential batch of tracks chronicling her time living in Woodstock, and you have a very full plate of creative outlets. As an artist, Ryder doesn’t like to stay in one place for too long. She likes moving around based on moods and inklings.

At her heart, Ryder is a storyteller, so whatever it is that she is writing, it all comes from the same unique place. If there’s one thing for sure for Eddy Lee Ryder, there’s no pigeonholing an artist as vibrant and enthusiastic as this.

Tour Dates:

05/31 – “Rose” release show – Pearl Moon Woodstock – Woodstock, NY
08/02 – Eddy Lee Ryder Birthday Show – Nod Hill Brewery – Ridgefield, CT

Eddy Lee Ryder “Rose” single artwork