On The Row: Country Duo Ryan And Rory Showcase Debut Project

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Ryan Follesé and Rory John Zak

Up-and-coming duo Ryan and Rory recently dropped by the MusicRow office to showcase their self-titled debut EP set to release July 26.

Comprised of Nashville native Ryan Follesé, a double-Platinum singer-songwriter known for his time as the frontman of pop-rock band Hot Chelle Rae, and Rory John Zak, a multi-instrumentalist who became The Carolina Opry’s youngest full-time cast member at only 17, Ryan and Rory are set to make major waves on the country music scene.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Madison Hahnen and LB Cantrell, Ryan Follesé, Rory John Zak, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, John Nix Arledge and Liza Anderson

After a chance meeting at a concert in Raleigh, North Carolina, in which Follesé was playing alongside country music duo Locash, the two met and hit it off. Seven years later, a mutual family friend heard that they were both looking to create something new and reacquainted them.

“I guess it was fate. Everything I wasn’t strong in, he was strong in,” explained Follesé. “The first time we got together I was like, ‘How long have we been playing together, again? It feels like forever.’”

Zak echoed his sentiment. “We have a lot of interests and hobbies in common as well. We are going to be on the road a bunch, so we’ll be playing a ton of golf!”

The duo is already turning heads, joining the ranks of artists like Luke Combs, Gabby Barrett, Parker McCollum and others as SiriusXM The Highway’s “Highway Finds,” and further breaking the mold by scoring a record deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville with just a few songs to their name. The pair had no social media presence, or any traction beyond what they had penned together, making their “old-fashioned” signing an increasingly impressive feat.

Pictured (L-R): Ryan Follesé, Rory John Zak & MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson

“That was huge for us. Music is the most important thing. You can build a following at any time, but to have a label like them say not to worry about it was really great,” shared Follesé.

Ryan and Rory treated the MusicRow team with several of these tracks including their buzzy single “Pour Decisions,” and unreleased tracks “Drunk And Lonely,” “This Town,” “Cowboy Cry” and “Thanks Mama.”

All six tracks on the upcoming project are co-written by Follesé, son of No. 1 songwriters Adrienne and Keith Follesé, and interwoven with Zak’s perfect-pitch harmonies and robust instrumentation.

Soon after the pair release their debut EP, they will hit the road opening back to back shows for Sam Hunt on Friday, Aug. 23 in Memphis, Tennessee at Radians Amphitheater and Saturday, Aug. 24 in Gary, Indiana at Hard Rock Live.

John Nix Arledge
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