THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

“Riders of the Road” is a cinematic outlaw country ballad, paying heartfelt tribute to The Highwaymen—Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. With deep baritone vocals, acoustic storytelling, and a slow-burning rhythm, the song honors their legacy as legends who carved their truth into every mile of the open road. A timeless journey through rebellion, brotherhood, and the fire that never dies.

Riders of the Road

“We Are Liars” is a brutally honest outlaw ballad that cuts straight through romance and lays bare the quiet destruction of two broken souls clinging to love through lies. With haunting lyricism and confessional grit, the song explores what happens when the bed is warm, but the truth runs cold. Set against a backdrop of whiskey breath, motel rooms, and unkept vows, this track bleeds Southern Gothic heartbreak with every line. It’s not about heroes or villains—it’s about the honesty buried beneath the lies we tell just to hold on.

We Are Liars

“Echoes of a Simple Life” is a heartfelt reflection on the beauty of what we leave behind in the pursuit of success. With vivid memories of barefoot days, porch-swing wisdom, and the quiet grace of simpler times, the song gently questions the cost of ambition. It’s a poetic journey through nostalgia, humility, and the longing to return to a life where joy came without noise, and meaning was found in the stillness. A tribute to slowing down, remembering what matters, and finding peace in the echoes that never really fade.

Echoes of a Simple Life

“This Ain’t Goodbye (It’s Just a Song)” by Stephen Ryder is a tender, heart-worn ballad that captures the pain of love left unspoken and the quiet hope that lingers through music. With aching lyrics and a soulful country delivery, Ryder turns a lost note, an empty driveway, and a jukebox hum into a story of holding on without pretending to be okay. This is the kind of goodbye you don’t say — you sing.

It’s Just A Song

🎶 I use SoundCloud to test out my songs before official release, and your feedback means the world to me.
If you’ve got a thought, a favorite line, or even a critique — drop it in the comments.
Every listen and message helps shape the final cut. Thanks for being part of the journey! 🙏
— Stephen Ryder

The Reason I Stay

Broken Wings (Remix)

Route 66” by Stephen Ryder is a high-octane country dance anthem built for the open road and the honky-tonk floor. With driving rhythms, catchy repetition, and a heart set on Amarillo, this song blends classic country grit with modern swagger. Whether you’re behind the wheel or two-steppin’ under neon lights, Route 66 brings the heat. Turn it up, hit the gas, and let the road take you home

Route 66

One Last Shot

Sultry Swamp Rock Mood
Let It Rain drips with the slow-burn allure of swamp rock, its heartbeat set by a steady, hypnotic rhythm section. Muted electric guitar riffs slink through the haze, while earthy organ pads glow like heat rising from the bayou. Verses ride a languid I-V groove, each note drawn out with laid-back twang and sly, soulful fills. In the choruses, country-tinged harmonies and layered textures bloom, wrapping the listener in a warm, rootsy embrace. It’s the sound of rain-soaked nights, flickering porch lights, and the sultry grind of a back-to-front swing dance—two bodies moving as one, caught between temptation and release.

Let it Rain

“Streamin’ Pennies” is a defiant outlaw anthem for every indie artist grinding through the noise of the digital age. With raw fiddle licks, banjo fire, and a hard-edged vocal delivery, Stephen Ryder takes aim at the streaming economy and the gatekeepers at the top.

This track is part protest, part perseverance — a battle cry from the backroads to the algorithm. It’s for the ones pouring out their truth for pennies on a stream, standing tall while the big dogs bark from gilded thrones.

Streamin’ Pennies

Stephen Ryder is a country artist with a storyteller’s heart, weaving real-life experiences into heartfelt, powerful songs. His music blends traditional country with modern influences, creating songs that speak to love, life, and the journey in between. 

With a growing catalog of music, Stephen continues to share songs that resonate with listeners, whether it’s a heartfelt ballad, a foot-stomping anthem, or a reflective tune about life’s unexpected roads. His dedication to authenticity and storytelling makes his music a perfect fit for country radio and beyond. Follow me on Spotify!  

https://open.spotify.com/artist/60jKjrPsJ9Z43m0qF60S74?si=ayZTWLy5T5udCZ1y1hhYlA

THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

Stephen Ryder

Related tracks