TikTok star Stacey Ryan on finding ‘blessings in disguise’ ahead of Bottleneck show

Stacey Ryan. // photo credit Laura-Lynn Petrick

Musician Stacey Ryan skyrocketed to fame with her debut single, “Don’t Text Me When You’re Drunk,” taking hold of TikTok in 2022, and since then, she has toured as the opening act for like-minded musicians such as Lawrence. Recently signed to SoundOn, TikTok’s music label, Ryan released her debut album, Blessing In Disguise, this August, and is in the middle of her first-ever headlining tour.

We reached out to Stacey Ryan via email ahead of her stop at the Bottleneck on Saturday, October 18, to discuss the new record and touring.

The Pitch: You’re noted as a trained jazz pianist. How did that training help you in making the music you do now?

Stacey Ryan: Jazz and theory are just so deeply rooted in my musicality that it shows through my music without me even trying, and that’s what I love about it.

After putting out music for nearly four years, your debut full-length, Blessing In Disguise, is finally out. What’s it like to have an album to share, as opposed to just singles?

It feels incredible to finally have a full body of work out in the world. Especially one that details so perfectly the last 3 years of my adult life. And the fact that people are resonating so deeply with my experiences is all that I could ask for!

When your first single is such a smash success, as happened with “Don’t Text Me When You’re Drunk,” where do you go from there—do you chase that success?

It’s really one of those things where I had to live in the moment and soak it all up, because you never know when another moment like that will happen. I just kept writing music and performing and sharing my art, and maybe another moment like that would come around again 🙂

This is your first headline tour. What are some things you can point to that you’ve learned from the artists for whom you’ve opened?

I’ve had the privilege of opening for some amazing artists but what I really took away from them was just their work ethic. Being the face of a tour, but also working behind the scenes, helping set up, just being a really hard worker.

How has releasing with SoundOn built on your already-potent TikTok fanbase?

I’m so grateful for their support and creative ideas!! We work so well together as a team, and it’s so cool to be able to have insights behind the app!

Is there a song off Blessing In Disguise you’re most excited to perform live?

I would say all of them, but I think the one I’m most excited to perform live is “Sweet Talker.” I get to play bass on that song and it opens the show so amazingly!

Stacey Ryan plays the Bottleneck on Saturday, October 18, with Haven Madison and The Collarbones. Details on that show here.