Hayden Ryann Turns Heartbreak Into Healing on Bold Country Anthem “Walk Through Fire”
Toronto country-pop artist Hayden Ryann shares “Walk Through Fire,” a bold, energetic, and empowering anthem that transforms the aftermath of heartbreak into an unapologetic declaration of self-worth. Fuelled by gritty guitars, confident lyricism, and an undeniable sense of momentum, the single captures the liberating moment when healing gives way to clarity, and choosing yourself becomes the only path forward.
Written from a place of hard-earned confidence, “Walk Through Fire” emerged after Hayden realized she had finally moved beyond a difficult breakup. Rather than dwelling on the pain, the song reflects the moment she stopped making excuses for someone else’s behaviour and recognized she deserved more.
The song arrived almost as quickly as the emotions behind it. Sitting on the basement couch where she writes most of her music, Hayden stumbled onto the signature guitar riff while experimenting with melodies. Within minutes, the lyrics poured out naturally, and remarkably, not a single word has changed since that first writing session.
“It was almost like a ‘word vomit’ session where I wasn’t trying to write something polished or intentional, I was just being honest,” Hayden explains. “Every word that came out in that moment is still exactly what ended up in the final version.”
That honesty became the foundation for a collaboration with producer Shawn Moore, who first connected with Hayden through Instagram. After an introductory phone call, Shawn encouraged her to send over any songs she felt strongly about. The first voice memo she shared was “Walk Through Fire.”
“Almost immediately, he responded and said, ‘That’s the song we have to do,’” Hayden recalls. “His enthusiasm gave me even more confidence in the track, and reinforced my belief that it deserved to be brought to life in a bigger way.”
Together, they built a production that emphasizes grit, confidence and emotional release without sacrificing authenticity. Rather than chasing existing country trends, Hayden and Shawn focused on creating a sound that felt entirely true to the song itself, allowing driving guitar riffs and organic energy to carry its message.
“The song isn’t about heartbreak. It’s about the moment after. The shift from breaking down to standing up,” Hayden explains. “‘Walk Through Fire’ represents that turning point where you stop settling, take your power back, and choose yourself, even if it means walking away through the flames.”
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello everyone! My name is Hayden Ryann, and I’m a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. I’ve been writing songs since I was eight years old, but over the past year I’ve taken the leap into pursuing music professionally. Every song I write is rooted in a personal experience as I navigate love, friendships, heartbreak, and the ups and downs of adulthood. I believe the best songs come from real moments, and my goal is always to create music that listeners can see themselves in and connect with on a deeper level.
“Walk Through Fire” is about the moment after heartbreak rather than the heartbreak itself. Was there a specific moment when you realized you had truly moved on and were ready to write this song?
For me, healing comes from allowing yourself to fully sit with the heartbreak instead of trying to outrun it. Giving myself the space to feel everything eventually brought me a lot of clarity. Once I reached that point, there was no questioning why I had to let go—it just made sense.
I knew I was ready to write “Walk Through Fire” the moment I sat down and wrote it. Nothing about the process felt forced or like I was trying to convince myself I was okay. It came naturally because I had finally reached that place emotionally. The song wasn’t written from the middle of the pain—it was written from the strength that came after making it through.
You mentioned that every lyric came out in one writing session and hasn’t changed since. How rare is that for you as a songwriter, and do you think that raw honesty is what gives the song its emotional impact?
I would say that’s actually pretty common for me as a songwriter. Most of the time, the lyrics I write in that first session are the ones that stay. If I change anything later, it’s only because I genuinely feel the song needs it—not because I’m second-guessing myself.
When I’m writing something that’s vulnerable and honest, I try to hold onto that first feeling as much as possible because that’s what made the song feel real in the first place. Those initial lyrics are usually my gut telling me, “This is it.”I don’t think a song always has to make perfect sense. To me, songwriting is just as much about creating a feeling, an image, or capturing a moment as it is about telling a perfectly linear story. If a lyric makes someone feel something, then it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
Producer Shawn Moore immediately knew “Walk Through Fire” was the song to record after hearing your voice memo. What did he bring to the production that helped elevate the track while keeping its authenticity intact?
The moment I walked into the studio, it felt like something just clicked. I had a clear vision in my head for how I wanted “Walk Through Fire” to sound, and Shawn immediately understood it. He didn’t try to change the heart of the song—he took what I was hearing in my head and elevated it in a way I couldn’t have imagined.
One of the things I admire most about Shawn is how well he understands the artists he works with. He has this ability to bring your ideas to life without ever overpowering them. He creates an environment where you feel comfortable being as creative and honest as possible, and that trust makes such a difference. Every production choice felt intentional and served the story of the song, which allowed it to stay authentic while becoming bigger than I ever envisioned.
The song encourages listeners to reclaim their confidence and self-worth. What do you hope someone going through a difficult breakup takes away after hearing “Walk Through Fire”?
The biggest thing I hope someone takes away from “Walk Through Fire” is remembering who they were before that person, and who they have the chance to become after them. Sometimes when we’re in a relationship that isn’t right for us, we can lose pieces of ourselves. We start to feel like our spark is gone, but the truth is—it was never gone. It was just buried underneath something that wasn’t allowing us to fully shine.
I want people to know that they’re allowed to hurt, they’re allowed to take their time healing, and they’re allowed to find themselves again. Moving on doesn’t happen overnight, but there comes a moment when you wake up and realize how strong you are, how much you’ve grown, and how much brighter you can shine when you’re no longer with someone who was dimming your light. When you realize you deserve better.
Your sound blends modern country-pop with plenty of grit and energy. Who are some of the artists or influences that have helped shape your style, and how do you make sure your music still feels uniquely yours?
Some of my biggest influences would have to be Dolly Parton, Ella Langley, Laci Kaye Booth, and Noah Kahan. What I’m always drawn to first is the songwriting—how a song makes someone feel, what it makes them think about, and how it can capture a specific moment or emotion. I think these artists do an incredible job of creating music that feels honest, personal, and deeply connected to the listener.
When it comes to making my own music feel uniquely mine, I think a big part of that comes from never trying to write the same song twice. If you’ve had the chance to listen to my music, you’ll notice that each song has its own identity and tells a different story. I write about what I’m experiencing in my own life, and because life is always changing, my music naturally changes with it.
I think the most important part of being an artist is being honest about who you are. I want people to be able to hear my personality, my experiences, and my emotions through my songs without needing to know anything about me beforehand. Because my music comes from such a personal place, I hope listeners can find their own meaning in it and connect with it in a way that feels true to their own lives.
Now that “Walk Through Fire” is out in the world, what’s next for you? Can fans expect more new music, live shows, or perhaps a larger project on the horizon?
I have so many songs in the works right now that I’m incredibly excited to share when the time is right. There’s a lot more music coming, and I’m looking forward to continuing to tell new stories and explore different sides of myself as an artist.
I’m also really excited to be performing at LASSO Montréal this summer, as well as Music in the Fields Country Festival in Lucknow. I have a number of acoustic brewery shows coming up over the next few weeks, which are always such a fun and special way to connect with people and share the songs in a more intimate setting.
Right now, I’m just focused on staying creative, playing as many shows as I can, and continuing to build momentum. There’s a lot happening, and I’m excited for everything that’s ahead.