North East pop artist Ryan Petitjean talks to John Curtis about new single ‘Heat’, embracing unapologetic pop, songwriting, collaboration and finding inspiration in the region’s thriving music scene.
Your new release, ‘Heat’, marks another exciting step in your discography. Following the darker, chaotic pop tones of ‘Heartless’, what can listeners expect conceptually and sonically from this track? And how does releasing music during the height of summer shape the energy you wanted to bring to it?
Conceptually, ‘Heat’ is about the journey of falling for someone. It starts from a place of confidence and flirtation but, over its four-minute, 27-second runtime, becomes much more vulnerable. I wanted to capture that shift from feeling invincible with someone to suddenly feeling like you could lose them. Sonically, it feels like a real step up from my previous releases. I took some time away from music and, during that break, realised I wanted to fully embrace an unapologetic pop sound. ‘Heat’ is the first track born from that clarity, with influences from artists such as Tate McRae, JADE and Tove Lo. The song is intense, passionate and, quite literally, brings the heat, so there was never any question that it had to be released in the middle of summer.
You started out sharing covers online before taking total control of your sound by releasing your original tracks. How has the way you write lyrics and structure songs changed over the years?
It’s definitely been a journey. I used to find songwriting really difficult, but looking back, I think that was because I was trying to fit into this idea of what a ‘good’ song should sound like, what it should be about and how it should be structured. Now, songwriting feels much more natural because I’ve let go of those expectations and given myself the freedom to be creative. ‘Heat’ really reflects that. Both sonically and structurally, it takes unexpected turns – the ending sounds nothing like the beginning, and I love that contrast. Fully embracing pop has given me the confidence to experiment and push songs in directions I wouldn’t have before.
Your music draws heavy inspiration from mainstream pop and electro-pop. How do you bridge the gap between this and your own personal experiences and identity growing up and making music in the North East?
For me, it’s never really felt like there was a gap. I’ve always loved pop music, so when I started making my own tracks, there was never any doubt about the genre I wanted to pursue. What I love about pop is how versatile it is. It gives me the freedom to experiment, both sonically and lyrically, while still telling stories that are personal to me. Growing up, I was inspired by international pop artists, but more recently I’ve realised just how many incredible pop artists have come out of the North East. Seeing artists such as South Shields-born JADE release bold, alternative pop music that has been so widely celebrated is hugely inspiring. It shows that amazing pop music can be born right here in the North East.
From collaborating with North East vocalist Sam Readman on ‘Obsessed’ to winning the Music Meets Tourism competition internationally, you’ve shared your music in very different environments. How have those collaborative and high-stakes stage experiences fed back into your confidence as a solo performer?
I love collaborating with other artists. Sam was actually the person who first encouraged me to start writing my own music, so ‘Obsessed’ will always be a special track for me. Through those experiences, I’ve realised I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my music. It’s important to me that every part of a release – the production, lyrics, visuals and overall creative direction – feels authentic to who I am. That’s what gives me confidence as a solo performer, whether I’m playing an intimate show or performing on an international stage. When I know I’m performing something that’s authentically me, stepping onto those bigger stages feels much more natural.
You can listen to ‘Heat’ now on all major streaming platforms.
