Ireland’s Ria Rua Drops Powerful New Tune You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead

Alt-rock Irish artist and producer Ria Rua has dropped her latest single You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead alongside a live music video, recorded at Camden Recording Studios. The new tune takes aim at the patriarchy and the decline of serious journalism, peddling lyrics of unfiltered sexual expression and what it means to be truly who you are. Co-produced by Ria Rua and Just Chris, and mixed by GRAMMY®-winning engineer Ruadhri Cushnan (George Michael, Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran), the single blends thunderous drums and heavy guitar riffs, emerging as a raw and unapologetic anthem that cuts to the heart of fame’s twisted realities.

Ria Rua

Ria Rua (Just Chris)

Speaking of the track, Ria Rua says: “You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead took years to write. It’s a song about cynicism, but don’t be fooled; it’s not cynical. That would be too easy.

“What sparked the actual writing of the song though was the reaction to the death of Sinead O’Connor. People mocked her, tore her apart for her beliefs, her mental health struggles, and her search for something profound in this chaotic existence. But then she died, and wouldn’t you know it? Suddenly, she became a saint. Revered. Celebrated for the very things they once ridiculed her for. The transformation was nothing short of a sharp, brutal irony.”

Influenced by the artistic defiance of Björk, the grit of Nine Inch Nails, and the eclectic energy of Sonic Youth, Ria Rua’s sound is a blend of dark, pummeling rhythms and electrifying vocals that feel like you’re stepping into a souped-up feminist Hans Zimmer score. Her recent single – I Want You – received critical acclaim and playlist features on Spotify’s New Music Friday and An Alternative Future, in addition to radio play across Ireland, Germany, the US, and the UK. Ria Rua also made waves on the festival circuit, performing at Dublin’s Vicar Street supporting Soda Blonde and headlining the 2023 Musictown Festival.

Check out the live video for You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead below:

The latest release, You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead, continues to showcase Ria Rua’s fierce identity and desire to challenge societal expectations. With an upcoming tour in France set for Spring 2025, her momentum is only growing as she prepares for her debut album – a bold statement of Irish individuality, empowerment, and resistance.

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