Ri Wesby

Ri Wesby is an indie pop singer-songwriter with roots in country pop and indie folk. Growing up between Hamburg, Germany and Clifden, Ireland, Ri was exposed to a diverse musical landscape. Her parents' love of artists such as U2, Simple Minds, Tracy Chapman and Leonard Cohen shaped her early musical influences. She began writing poetry at the age of seven, and at twelve, after discovering Taylor Swift through a friend, she asked her mother to teach her a few guitar chords and wrote her own first song that same day. Ri initially devoted herself to acting and theater, but soon discovered her passion for music. At sixteen, she started sharing her songs, performing in her school band and as a busker, which helped her build a network. In 2019, she signed her first distribution deal with Berlin-based Motor Entertainment GmbH and released her debut EP, The Idea of Us. This EP had a strong country influence, but all the songs were self-written, highlighting her prolific songwriting with three to five new songs a week. In 2022, Ri received the “Pop Stipendium" from RockCity and BV Pop for her debut album. The following year, she was accepted onto the prestigious Eventim pop course at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama. She also collaborated with house duo Steam Phunk on “Already Gone”, which reached over a million Spotify streams within six months. Ri is currently working on her debut album From the Passenger Seat, whose second single Terrible Liar is set to be released on January 31 , 2025. This album marks a shift towards an indie folk/pop sound that represents her evolution as an artist. Ri is now focused on expanding her audience and playing more live shows as she explores this new musical direction.