In June, a trifecta of billboards appeared between Los Angeles, Lincoln, Nebraska and Boston, outlining a one-way journey through the country. This isn’t a direct pilgrimage to follow, but rather the journey that singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty takes for love on his fourth album, “Sweet Fortune.” It contrasts with 2023’s “Calico” by drawing closer to companionship rather than severing from it. Yet it longs just as deeply through distance. Beatty has gained further recognition for writing for other artists, including Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé’s latest projects, but his lyrics are strongest in his own narrative. “Too Many Ways” details the emotional cost of having limited time with loved ones as “no hands clock to stop the midnight,” while the narrating couple constantly fights how time moves with travel. The track listing also splits the process of growing a connection over distance and rediscovering one’s individuality. Songs like “White Lightning” and “Sweet Fortune” in the first half are more willing to sacrifice space for comfort, though Beatty’s past and religion root his cautious reality.
By the closing tracks, Beatty learns that people flourish when they have the space to do so. “Annie, Anything” and “Fleur De Lis” mark his shift from desperation to letting go through repeated sentiments: “I would love the both of us for you, if only I could love the both of us for it.” The concept may seem simple to an outsider, but Beatty still believes love can only be truly understood by those in it. The music video for “Secret Language” masterfully colors these elements for viewers as they follow his path to love. While he chases a paper airplane, the weather and terrain unguard his character. He’s not relaxed until he reaches it again on another coast. Beatty’s journey shows how love exaggerates a person, whether it’s in stable motion or spontaneous pursuit. The stops in between strike the balance necessary to maintain freedom and a sense of self— since “letting go of what you hold holds you just the same.” “Sweet Fortune” follows the folk tradition of stories moving with their orators, which we can replay freely.
- Ria Skyer
