Payton Riley Debuts New Song with Concert at The Table

CONROE, TX -- She’s been working at her craft and quietly adding new songs to her resume, but she is far from done. Still only 17, Montgomery County’s own Payton Riley, with state and national awards to her credit, as well as appearances on national television, in Nashville, and numerous other states, as well as two overseas tours to the UK and Ireland; it's amazing that she has time to sit down and compose new material at all. She recently appeared on a Saturday night at Frank Jackson’s The Table at Madeley in downtown Conroe, giving her hometown fans a release party of her latest song ‘Rainmaker,’ a song about a disappointing relationship.

Rainmaker has an inviting rhythm. It’s twangy, and a testament to Riley’s increasing maturity and willingness to experiment in her work. Her voice is not that of a girl anymore, rather marching on its journey to the woman that will define her to a growing audience.

Payton’s hour and a half long set featured songs old and new, borrowed and blue, and the crowd responded when appropriate, with adults as well as the kids tapping their heels to the beat. Her energy is nuclear, and even when her band took a break, Riley continued acoustically, treating fans to her softness and original sense of pace that launched her career.

There is no doubt Payton is pleasant to look at, but her real beauty is in her voice, in how she tells her stories, based in truth and reality, all aimed to make her listeners think; especially those who are living lives based on her vocals.

Riley’s song ‘Run Girl Run,’ is particularly reflective of that in which teen girls and young women are subject by significant others in toxic relationships. Her songs ring bells in those who are in unhealthy relationships, that are not beneficially to an equal footing that is deserved, but it is not her only aim, which is to uplift and make for a better life.

Payton is humble, spending as much time as is needed with her fans of all ages following her shows, plus she is a true Friend of God. It’s uncanny how she is able to take life episodes, and those of others, absorbing the pain or joy, and emoting the intended impression to her audience.

Riley’s song ‘Fireflies’ about her boyfriend when she was in her early teens, tells the story of a break-up with the boy over distance. She sang the song nationally on American Idol as a 15 year-old, a striking achievement for such a young singer, and marked her as being sincere in the vehicle of her skill. The good news is that her and her beau are back together, and he and his family were in attendance at the concert. Also on-hand for the gathering was her childhood voice coach to whom she dedicated Miranda Lambert’s ‘Gunpowder & Lead.’

Riley, when behind the microphone, is one with her audience, with her goal of achieving a personal connection with each and every member, and it’s remarkable how she is able to silence the few talkers in the rear, the parents of the kids in the audience, engaging them into listening and making them fans as well.

Her young fans look to Payton as a guide in life, singing with a sense of empathy, that reflects in the stories told, whether they be of heartbreak, friendship, love, coming of age, or looking to land on one’s feet, it’s as if Riley has been there with you, and will get you through the episode. Each connection with a fan makes them feel noticed, valued, and imparts a sense of strength helping them heal.

Riley is not about all things ‘Payton,’ she is genuinely interested in helping others interested in assisting songwriters and singers, and actively encourages them in occasional retreats to further their burgeoning talents. She is active in charities that help women and children in unfortunate circumstances, which is her way of giving back.

In her shows, Riley strategically sings songs that reach out to the different age groups, such as with the popular Bon Jovi ballad from the 1980’s ‘Wanted Dead or Alive,’ and it even goes farther with geographic demographics such as with her admiration for the people of Ireland. She learned the song ‘Zombie,’ for the swan song of her shows in Ireland. The song is an unofficial anthem of The Emerald Isle made popular by The Cranberries in the early 1990’s, and later Ran-D’s hard-style version from nine years ago.

Payton describes herself as a New Country/Rocker, which is just another stage in her transition from a moth to butterfly. She admits she grew up on Country Music, but her father’s love of Rock and Roll influenced her, and the mix of the two apparently work. Her continued experiments with different genres will further propel her career, and open more outlets to success.

Riley even gave a sneak peak of her next release, ‘Carousel,' a song about young love that goes round and round. Payton had previously been recording in a small studio in Louisiana, now records exclusively in Nashville, and is now confident enough to challenge her producers on her own with a growing self-assurance.

Riley is also under consideration for a team of Texas artists as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, the season opener between the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs vs the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, to be held on August 29th in Dublin, Ireland. Payton will continue to grow with new material and engage in new opportunities. She and her team are in discussions in regards to another European tour next year, this time to Denmark, Switzerland, Scotland, and possibly Ireland again. Payton is determined to continue with more rock and pop with a twist of country, or as she says, "a bit of everything."

For the latest updates and ticket information on Payton Riley, visit: paytonrileymusic.com or follow her on social media at Payton Riley Music.