Ryan Sweezey – “Maybe Magic”

Ryan Sweezey’s new album Maybe Magic feels like the result of someone finally making time for the songs they couldn’t let go of. Most of these were unfinished ideas he’d left behind over the years, but this time he went back and finished them. You can tell the effort paid off because the album doesn’t sound like something rushed to meet a deadline, it sounds like someone tying up loose ends in the best way.

“Sleepless Nights” stood out to me, not just because it’s become his most-played track on Spotify, but because there’s some real weight behind it. He started writing it in 2015 and only managed to wrap it up right before recording. Another one I liked was “I Honestly Miss You”, which captures that weird early-dating headspace where you’re trying not to come on too strong, but the feelings are already there.

The way the album came together is cool too. Recording parts in Vermont, finishing up in Philly, even re-recording vocals at a studio right before it shut down. It wasn’t the simplest path, but it sounds like it was worth it. If love honest songwriting that doesn’t try too hard, Maybe Magic is worth a listen, and make sure to follow Ryan online to keep up with what he’s got coming next in 2025.