We’ve all got ghosts. The people we once loved, the friendships that quietly dissolved, the versions of ourselves that feel like strangers now. But not all ghosts come to scare us — some just sit in the corner of our minds, quietly reminding us who we used to be and how we got here.

R U A I R I, the Dublin-born singer/songwriter, knows this all too well, and has wrapped those feelings into his solemn, stunning debut album I Hold Your Ghost.

Released with little fanfare but a whole lot of soul, I Hold Your Ghost is a collection of ten beautifully introspective songs that don’t try to explain love, heartbreak, or grief. They just let them be. Which, let’s be honest, is kind of refreshing

From the very first listen, it’s clear that this album wasn’t written to chase trends. It’s not built around one big breakup or a single eureka moment. Instead, I Hold Your Ghost traces a constellation of connections — romantic, platonic, spiritual — that have marked R U A I R I’s life.

Each song feels like a personal letter never sent, or a page ripped from a very honest journal. Some tracks ache quietly (Dream, Seven Years), while others feel like long exhales after holding your breath too long (Inhale, I Hold Your Ghost).

And don’t expect to be told how to feel. These stories aren’t framed as good or bad — they just are. Raw, reflective, and gorgeously human.

There’s a charm to knowing that this deeply layered album started in a very unglamorous way, in a bedroom during the 2020 lockdown. Like many of us, R U A I R I found himself stuck inside, but instead of panic-baking or impulse-cutting his fringe, he wrote an album.

While he did flirt with fancy studios (Windmill Lane, no less!), he ultimately brought the tracks to life at home, slowly, thoughtfully, and completely on his own terms. The result is a sound that feels intimate but expansive, lo-fi in places but emotionally hi-def.

The lead track, I Hold Your Ghost sets the tone beautifully. It’s solemn, yes, but not in a way that drags. It feels like the soundtrack to one of those slow, pensive walks where your headphones are full, your heart is heavier than usual, and the world feels kind of still.

R U A I R I (yes, all caps, don’t forget it) is more than a soft-voiced singer with good taste in track titles. He lives in Dublin with his partner and a collection of race bikes, a fact that somehow makes perfect sense once you hear his music. When he’s not crafting tender soundscapes, he’s sipping pints of Guinness or passionately discussing the nuances of a good coffee (we respect the range).

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Listen to RUAIRI’s new album here I Hold Your Ghost