Born Erin Michelle Wüthrich, singer-songwriter Ryn Weaver took the world by surprise when her first single “Octahate” hit Soundcloud, receiving endless praise and quickly rising to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Emerging Artists Chart.

Ryn studied the arts at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, California, and then moved to New York to dance and pursue a possible acting career through NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She attained several roles for short films and mini-musicals, but ended up dropping out. Before returning to California, Weaver met producer Benny Blanco and they developed a tight friendship. He took her under his wing and signed her to his label Friends Keep Secrets, which is under Interscope Records.

With the help of Blanco, British singer Charli XCX, and Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos among others, “Octahate” caught the attention of celebrities like Jessie Ware and Paramore’s Hayley Williams. Racking up nearly 4 million plays on Soundcloud alone and 8 million on Spotify, Billboard called the song a “viral sensation.” The song was followed by her debut EP, Promises.

Her debut album, The Fool, was available for streaming through iTunes Radio a week before its scheduled release of June 16th, 2015. It received mixed reviews from critics across the board—she was compared to Stevie Nicks for her instrumentation and aesthetic but scrutinized because she “can’t seem to figure out who she is.”

In an interview with NY Magazine, Ryn talked about her songwriting and the album’s message:

I’m a performer and I definitely love a larger-than-life story and performance. I think if you’re writing things that are truthful and beautiful and helping other people deal with their demons, then there’s room for you. […] The record poses the question: Is it foolish to settle for what you always thought you wanted as a 22-year-old woman, or is it foolish to go and leave what’s so beautiful, stable, and certain? I think that’s a question a lot of young women have these days, especially coming from a generation of girls who—in my opinion—have less of a road map. It’s not just about being a woman: It’s about being a modern human and about fear of commitment.