Darwin-based producer, DJ Cyril Riley, chats new single with James Blunt

Producer and DJ Cyril Riley swapped demos and bucket hats with singer-songwriter James Blunt to release a new track. WATCH THE VIDEO.

When asked about his top highlights this year, Top End DJ Cyril Riley, who performs under the stage name CYRIL, mentioned two things.

One was selling out a venue in Estonia, and the other was staring into the eyes of You’re Beautiful singer James Blunt.

“Being stared at into my eyes by James Blunt was definitely a highlight that will always haunt me,” he said laughing.

The Darwin-based producer released a single with the singer-songwriter on April 25.

DJ Cyril Riley and James Blunt celebrating the release of their new single, Tears Dry Tonight.

In a few days the track, Tears Dry Tonight, reached a million streams and was already making the rounds on BBC Radio 2.

As part of the promotion for the single, the pair have been seen sporting bucket hats, having pool dinners and dramatically serenading each other with the song on TikTok.

In one clip, James Blunt is holding CYRIL’s face seriously singing some of the track while staring into his eyes.

“He’s got these piercing blue eyes and he didn’t stop staring so it was great,” said CYRIL. “There were so many takes because I’d just keep laughing.

“James Blunt was holding my face and seeing him look into my eyes was not on the bucket list but I’m glad we could tick it off the not-on-the-bucket list.”

How Tears Dry Tonight began

The original demo started a few months ago when CYRIL worked with songwriter Paul Harris in Amsterdam.

When CYRIL touched back down in Australia a few weeks later, Paul called him up to say James Blunt had heard the demo and written some lyrics.

“And James Blunt has done his thing,” he said.

“He’s an exceptional writer. He wrote some really beautiful lyrics and some new melodies and then we started really pumping it out.”

DJ Cyril Riley and James Blunt have posted several funny videos on their channels.

CYRIL, who rose to the top of the charts in 2024 after his release Stumblin’ In went viral, said he was very excited and amazed at the amount of support Tears Dry Tonight has already amassed.

And it seems the partnership has not only sparked an impressive new single but also a lifetime first for James Blunt.

The Darwin-based DJ, who had clearly been working on his English accent, said: “We were doing the video and James said ‘It just doesn’t feel natural, I need to have a bucket hat.’

“And I said ‘I’ve got a spare bucket hat.’”

“And he said ‘Oh great OK.’

“He loved it. He looks great in a bucket hat. I think that was the first time he ever wore one.”

Viral TikTok trend with The La’s

But a new single is not all that has been happening.

Due to a recent demo CYRIL made with artist Moonlight of There She Goes originally by The La’s, a viral trend has sprouted.

Content creators and social media users are using the demo while shimmying for the trend named A shimmy a day keeps the sadness away.

Artists like P!NK and Meghan Trainor have also used the demo to create videos for their own channels.

The demo is being used around 10,000 times a day to create new clips and has had more than eight million views over the past week.

“I’m going to be honest here I’m stressed because I’ve just released a new single and that was such a big thing for me to release that one and now we’ve got a huge trend,” CYRIL said.

“It’s going more viral than any track I’ve ever had and now I’ve got to try and get that one out.”

The producer, who at one point went through a period of being homeless and struggling with addiction, alluded to the possibility of working with a certain member of The La’s who shared a similar history.

“If we were able to do that would mean a lot,” he added.

“So I’m working night and day trying to get that done.”

Popular DJ and producer Cyril Riley is performing at BASSINTHEGRASS 2025. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Currently in Melbourne, CYRIL said he cannot wait to return to see his family and to the Top End.

He is set to perform at BASSINTHEGRASS 2025 later this month and revealed in an earlier interview with this masthead that he has a few surprises in store.

He added: “We’ve done so much work to make sure this show at BASSINTHEGRASS is so special and so different from everyone else’s.

“I’ve been working on the set for about three months and the stage design we’ve put a bunch of stuff into it.”

To listen to Tears Dry Tonight, click here.