Single by Ryan Ross Hernandez
Released: January 31, 2025
Studio: Prime Recording Studios (Nashville)
Genre: Country • Americana • country rock
Length: 4:47
Label: RRH Rights Management
Songwriter(s): Ryan Ross Hernandez
Producer(s): Ryan Ross Hernandez

"Hunters" is a song by American singer-songwriter Ryan Ross Hernandez. It was self-released on January 31, 2025, through his management LLC, marking the first time Hernandez has been an independent artist in his career. It was written and produced solely by Hernandez, who additionally recorded most of the instrumentation himself. The song was released just five weeks after his eighth studio album Late Fragment in late December 2024, which completed his contractual obligations with Studio 60 Records.

With its country and Americana influences, "Hunters" is a departure from the more mainstream pop-leaning direction Hernandez's solo career had taken over the decade and a half prior. Its lyrics take aim at the often opined love life of Hernandez and public criticism of his music, with many considering it to be directed to the divisive response Late Fragment received upon its release, as well as the mixed feelings some of the public expressed over the revelation of his relationship with fellow American singer-songwriter Ellie-Grace Summers, in the same time period.

Upon release, Hernandez confirmed that all of the song's proceeds from streaming, digital downloads, its physical 7" vinyl, and any future royalties from "Hunters" usage in media will be donated to various organizations providing aid to the communities affected by the 2025 Southern California wildfires and its ensuing recovery efforts.

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Music and lyrics

"Hunters" is a thumping, moody country song, with Americana and rock elements, driven by a mixture of both electric and acoustic guitars, sparse drumwork, and layered vocals, all of which were recorded by Hernandez. A string section was added after the original composition of the song, which was orchestrated by Hernandez as well. In a newsletter sent to his fans shortly after its release, Hernandez stated that "Hunters" is about "trying to settle into your current place in life and some people constantly reminding you that who they thought you were ten, fifteen years ago is all they will see." Its lyrics take a more direct approach to describe the pitfalls of being a public figure.

In the song, Hernandez sings in a lower vocal register than normal, with some fans and critics alike describing the change as purposeful to match the angry-tone of its production. Each verse takes on a different subject within the song. Its chorus is built around the idea of hunters targeting both him and his lover. The first verse tackles the jealousy some people feel towards his current romance with Summers, while doubling down on the seriousness of their relationship, a theme frequently explored on Late Fragment which was inspired by her. The second verse shifts towards the listeners and music critics who have responded negatively to the changes in both his songwriting approach and personal life. The bridge appears to target some of Hernandez's contemporaries in the industry, although no directly specific references are made to who he is discussing in that portion of the track.

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Critical reception

Upon release, the song received universal critical acclaim. Anna Walters of Rolling Stone described the song as "dark, moody, delicately haunting" and "perhaps an exciting indicator of the direction Hernandez is taking for this next full-length project", praising Hernandez's vocal performance as one of the best of his career. Julia Martin of Esquire also highlighted the "sharp" vocals as a highlight. In The New Yorker, Alison Spencer opined that Hernandez guitar playing was "freewheeling and commanding", linking his guitarwork to that that of his appearance on Alicia Lena's "Beacon of Hope" which featured Layla and Jadyn Ghalen as well. Maddie Clark in Pitchfork wrote: "Hernandez's performance throughout the song is so convincing and alluring that you find yourself rooting for the narrator". Clark was one of the critics who bashed Late Fragment, however she praised Hernandez's "self-awareness" as a "charm and badge of honor that the musician has carried for the last twenty-five years". In The Guardian, Stephen Hurts complimented the "country-charged production" and acclaimed the track as "the most impressive guitar-driven song" in Hernandez's career. Lauren Mayfield of Complex complimented the lyrics, describing "Hunters" as a "potent reminder of how [Hernandez] has managed to reinvent himself numerous times over the years".

Christopher Jenkins of The Wall Street Journal and Stacy Wilson of NME both called "Hunters" an early contender for one of the best songs of 2025, arguing that Hernandez's status as a mainstay mainstream artist brought instant credibility to more Americana-sensibilities in modern music. Hannah Gardner of Entertainment Weekly labelled the song as "[both] a remarkable and refreshing new chapter for Hernandez as a musician," while stating that the lyrics packed a "vengeful punch". Variety's Jessie Burrow regarded the single as memorable, suggesting that "whether Hernandez wants to recognize it as such or not, some of the artist's best work comes when he is challenged by the public," praising the lyrics as "potent". Kimberly Wayne for the Associated Press shared that she "loved" the composition and production, but felt the lyrics were "self-serving" and "weak". Abigail Stanton of PopMatters wrote: "The Nashville sound that Hernandez is aiming for is one of his finest attempts at tackling a different genre and his singing has never sounded better, but the song misses the mark thanks to its dreary, forgettable lyrics."

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"Hunters"

Hunters are coming for me
They are coming for you too
They don't like the sight of us
In California or Tennessee
Finger on the trigger, eye on the scope
They are looking for a kill
They want it so bad to be me
They want it so bad to be you

All those miserable fucks
Yeah, they are only envious of us
The girls are wondering why it couldn't be them
They tried to breakthrough and failed
The boys are left stranded thinking you'd be available
Banking on me screwing this up again
At this point, they should just call you Mrs. Hernandez
'Cause I'm never letting you go

Hunters are coming for me
They are coming for you too
They don't like the sight of us
In California or Tennessee
Finger on the trigger, eye on the scope
They are looking for a kill
They want it so bad to be me
They want it so bad to be you

You all don't care about my happiness
A broken heart on my sleeve for your entertainment
You rather send death threats, pray for my misery
Tell me how much my last album sucks
While you keep listening to it
Please remind me how much you hate me
I almost forgot that I'm supposed to be the villain
The asshole in the story you made up

Hunters are coming for me
They are coming for you too
They don't like the sight of us
In California or Tennessee
Finger on the trigger, eye on the scope
They are looking for a kill
They want it so bad to be me
They want it so bad to be you

That fella had the pipes to sing
Too bad he's an absentee father
And never learned when to shut the fuck up
That guy had the family name headstart
Such a shame he's so generic
And never could sell out a show
That kid had everything to take the throne
So sad about the demons that consumed him
And the highs he kept chasing
These hounds are always out for blood
If it was up to them I'd be dead, dead, dead

Hunters are coming for me
They are coming for you too
They don't like the sight of us
In California or Tennessee
Finger on the trigger, eye on the scope
They are looking for a kill
They want it so bad to be me
They want it so bad to be you

In California or Tennessee
In California or Tennessee
In California or Tennessee
In California or Tennessee
In California or Tennessee
In California or Tennessee

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Comparable To:


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(OOC: Thank you to Sean/BrownSugar for the artwork!)

Layla: You just don't let up, do you? Here I am, feeling absolutely fried after just dropping my SECOND album and here you are on you 500th era and knocking it out of the park with such ease. How?? I need the name of your pills, your therapist, your dietician, your fitness coach, I need to knowww!! Although it's something I haven't dabbled in myself, Americana is one of my fave styles of music. It's what my dad listened to while I was growing up. This track instantly sounds familiar and like home. There's also the quintessentially brilliant RRH song writing that just makes this song feel like I've known it all my life. Have to commend you again for letting us in and showing more of the inner workings of your mind and heart. I totally promote the catharsis of letting it all out in your art!

OOC: Wonderful work here as always. With the album dropping and now a totally new release, we really are being treated! Not only do I think that Ryan is one of the most notable, well-rounded characters on here both as a personality and musician, he's also one of the mainstays. A poster boy for these boards, if you will. It's testament to the work, thought and dedication you've put in over the years. While he's a legacy act, he doesn't rely on nostalgia to stay afloat. You keep on pushing ahead with him, exploring new territories even if it's not exactly warmly received by 'fans' and 'critics'. Brings a tremendous sense of realism that he's enduring many peaks and troughs over the last, what? 15/16 years?? This is another wonderful switch up and just shows there's a whole lot more to come from Mr. Hernandez...even if the boy's no longer 18 and a bit creaky at the knees ;)