Ambient/Review City of Dawn, Eddy Ruyter - Silfira

City of Dawn is an ambient project led by Damien Duque from McAllen, TX, specializing in crafting immersive and atmospheric melodic dreamscapes. In addition to conveying a thought-provoking message about the impact of ambient music, Damien uses his art to advocate for individuals on the autism spectrum. Eddy Ruyter is a keyboardist, guitarist, and composer based out of Toronto, Canada. His musicality and dedication to his craft have taken him around the world to perform at legendary events, including the Grammys, Saturday Night Live, Rock in Rio, and many more.

“Silfira” is a beautifully restrained collaboration between City of Dawn and Eddy Ruyter, offering a listening experience that glows gently rather than burns brightly. Translating to “silent fire,” “Silfira” lives up to its name—radiating quiet strength through patient compositions and understated emotional depth.

The EP unfolds with deliberate calm. Eddy Ruyter’s soft, contemplative piano lines form the emotional core, while City of Dawn’s ambient guitar textures and subtle atmospheric layers expand the sonic space around them. The balance between the two artists feels natural and unforced, as if each note has been carefully placed to preserve stillness rather than disrupt it. There is no rush here; instead, the music breathes, inviting listeners to slow their pace and lean into subtle details.

What makes “Silfira” particularly compelling is its ability to evoke emotion without grand gestures. The arrangements are minimal yet expansive, creating a serene environment where small harmonic shifts carry significant weight. The interplay between piano and ambient textures feels intimate, almost conversational, allowing the music to express vulnerability through simplicity.

Ideal for evening listening, reading, or quiet reflection, the EP functions as both background atmosphere and focused emotional experience. Played softly, its nuances gradually reveal themselves, rewarding attentive ears.

Ultimately, “Silfira” stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and restraint—an elegant, meditative work that finds beauty not in intensity, but in the steady warmth of a silent, enduring flame.