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How
would you describe your music?
Ryan:
That's the easiest questions of all! It is acoustic
rock/pop. It is acoustic with an edge; it's fun
and funky. Yeah very singer/songwriter...kinda John
Mayer..but edger.
Yeah
people are starting to compare you to John Mayer,
how do you feel about that?
Ryan:
Shoot, compare me to whoever you want, I love John
Mayer. I mean I don't think I sound like John Mayer
specifically, but I think when people see someone
up there with an acoustic guitar..they think John
Mayer. John Mayer two years ago was Dave Matthews,
know what I mean? It's that feel, that's the kind
of music I listen to so it should come off kind
of like that..but I think I put a little of my own
oomph in it.
So
when does the album come out?
Ryan:
It comes out August 17.
You
have a name for it already?
Ryan:
Take it All Away.
Any
of the songs from the indie album making it on there?
Ryan:
No, but there is a song on it that was written back
in the day when I was doing that album. I had put
it on a CD, but I never released it, it was called
Blind Sight. I wrote that song when I was sixteen,
that is the only really old song that is going to
be on the record the rest are new.
So
you wrote the song "True"?
Ryan:
Yeah
Was
that song from personal experience?
Ryan:
Yeah absolutely all my songs are from personal experience.
True was about falling in love with a person, and
wanting to know how they feel about you, you don't
really know and you are kind of vunerable. It like
do you want me or what? Show me because I am putting
it on the line. I was really in love with this girl
and my head was over my feet..it was crazy..so I
wrote that song.
Yeah
all the girls are going to love this song.
Ryan:
(laughs) I hope so!
How
was it working with Johnny Rezeznik?
Ryan:
Working with John is awesome. I went to his house
and wrote with him, we wrote like two songs. So
when it was time to produce the record it kind of
made sense, he was like "hey Ryan we can do
this." And I knew I wanted to co-produce the
record, because we had some other producers lined
up but I really wanted my hand in it. Its my music,
and it is so close to me, I didn't want a producer
to take it and do the wrong thing . John let me
be myself and let me do what I wanted but also he
is obviously an amazing songwriter and artist. We
just collided heads and in a month we created a
really intense album. For a whole month we went
from morning to night, cause he had to go on tour
so I really needed to finish.
So
speaking of tour, when is the college tour?
Ryan:
Oh I already did it, I did it in November and December.
It was sponsored by the Phi Kappa faternities. They
would have me come in, and I would actually stayed
in the faternities houses. During the day I would
knock on the sororities doors and ask them if I
can play for them. Then I would play for them and
tell them to come to the show. Right now I am kind
of on tour by myself, just me and my guitar.
So
could you picture yourself as a Frat boy?
Ryan:
(laughs) No no, I didn't even go to school. Well
I did a year at UTD then I got out of there. It
was not for me, I just want to play music. It was
fun, but I could never do it.
Yeah I am in college,
can't wait to finish.
Ryan:
What year are you?
3rd
year
Ryan:
Nice. Yeah I am glad I experienced it, but I am
glad its done. (laughs)
So
what is the best and worst part about touring?
Ryan:
Touring is such a weird thing, because when you
are away for so long you want to be home, but when
you are at home you miss the touring. I just like
to be on stage and be infront of people singing.
I love playing live, I wanna be the dude that is
always touring and meeting people. Oh and I like
the free food.
Yeah
that is always a plus.
Ryan:
Yes that is always a plus, and cookies!
Is
that your thing, cookies?
Ryan:
Yes cookies are unbelievable. I have a problem,
I eat like 4-5 a day.
What
kind?
Ryan:
Chocolate chip, but I don't discriminate. I am lover
of all cookies.
So
is "On the Way Down" going to be your
first single?
Ryan:
Yeah it is. We shot the music video in Austin, went
home to Texas to shoot it. It comes out probably
in May, and Ashlee Simpson is the girl in it.
Yes
I saw it, you guys have a little kissing scene.
Ryan:
You saw it?
Yup
I saw it.
Ryan:
Touble, it's trouble! Especially with her dad being
my manger, and both her parents were there watching
us.
Hmm,
sounds awkward.
Ryan:
Nope (laughs) we didn't care.
So
how is it having Joe Simpson as your manager?
Ryan:
Oh Joe is my hero in life, it's awesome. He is like
my bestfriend/manager, I mean he let me live with
them. And you know that Jessica is doing pretty
well for herself, she is doing ok. I don't want
her riding on my coat tails or anything.
Maybe
you can give her a slot as an opening act for your
tour.
Ryan:
Yeah maybe, we'll see. Since her sister is in my
video, maybe I will let her in.
So
what C.D. is in your C.D. player right now?
Ryan:
Its going to be random, and I doubt anyone will
know him. The guy's name is Shane Barnard, and he
is unbelievable he is acoustic, singer songwriters
Christian guy. He is one of my favorite singers
of all time.
You
ever hear of Dave Barnes?
Ryan:
Yes Dave is awesome.
Yeah
he is one of my favorites right now.
Ryan:
Yeah I love Shane, Dave Barnes, and I like Matt
Wertz a lot..I love all those kids. I like Marc
Broussard.
Oh
I love Marc, we did an interview with him awhile
back. So if you could tour with anyone, who would
it be?
Ryan:
Lets go with either Maroon 5, or Dave Matthews.
No lets go with Sting, he will be my all time favorite...wait
no I want to go on tour with the Police.
So
I gotta be honest I only heard about you a month
ago. I wish I had heard about you sooner, I heard
clips off the indie album and I loved it. But I
guess the whole indie album is sold out?
Ryan:
Yeah before I signed with Atlantic, I just kept
playing in Dallas at as many gigs as I could. We
only made a thousand copies and they were gone a
long time ago. I don't know, who knows maybe one
day we will reprint it. I mean if you go on my messageboard
I am sure someone would burn it for you. I don't
even have one at my house, I made it when I was
really young. I was just a puppy.
Where
do you see yourself in 5 years?
Ryan:
On stage playing shows, and eating cookies!
I
talk to a fan name Brandon who has been listening
to you for 2 years now, you have some great fans.
Ryan:
Brandon, that's unbelievable. That's really cool.
Yeah
another fan Megan sent me the link to your site,
that is how I found out about you.
Ryan:
See that is the way for any musician, they have
loyal fans on the internet that want to promote
you. It is so amazing..I love that! I love that!
I just want to share my honest music about stuff
that happens to me. I want people to relate to it
in their own way, they don't even have to take it
the way I am meaning it for me. I want them to take
one of my songs and put it in their life. Music
can totally change my mood, and I want to do that
for someone else.
What
is your favorite song on the album?
Ryan:
That would be Take It All Away, I named my record
after it. It is a really positive message that the
material things in life don't really matter. You
should be so strong in yourself and your faith that
you don't need all that tangible stuff. I mean you
see people who have nothing, and yet they are so
happy. And all the people that look like they are
so happy aren't even happy..look at Mona Lisa. That
song is probably the closest to me.
So when are you coming
back around to the LA area?
Ryan:
I don't know when I will be doing LA, but I know
we are going to close to it. I should know in a
week, so I will let you know who I will be touring
with.
Yeah
I want to see a live show.
Ryan:
Yeah you have to come out.
Well
I guess that's it! Thank you for the great interview.
Ryan:
No thank you!
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