Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with the talented Andrew Ryan to discuss, among other things, what he’s been up to during the lockdown, his newest music, his thoughts on the music scene going forward, and what he’s looking forward to the most once COVID-19 breaks.
If you would like to learn more about Andrew Ryan, head over to Andrew’s Facebook page and dig in. Once you’ve done that, check out this interview with Andrew Ryan. Cheers.
Andrew Daly:
Andrew, I appreciate you taking the time today. How have you been holding up over the last year or so? What have you been up to?
Andrew Ryan:
I’m doing good. Thanks for asking. I’ve been staying busy over the last year recording a lot of new songs as well as mixing songs for other artists/bands. I’ve also been fortunate enough to make some abstract paintings for people across the US and the UK.
Andrew Daly:
Before we dive into your professional career, let’s go back a bit. What first got you hooked on music?
Andrew Ryan:
Hearing The Beatles as a child was a wonderful and strange experience. I remember it felt familiar even though I didn’t recognize it. I just naturally gravitated to it like a magnet.
Andrew Daly:
Who were some of your early influences?
Andrew Ryan:
Some of my early influences would have to be The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Guided By Voices.
Andrew Daly:
Let’s talk about recent events first. Tell us about your new single “New Let Me Know.”
Andrew Ryan:
I was performing this song a lot live in 2019 and once I started recording it I realized it naturally leans more into the Indie-Rock realm which is fun. It’s best to let the songs show where they need to go instead of fighting hard to make them fit into a certain genre. I had some really talented friends play on the song and without them, it definitely wouldn’t sound the way it does.
Andrew Daly:
What lyrical themes do you tend to explore with your music? Is your music intensely personal, or are you only telling stories, so to speak?
Andrew Ryan:
I would say 90% is from my own experiences or at least I’ll start from that perspective. Sometimes the people I meet traveling across the country certainly become characters and find their way into some of the songs.
Andrew Daly:
How about the production side of things? Do you self-produce, or do you bring in outside voices?
Andrew Ryan:
I have self-produced and mixed my music so far. I graduated from an audio recording school so I feel like it’s something I can do on my own instead of bug someone and become an unruly client for them.
Andrew Daly:
Are you into vinyl? Cassettes? CDs? Or are you all digital now? What are a few of your favorite albums and why?
Andrew Ryan:
I do collect some vinyl but I’m not that invested in it. I like how there has been a resurgence. In that world but I mostly consume music digitally with all the traveling I do.
Andrew Daly:
What other passions do you have? How do those passions inform your music, if at all?
Andrew Ryan:
My other passions are marking records for other artists/bands in the producer role or just as comfortable in the mixing position. I also enjoy painting and running.
Andrew Daly:
In your opinion, what is the state of the music business these days? Should artists be hopeful? Scared? Both?
Andrew Ryan:
I’m a glass is half full kind of guy but the state of what streaming services are paying its artists is more than concerning. It’s only hurting the fans in the long run.
Andrew Daly:
Last one. We seem to be nearing a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of COVID-19 restrictions. That said, what’s next on your docket? What are you looking forward to most in the post-COVID world?
Andrew Ryan:
I’m looking forward to touring again. Performing in front of your phone just isn’t the same feeling for me compared to a room of people. I like to talk to people and I miss that interaction the most.
Interested in learning more about Andrew Ryan? Check out the link below:
Dig this interview? Check out the full archives of Vinyl Writer Interviews, by Andrew Daly, here: www.vinylwritermusic.com/interview
