From the opening notes of Bret Ryan’s summery first single, “If It Feels Right,” which demands you tap a foot to its instantly catchy, spunky rhythm, you’ll know this 21-year-old singer-songwriter isn’t your average pop artist. His hazardously hooky songs are as infectious as they are original -- and he’s sure to turn your ear when his self-titled debut album arrives August 26, released by GrayRose Records/Universal.
Recounting feelings of summertime love with playful candor, “If It Feels Right” hits all the right notes with young lovers and their playful affections. It’s a song that came naturally to Ryan, who admits his heart has been turned inside out by the fairer sex.
“I don’t know if I fall in love easily, but sometimes a girl will walk by and I’ll just melt and think ‘That’s the girl I’m going to marry,’ knowing full well I’ll probably never speak to her or see her again,” Ryan laughs.
Making pop with a twist is something that comes natural to Ryan, who describes himself as somewhat of a perennial outcast. From the age of three, this talented young prodigy found himself making fast friends with the piano, and later the guitar, along with a host of other musical confidants. While his bond with melody and songwriting enveloped him throughout his teenage years, he found himself drifting away from his friends and the typical diversions of adolescence.
It was these early emotions that led Ryan to write the sweeping album-opener, fittingly titled “The Outcast.” The song’s thunderously bold piano and commanding orchestration introduce Ryan’s peerless musical style and unique falsetto voice, which demands listeners realize it’s “different not to be the same” – but that’s a gift, not a curse.
For this record Ryan enlisted the help of some musical heavyweight friends, including David Campbell (My Chemical Romance, Avril Lavigne), who arranged its spectacular strings, Grammy winning mixer Chris Lord-Alge (Sum 41, Green Day) and Toronto producer Justin Gray (Emma Bunton, Joss Stone). The powerhouse cast helped Ryan hone his penchant for atypical pop, which takes listeners on an unexpected rollercoaster ride through the album from start to finish.
Undeniably diverse and unique, Ryan’s debut release is sure to provide a refuge for any outcast, whether dealing with loss, love or longing. It might not sound like the rest of the syrupy pop spilling out of the radio, but ever the outsider, that’s what Ryan’s most proud about.
“I’m glad I don’t have one of those cliché pop voices,” he says of his signature sound. “I’ve never even come close to pretending to be something I’m not, even if I am a bit unconventional. I hope this record helps kids see the good in their differences, too.”
|
