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Do you want a personalized song? Talk to Ryan Pugal for five minutes and in 10, he can blurt out a heartwarming song about you. He closes his eyes when he sings, to pull emotions from his heart. That’s how passionate he is for his music. Ryan, our very own singer-songwriter who was propelled to national and international recognition through the Famecast competition in 2007, is in town to celebrate the release of his latest indie sophomore album titled “Jukebox45.” His very first concert show on September 27, 2009 at Dave and Buster’s Show Room will feature several surprise guest performers, including Rick Rock of Rick Rock Productions and top Filipino hypnotist Greg Gabaylo. “This is my best material to date,” he says. “It features my kind of sound and style—pop, dance, funk and love ballads.” “Jukebox45,” with 17 original tracks written by Ryan himself, has debuted on Amazon music charts at number one. It remains on the Top 25 Best Selling Albums at the Amazon contemporary R&B sales charts along with Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and John Legend. Coming from a large musical family who enjoys karaoke most Sunday nights, Ryan knew by the tender age of 4 that he was cut out to be a singer-songwriter. But it was through Famecast that he truly saw his potential and started serious composing. His fans placed him fourth in the finals held in Texas , pared down from the initial thousands from all over the world who entered the contest. “I figured I was just lucky when I was put in the top 100. I thought then that there was no way I would make it to the next cut which was top 75,” he recalls. But he did. From top 75 to Top 25 and Top 10—Ryan’s name kept appearing. “I eventually realized that so many people liked me and my music, which were all original. I was one of the favorites,” he says. “I was happy and shocked at the same time.” He was placed fourth overall and won the Best Artist Promotion Award. Ryan released his first indie album “This Is Me the Demo Project” in June 2007 and sold over 11,000 digital downloads of his music worldwide. He can be heard on over 400 radio stations throughout the U.S. Locally, listeners may request his songs at 93.9 FM.Ryan was born and raised in Aiea with his sister Leilani, by his father Esteban who is from Laoag and Vigan City in the Philippines and mother Virginia who is from Paoay, Ilocos Norte. He can understand Ilocano fluently but can only speak a few sentences. He sings Tagalog songs but “doesn't have any idea what he’s singing about.” He always gets requests to sing ‘Paano ang Puso ko,’ the first Filipino song he learned, he says. Ryan sings mostly original compositions, which now numbers more than 200. The first song he composed, also one of his favorites, is ‘Miss You So Much, Don’t Know Why.’ Done in 10 minutes flat. Again. “The words just came to me. I heard a beat, closed my eyes and pressed the record. I sang whatever came out of my mouth,” he recalls. “I write music from the heart, from real life experiences, family experiences or stories from a friend or someone I know who is going through something,” Ryan says. “Sometimes I can finish a song in 5 minutes. Sometimes it takes awhile.” He takes inspiration from Filipino vocalist Lorie Salvatera, MichaelJackson,Nicole Scherzinger, Martin Nievera, Boys II Men and Elvis Presley. Despite the fame, Ryan remains down-to-earth, thanks to his family which keeps him grounded. No special treatment for him and he definitely does not take himself seriously. “I’m a nice guy with a big heart,” he says. “I treat people the way I want to be treated. He gives back through his “Living the Dream Project” with UNICEF, which helps kids who are sick and hospitalized.“I’m just a simple guy who has a dream. I had a dream for over 10 years and never gave up,” he says. “If you have a dream, don't let anyone stop you from doing it.”Tickets for Ryan’s September 27 concert are now on sale online through Ticket Leap. The $45 ticket includes a dinner buffet and a gift bag. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. show. If you’re lucky, you might get a free song.
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