Influences are a big thing and instead of just writing down a few bands that I like, I think it is better to really say what has put me on this path that I am on.
My musical influences are diverse and have changed a great deal over the years. I have have a real appreciation for old country and folk. There seems to be a certain truth to the music; the music is simple and the melodies and stories stand on their own. There is something to be said about simplicity sometimes.
The top influences in this genre would are: Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Ray Acuff, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, the Hackensaw Boys, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Winston Wuttnee.
I have also been deeply influenced by a couple key piano players: Chris Martin of Coldplay, Joni Mitchell, Phillip Glass and Keith Jarret. I have listened to all of these players 1000 times. I used to wake up every morning to Phillip Glass' Glassworks album, and before that used to fall asleep to Joni's Blue and Keith's Koln Concert. A lot of my piano playing has been influenced by these players, each for their different reasons. I think Chris of Coldplay plays simply but perfectly and is a great example of not overplaying. Joni just writes such great piano lines again, while not going too overboard with them. Kieth I really respect because the Koln Concert is just a long improvisation and he really gets right into the zone. Phillip is just the master of writing mood...not really happy music, but pure mood.
I also really like good rocking music, Pink Floyd defintely takes the cake. Black Sabbath's Paranoid and the Doors various albums were also a huge influence on me.
When I was younger, I was really into the Canadian indie rock scene and listened to a lot of Eric's Trip and Sloan who both came out of Halifax. I don't have any of my Eric's Trip albums any more...this is some of that music that I have to repurchase, especially the Love Tara album.
More recent influences are: Outkasts, Metric, Tribe Called Quest, Sam Roberts and Arcade Fire. I also think Armchair Cynics are writing some great songs, coming out of Victoria, as are the guys from Jets Overhead.
I have also been really influenced by friends of mine, including Roi Yalte and JB Eckl. I thnk these guys are really great guys and are writing really excellent music.
Far and away though, there are two points in my life that really stick out in my head when it comes to music. The first being the first time I heard Jimi Hendrix. A friend of mine had come over from Vancouver, where I used to live, and brought with him a bunch of Jimi, some Zepplin and the Doors. We were down in the basement of my house, sleeping on the basement floor listening to music and talking. He put on Jimi's Ultimate Experience Album, and the first song that came on was All Along the Watchtower. I was completely blown away...that sound and the song truely did blow my mind...maybe expanded my conciousness or I don't know what...but it did something.
The second thing that really was a huge moment for me came when I was sitting at a friends house watching music videos, right around the same time of my life that I heard Jimi (I think I was about 14 or 15) We were watching TV and on came Lenny Kravitz's Believe song. As soon as that song hit the guitar solo, that was it, I had to play guitar. To this day that image of him on the guitar playing that solo is completely burned into my mind and I can see it clear as a bell.
Thinking about that song now, maybe there was something else going on there. It is a very motivational song, the lyrics being:
"If you want it, you've got it, you just got to believe, believe in yourself"
That moment was definitely the moment that inspired me to play guitar and I think it was within a week that I went out and rented my first guitar and tiny little Peavy Rage amp.
When it comes to writing music, I draw a lot of my inspiration from the world around me. Some of the stuff I write comes directly from feelings that I have in my heart at a particular moment, some come from things that I see or hear, and some times I just wake up with a song in my head.
The song Benson Lane that I wrote came from a time when I was working for a person who was very difficult to work for; one of the people that no matter what you did it was never good enough nor ever right. Some days were worse than others. After one of these days, I came back to the house feeling fairly dissatisfied with how things were going, but instead of trying to feel better, I tried to stay with that feeling for awhile, in so doing, allowing me some time to get that emotion out that I was feeling at the time. What came out was that song, just a song, but one that was influenced directly from the feelings that I had in my heart at the moment.
I suppose on looking at my music, a lot of my songs do come straight from the heart, and I suppose that is because that is where I was taught to speak from. Stay in your hear, love from your heart and make decisions from your heart, it won't let you down...
I also find Mother Nature very inspiring, and I really appreciate her power. The power of the earth really amazes me. I also find that power to be quite scary sometimes...Maybe this comes from spending so much time on and around the ocean as you can never turn your back on the ocean...it will squish you in a second and not even think twice about it.
The degradation and pain that our planet is in also influences me and I do feel moved and saddened when I see life treated unkindly. Be it human life, humanity, or the plants and animals that we share this planet with, seeing and hearing a lack of compassion does affect me. Again, those are feelings that I try to stay with and I attempt to convey those emotions honestly and humbly through my music.
Ry
"I wonder if I'm, born at the Right Time" asks Ry in the chorus of his first single Right Time. If the initial response to Groundwater is any indication, then Ry is born at the Right Time, and people want to hear what he has to say.
Dubbed "just plain excellent" by Amie Street.com, a popular online music store, hitting number 1 at CKMS 100.3 in Waterloo and nominated at the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Ry is rapidly making an impact on the Canadian Music scene.
Listening to the album, it is clear that Ry is profoundly moved by the times he is living in, and compelled to right about them. Be it the environment, aboriginal-alities or good old fashioned love, Ry attacks these topics with a sincerity, passion and honesty seldom heard in music today.
When preparing the record this album, Ry searched high and low for a producer. He eventually met JB Eckl, most well known for his work with Santana and Ozomatli. The two quickly became good friends, spending time drifting about the ocean on Ry's small boat discussing the project. In the end, the pair co-wrote the album, each adding their unique style and flavor to the project.
In the final line of Right Time Ry sings "Something tells me that I'm, born at the right time...how can you question destiny." If the initial response to Groundwater is any indication, then perhaps there is a bit of destiny involved in all of this.
Thanks for the add. Enjoyed seeing you at New Music West. Thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on Friday after the show. Thanks for the CD. I have been playing it all weekend. Really enjoying it.
hey thanks 4 the add check out our new video and also you can subscribe to our youtube channel if you like http://www. youtube. com/Spynation10 have a nice day spy nation waiting free download on our page spread the word
Hey Ryan! Thanks for finding me on myspace :o) Congratulations on finishing your album that is really exciting!! I'd love to buy a copy from you. Let me know if you're going to be doing any live shows too...
I'm playing at Logan's pub on June 5th with my band plus a couple solo songs with my drummer Hon. Come check it out if you get the chance.
