Ryan Knocked Out Interview
Q: On your Bandcamp page you mention that your album Leaving Sunrise “is an album about watching a girl turn into a ghost.” Can you give us an more insider info as to what that means?
A: It’s nothing morbid, just a play on the phrase “ being ghosted.” The album’s concept is a period in my life when a girl I had been with almost every day disappeared. She moved away and stopped communicating, and in a way this album was my way of reaching out to her. We’re friends again, though. Musically she’s ingrained in the record in a few ways; a vocal sample at the end of “Sleep,” and the last bit at the end after “21” is an actual recording of us that later inspired “Cheer Captain.”
Q: Leaving Sunrise is essentially a DIY but you and your roommate who helped mix both have experience as engineers. It sounds great. Are there any tips you can give our audience who often make records DIY style.
A: My friend/former roommate Ash Graysun is a writer and producer who did the whole mix. We invested in quality gear over a time and I think that’s necessary. A piece of advice I would give is to know your own strengths and don’t be so controlling of your projects, pass off things like mixing and maybe even producing to people who know better. I would come back from work everyday and hear changes in the sound that would have taken me much longer to achieve, so never let ego get in the way of results. A last piece of advice would be don’t compete with local artists, compete with the next level.
Q: You are the only composer and as far as I know and person to play on the album. However it’s thick with elements. Can you tell us a little about your creative process?
A: Well the last song “21” is a cover, originally by an artist named Delilah. Check her out! As far as my process as a producer I usually start with a quick draft, just basic elements, and sit with it. I deliver pizzas, and I use that driving time to listen to my demos and think of parts to add or change.
Q: Leaving Sunrise is an eclectic album pulling from different genres. Can you talk about some of the influences musical or otherwise that contributed to the style?
A: Concept wise I was pretty inspired by Kendrick Lamar and the theatrics of his projects. I went to a local music school when I was a kid that put on theater shows and I got to hear a bunch of genres and how they were arranged at a young age. Being in my high school’s jazz band was an extension of that. Also just interning in studios and being around other recording musicians. The concept of genres is breaking down currently, and I think drawing from as many influences as you can is a good way to be yourself.
Q: Is this strictly a studio project? Any general thought about performing Leaving Sunrise live?
A: I perform the material live, but it doesn’t sound too much like the album. I’m not in a band, so usually it’s just solo with my acoustic guitar, or I’ll bring out my Boss Loopstation for something more layered. Vocally it’s more intense live as well, cause the soft singing doesn’t translate to a room full of people.
Q: It took three years for the release of Leaving Sunrise? Can we expect anything else coming our this year or in the not too distant future?
A: Yeah, absolutely. I’m working on a shorter EP with Ash Graysun in more of a producing role this time. The songs are more electronic based dance music, along the lines of “Addiction” from Leaving Sunrise. Being from South Florida, it’s a pretty pervasive influence. There’s also an acoustic split EP I recorded with my label mate on Awful Kid Entertainment, Armando Zamora. You guys wrote a thoughtful review of his album The Reichstag Fire not too long ago.
Check out the full critique
Q: On your Bandcamp page you mention that your album Leaving Sunrise “is an album about watching a girl turn into a ghost.” Can you give us an more insider info as to what that means?
A: It’s nothing morbid, just a play on the phrase “ being ghosted.” The album’s concept is a period in my life when a girl I had been with almost every day disappeared. She moved away and stopped communicating, and in a way this album was my way of reaching out to her. We’re friends again, though. Musically she’s ingrained in the record in a few ways; a vocal sample at the end of “Sleep,” and the last bit at the end after “21” is an actual recording of us that later inspired “Cheer Captain.”
Q: Leaving Sunrise is essentially a DIY but you and your roommate who helped mix both have experience as engineers. It sounds great. Are there any tips you can give our audience who often make records DIY style.
A: My friend/former roommate Ash Graysun is a writer and producer who did the whole mix. We invested in quality gear over a time and I think that’s necessary. A piece of advice I would give is to know your own strengths and don’t be so controlling of your projects, pass off things like mixing and maybe even producing to people who know better. I would come back from work everyday and hear changes in the sound that would have taken me much longer to achieve, so never let ego get in the way of results. A last piece of advice would be don’t compete with local artists, compete with the next level.
Q: You are the only composer and as far as I know and person to play on the album. However it’s thick with elements. Can you tell us a little about your creative process?
A: Well the last song “21” is a cover, originally by an artist named Delilah. Check her out! As far as my process as a producer I usually start with a quick draft, just basic elements, and sit with it. I deliver pizzas, and I use that driving time to listen to my demos and think of parts to add or change.
Q: Leaving Sunrise is an eclectic album pulling from different genres. Can you talk about some of the influences musical or otherwise that contributed to the style?
A: Concept wise I was pretty inspired by Kendrick Lamar and the theatrics of his projects. I went to a local music school when I was a kid that put on theater shows and I got to hear a bunch of genres and how they were arranged at a young age. Being in my high school’s jazz band was an extension of that. Also just interning in studios and being around other recording musicians. The concept of genres is breaking down currently, and I think drawing from as many influences as you can is a good way to be yourself.
Q: Is this strictly a studio project? Any general thought about performing Leaving Sunrise live?
A: I perform the material live, but it doesn’t sound too much like the album. I’m not in a band, so usually it’s just solo with my acoustic guitar, or I’ll bring out my Boss Loopstation for something more layered. Vocally it’s more intense live as well, cause the soft singing doesn’t translate to a room full of people.
Q: It took three years for the release of Leaving Sunrise? Can we expect anything else coming our this year or in the not too distant future?
A: Yeah, absolutely. I’m working on a shorter EP with Ash Graysun in more of a producing role this time. The songs are more electronic based dance music, along the lines of “Addiction” from Leaving Sunrise. Being from South Florida, it’s a pretty pervasive influence. There’s also an acoustic split EP I recorded with my label mate on Awful Kid Entertainment, Armando Zamora. You guys wrote a thoughtful review of his album The Reichstag Fire not too long ago.
Check out the full critique