Independent Musician Matthew Ryan Takes on New Album, Tour, and Scores New Film
by admin on Mar.30, 2010, under Music
Noe Pacheco asked:
Nashville, Tenn.’s, Matthew Ryan, has had a prolific journey as an independent musician who has kept moving forward. Ryan’s latest release, Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State, received rave reviews.
Recently, the indie musician released his single, Some Streets Lead Nowhere, and is preparing for a tour in Italy. I had a chance to ask Ryan about his tour and projects moving forward…
GH: You’re working on a new album, right. How is that goin’?
MR: Well, right now, I’m writing and recording as I go. I want this next record to be dealing in an almost nuclear intimacy. Probably a bit rawer. I have a lot on my mind lately. So far it’s a beautifully apocalyptic collection of love songs. I’ve always liked Everyday Is Like Sunday by Morrissey. So, on some level, that song is the measure for these next songs.
GH: Is this a self-funded album?
MR: I’ve decided that labels don’t have the best interests of art in mind. So, my manager and are are completely dismantling our “label” relationships in the US. However, we’ll probably stay with One Little Indian in the UK. They’re a great bunch of people, and I think because of Bjork’s involvement, they continue to stand by artists and their work.
GH: Do you have a certain “sound” you are going for on this new album?
MR: I want the next record to sound like this picture.
Not because it’s a picture of me, but because it could be a vivid conversation with anyone.
GH: What’s the songwriting process like for you? Do you incorporate any ideas from the band during the process?
MR: This next record will be a solo record, a complete expression of myself and how I see the world, love and the politics and weather between men, women and their dreams.
GH: Do you think “Some Streets Lead Nowhere” will make the album, or just will it just be kept a single?
MR: Some Streets will more than likely be on the next record, because it’s the birth mark of this next record. I’m think 10 or 11 songs. I want this record to move like a beautiful movie.
GH: So you just released the single, “Some Streets Lead Nowhere.” What was the inspiration for the song?
MR: Reclamation was what I had in mind with this song. My thought was, that living can bring a fog or sense of distance between what we want and want we’re doing. Love is always the perfect metaphor for these things that can inspire and destroy us. This song is about a woman. And how familiarity can lead to blindness. It’s something we should struggle against.
GH: Was the song completely finished before you saw the episode?
MR: Yes.
GH: The song was the theme for the score of an episode of “One Tree Hill.” How was it to score your second project?
MR: It was great. We moved at a quick pace. The story lead me to some pretty ambient and emotional stuff. I found it liberating to get out of my own story or theme for a week.
GH: Did you feel the burden of any expectations going into score the episode?
MR: I did. Scoring is hard work. Like songwriting, it’s riddled with potential cliches. I just tried to be as honest as I could.
GH: Do you find scoring a project difficult?
MR: It was challenging.
GH: Any plans to score any more projects in the near future?
MR: I would like to score more. I’m currently up for scoring a Christina Ricci movie called The Girl Who Invented Kissing.
GH: You had a list of shows on the east coast coming up. What types of venues are you playing at this time around?
MR: Hmmmm. It’s a little frustrating. I’ve worn a path through these rooms. I’d love to graduate to small theaters. But more and more people are coming out. So, we’re getting there. I love these rooms, good people run these venues. But it’s starting to feeling like I should be in college and I’m still roaming the halls of my high school. Graduation day is coming though.
GH: Do you have any plans to tour across the country before your next album is finished?
MR: There will be some dates here and there. I’m going to Italy in November. That should be wonderful.
GH: Your newest release, “Matthew Ryan vs. the Silver State,” has received incredible reviews. What has your reaction been having such a great response to your artwork?
MR: I always appreciate recognition. But more important to me is when my music becomes part of people’s lives. That’s my goal. We’re all moving through this together. Music has the ability to comfort and inspire. That’s all I want to do.
Fan Questions
He has been so prolific and has written non stop for the past 10 years, what chances do we have of seeing a box set of his work?
I don’t know if the modern business allows for such retrospectives. I would love to do it one day though. I recorded about 100 songs before my first record came out. I would love for it all to be put in one place to be found. My feeling has always been that I was writing one very long book or movie. It would be interesting to see the arc of the story from the beginning to the present. Sadly, my career has been one without much consistency as far as labels go. So, logistically, it makes such a thing tough. I’ve owned all my publishing for the last few records starting with Regret Over The Wires. So, we’ll see. Something can always be done.
I’ve loved his collaborations w/ Strays Don’t Sleep and Kate York. Who is on his list to collaborate with?
I’ve had a few new collaborations in mind. We’ll see. Right now though, I’m focused on my solo work.
What are your favorite cities to visit during a tour?
I love a lot of places for different reasons. But off the top of my head Glasgow, Scotland; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Austin, TX and Manchester, England.
Nashville, Tenn.’s, Matthew Ryan, has had a prolific journey as an independent musician who has kept moving forward. Ryan’s latest release, Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State, received rave reviews.
Recently, the indie musician released his single, Some Streets Lead Nowhere, and is preparing for a tour in Italy. I had a chance to ask Ryan about his tour and projects moving forward…
GH: You’re working on a new album, right. How is that goin’?
MR: Well, right now, I’m writing and recording as I go. I want this next record to be dealing in an almost nuclear intimacy. Probably a bit rawer. I have a lot on my mind lately. So far it’s a beautifully apocalyptic collection of love songs. I’ve always liked Everyday Is Like Sunday by Morrissey. So, on some level, that song is the measure for these next songs.
GH: Is this a self-funded album?
MR: I’ve decided that labels don’t have the best interests of art in mind. So, my manager and are are completely dismantling our “label” relationships in the US. However, we’ll probably stay with One Little Indian in the UK. They’re a great bunch of people, and I think because of Bjork’s involvement, they continue to stand by artists and their work.
GH: Do you have a certain “sound” you are going for on this new album?
MR: I want the next record to sound like this picture.
Not because it’s a picture of me, but because it could be a vivid conversation with anyone.
GH: What’s the songwriting process like for you? Do you incorporate any ideas from the band during the process?
MR: This next record will be a solo record, a complete expression of myself and how I see the world, love and the politics and weather between men, women and their dreams.
GH: Do you think “Some Streets Lead Nowhere” will make the album, or just will it just be kept a single?
MR: Some Streets will more than likely be on the next record, because it’s the birth mark of this next record. I’m think 10 or 11 songs. I want this record to move like a beautiful movie.
GH: So you just released the single, “Some Streets Lead Nowhere.” What was the inspiration for the song?
MR: Reclamation was what I had in mind with this song. My thought was, that living can bring a fog or sense of distance between what we want and want we’re doing. Love is always the perfect metaphor for these things that can inspire and destroy us. This song is about a woman. And how familiarity can lead to blindness. It’s something we should struggle against.
GH: Was the song completely finished before you saw the episode?
MR: Yes.
GH: The song was the theme for the score of an episode of “One Tree Hill.” How was it to score your second project?
MR: It was great. We moved at a quick pace. The story lead me to some pretty ambient and emotional stuff. I found it liberating to get out of my own story or theme for a week.
GH: Did you feel the burden of any expectations going into score the episode?
MR: I did. Scoring is hard work. Like songwriting, it’s riddled with potential cliches. I just tried to be as honest as I could.
GH: Do you find scoring a project difficult?
MR: It was challenging.
GH: Any plans to score any more projects in the near future?
MR: I would like to score more. I’m currently up for scoring a Christina Ricci movie called The Girl Who Invented Kissing.
GH: You had a list of shows on the east coast coming up. What types of venues are you playing at this time around?
MR: Hmmmm. It’s a little frustrating. I’ve worn a path through these rooms. I’d love to graduate to small theaters. But more and more people are coming out. So, we’re getting there. I love these rooms, good people run these venues. But it’s starting to feeling like I should be in college and I’m still roaming the halls of my high school. Graduation day is coming though.
GH: Do you have any plans to tour across the country before your next album is finished?
MR: There will be some dates here and there. I’m going to Italy in November. That should be wonderful.
GH: Your newest release, “Matthew Ryan vs. the Silver State,” has received incredible reviews. What has your reaction been having such a great response to your artwork?
MR: I always appreciate recognition. But more important to me is when my music becomes part of people’s lives. That’s my goal. We’re all moving through this together. Music has the ability to comfort and inspire. That’s all I want to do.
Fan Questions
He has been so prolific and has written non stop for the past 10 years, what chances do we have of seeing a box set of his work?
I don’t know if the modern business allows for such retrospectives. I would love to do it one day though. I recorded about 100 songs before my first record came out. I would love for it all to be put in one place to be found. My feeling has always been that I was writing one very long book or movie. It would be interesting to see the arc of the story from the beginning to the present. Sadly, my career has been one without much consistency as far as labels go. So, logistically, it makes such a thing tough. I’ve owned all my publishing for the last few records starting with Regret Over The Wires. So, we’ll see. Something can always be done.
I’ve loved his collaborations w/ Strays Don’t Sleep and Kate York. Who is on his list to collaborate with?
I’ve had a few new collaborations in mind. We’ll see. Right now though, I’m focused on my solo work.
What are your favorite cities to visit during a tour?
I love a lot of places for different reasons. But off the top of my head Glasgow, Scotland; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Austin, TX and Manchester, England.
