Page 5
Steve Ryan— Continued
Aside from your personal experiences and dreams which were a big part of your creative inspiration, who influenced you into taking your hardships and pain and creating music from it? Both famous and non famous. I would say Janis Joplin, Sheryl Crow, Billy Holiday, Beyonce, Willie Nelson, Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, Lifehouse, maroon 5 and countless others.
When did you make the move to NY from Georgia? Do you think this move has helped catapult your career? What would be your advice to an indie artist who is trying to
make it in a small town?
Actually New York is like a second home. I still have a place in Georgia as well. New York happened about 1.5 / 2 years ago. I’ m thinking about Los Angeles now since I have been going there a lot this year. I think it has helped the career for the simple fact that, connections are all over. I think if you want to be successful in the music industry, you have to meet people all over. Just being in one city is not enough. If someone is in a small town, they you can use the power of social media to establish themselves and then when they are able to explore a bigger city, they should take on the opportunity. There’ s no excuse. You have so many ways to submit to things over the internet and get exposure. Nothing
beats meeting people in person, but the second best thing to that is online.
With all the music downloads from your over a million fans, you are the epitome of a successful artist who did not need to sell their soul for a slice of success. Many of our readers are indie artists who are trying to get where you are. Do you have any advice for them to rise to the top without future
regrets of what they did to get there?
I will say to other artists, to find ways to stay persistent at what you’ re doing. Be open to growth and be open to perfecting your craft constantly. And network, network, network. You never know when it’ s the right place and the right time.
Do you have a significant other or is that on the backburner due to your burgeoning career? How important is a partner to you right now?
Having a significant other is on the back burner for now. Relationships take a lot of time, energy and dedication and it really takes two people being compatible with each other. My friends and family often get frustrated with me because they all say I work too much. I’ m learning to balance leisure time, but when you are building a foundation of your career, sometimes that’ s the cost of success. Having a partner will be important and I am open to it at the right time as long there is mutual understanding and communication.
What project can we look forward to from you?
I am working on putting out a book that is estimated to be out at the end of the year, or the beginning of next year. I’ m also working on some great music to bring to the fans and it will be another part of the evolution of Steve Ryan.