Rising Artist Ryann Talks New Music

Oct 12, 2022

From her exciting collaborations to her new EP Trick Candle, Ryann's unique approach to pop music has put her high on our list of artists to watch.

Where do you find inspiration? Are there other types of media such as books or films that inspire you?

I don’t read nearly as much as I’d like to, but that’s definitely where I turn when I’m feeling creatively stuck. Recently, I’ve been hooked on ‘Beautiful World Where Are You?’ By Sally Rooney and have started re-reading Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. Other than that, I’ll always find inspiration in the movie “About Time.” I think I’ve seen it 10+ times.

Congrats on your new single “Spilling”, which is definitely a favorite of mine! How did the title of the song come to be?

First, I just want to say thank you! This song went through a few different phases lyrically — I recently listened to an earlier demo that had a completely different chorus and I believe the song was temporarily called ‘Mac and Cheese.’ I don't write a lot of positive love songs and found it to be really challenging finding the right words to express how I was feeling at the time. The relationship I was in was starting to show its cracks and I was desperately trying to avoid them. It was hard to face the reality that something with so many beautiful pieces was somehow falling to pieces. ‘Spilling’ as a concept was just my way of describing how I overcompensated in order to try and save the relationship.

As a fellow New Yorker, I’d love to know more about how growing up and living here has influenced your writing style. What is your favorite thing about being a musician in New York City?

To be honest, I feel like I learned the most about my writing style when I moved to LA at 18 and became a part of the writing community here. That being said, I definitely found a love for Jazz music through living in the city. I think 90% of the music I listened to, during my first year living in LA, was Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, and all the old standard classics. They were my comfort blanket when I was missing home — cheesy, but true.

If you were given the opportunity to collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would you pick?

I’d have to say, without a doubt, Joni Mitchell. Her music has gotten me through SO many break ups and heartbreaks and she’s definitely one of the first artists that inspired me to become a songwriter.

Make sure to listen to Ryann's new EP Trick Candle on Spotify, and follow MUD on Instagram for the latest interviews with your favorite artists.