A Conversation With Stacey Ryan on Her Latest Single “Over Tonight”
[UNPUBLISHED]: We absolutely loved your new single. You began your career as a classically trained jazz pianist and play a variety of other instruments. What was it about music that originally spoke to you as a medium for creativity?
[STACEY RYAN]: I just felt so gravitated towards it as a kid. My dad plays piano and I would always watch him in awe and soon after I started playing songs by ear on the piano. My brother and sister were more into sports and I guess I wanted to find something that I really liked, and music was it for me.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What drew you to transition to pop, soul, and R&B?
[STACEY RYAN]: Definitely listening to different styles of music as I grew up. I met friends who introduced me to artists like Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote and Moonchild, and from there I started discovering new artists but also keeping all the influence from the music I heard growing up like disco, rock, funk, etc.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How do you incorporate your jazz influences into your current music?
[STACEY RYAN]: I like to call my style of music jazzy pop. The jazz element comes in with the more intricate chords and instrumentation. I love having piano, Rhodes, Wurlitzer and organ and more because they bring a more old-school element to my music as well.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Do you remember the first song you ever wrote and if so, what was it about?
[STACEY RYAN]: I don’t think it was the very first one, but when I was around 9 I wrote a song called “Invisible.” I think it was about not feeling seen/feeling ignored but after that I stopped writing till I was about 18 because I felt that I hadn’t gone through enough life experience to write songs.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Who are your favorite artists and/or musical influences?
[STACEY RYAN]: I just recently started listening to Snoh Aalegra and I’m obsessed with her soulful voice and jazz-inspired chords and melodies.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Turning now to “Over Tonight,” this is your latest single after your previous viral hits. How would you say this new song compares to your previous work?
[STACEY RYAN]: I think Over Tonight comes off a little more mature sounding than my previous songs. This is probably my favorite song I’ve ever had the chance to write/sing/be a part of and I think it’s contributing to making a certain and distinguished musical sound for me.
[UNPUBLISHED]: As stated in the press release, the song is the “tale of a friends with benefits relationship taking a turn for the worst: when one party inevitably starts to develop feelings.” What inspired you to explore this painful but relatable scenario?
[STACEY RYAN]: Personally, I’ve never been in that situation but sitting in the studio on the day we wrote it, the chord progression and overall vibe led us down this path and we wanted to tell the story of two friends with benefits wanting to become more.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What is your favorite lyric or production element on the song and why?
[STACEY RYAN]: I think my favorite part is the bridge overall but lyric wise it’s “leave your watch on my nightstand, just so you can come back again” and it launches into a huge riff after that. I think it just implies how much these people want to see each other more but neither has the guts to come right out and say it.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What do you hope listeners take away from the song?
[STACEY RYAN]: I hope they hear all the intricate details in the production and also just the interesting chord choices and melodies.
[UNPUBLISHED]: After this release, what can fans expect from you next?
[STACEY RYAN]: More music (lots more) and touring! It’s going to be a busy next couple of months!
[UNPUBLISHED]: Huge congrats on kicking off your LA residency at The Sun Rose last month! What was it like to perform there regularly?
[STACEY RYAN]: The residency was amazing and I loved being able to play in a venue like the Sunrose because of its jazzy lounge feel. It brought me back to being in college and going to venues just like that to see amazing jazz musicians perform.
[UNPUBLISHED]: You’ll also be joining Jake Wesley Rogers and Joshua Bassett on their respective tours this year! How excited are you and what do you love about performing live?
[STACEY RYAN]: I’m super excited to be on the road again. Performing live is definitely my favorite part about this career and I’m going to be doing a whole lot of it very soon!
[UNPUBLISHED]: What is a career goal or dream of yours as you continue writing and making music? Let’s manifest!
[STACEY RYAN]: This is coming up but I can’t wait to release a full-length album. I have so many other dreams (winning a Grammy maybe) but I feel like putting out a long body of work is going to feel so rewarding and I can’t wait for people to hear the stuff I’m working on now!
[UNPUBLISHED]: Overall, how do you find yourself growing and maturing as an artist and finding your sound?
[STACEY RYAN]: I think this past year of being in the industry and working with amazingly talented people has definitely shaped my style of music and helped it grow to the place I want it to be. I’m still learning everyday but I like the jazzy pop sound that my music has.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What is a piece of advice you would give to young, aspiring artists?
[STACEY RYAN]: Be consistent but also stay true to who you are and what you want your music to sound like.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Outside of music, what do you enjoy doing for fun?
[STACEY RYAN]: I love hanging out with friends, going on hikes, discovering new restaurants/bars, traveling and I’ve recently started watching the new season of The Bachelor - I’m obsessed!
