Analysis of a Songwriter: Ry Edwards - Part II

A Ry Edward’s Exclusive Interview (Part 2):

5. Your greatest frustration in being a songwriter and/or performing musician

Getting inspired at the wrong time. Like you want to write a song while you’re in a meeting. You try to keep the melody in your head, and you have to fight to urge to hum it. Then you spend the whole meeting writing song lyrics instead of taking notes. Whoops. Or you don’t have a pen! That’s awful. You’ve got a great lyric and no place to record it! Or just recording. Recording is HARD!!! And EXPENSIVE!!! You want people to come out and be part of an experience. That’s the fun part of being a musician.

6. A song that changed someone's life that they told you about?

I, personally, like to think every song changes the listener’s life, but I’d have to say it’s the song “Dad”. I’ve had people tell me about father’s whom they don’t connect with, but the song showed them how their dads showed their love through sacrifice. I wrote the song with a prominent memory in mind. One night we were having dinner together and there was some issue and tempers were heating up. In a moment of passion my father said, “Do you want to know why I go to work everyday?” We just sat still. The silence settled in and he finished, “The reason is sitting around this table.” It’s the most poetic thing my dad has ever said. And I was able to work the line into the song.

7. Favorite other music Projects/Collaborations/Collaborators you've worked with

Relic is a band I play with. It’s old timey. Guitar, Stand-up Bass and a girl that can give you chills with her voice.

I like that I am not the primary songwriter. Joe Nicola and Elisabeth Smith write the guitar riffs and psychoanalyze the lyrics as they write them. I sit back and practice the music while they hash out the song. Then I add some musicality like “Sing Oo after the chorus.” Or “hold that note for 4 counts.” Super Fun to perform with! (and low stress)

The Killer Hats is another project I’m part of. Here I sing and play and write, but it’s a totally different vibe. RT, my bass man, and Dan “The Dread Pollack” Scheppard are both great musicians that inspire me to write some cool heavier rock songs.

8. Most rewarding thing about being a singer/songwriter

Each song is a time capsule. Vivid memories emerge when I play the songs. I get lost in them. I feel refreshed from them. I release tension by playing them.

9. Other hobbies

Writing a medieval fantasy novel “Langston’s Peace”, and a musical “Rock and Roll, Baby”. Playing with the neighborhood kids including my 3 children. Finding new ways to make my wife fall in love with me every day.

10. Jobs you've held while being a musician

- Landscaper,

- Baseball diamond drag and chalker,

- Park mower and weed whipper,

- Garbage Collector,

- Data Entry Specialist,

- EDI Specialist,

- President of the Target Spots (Corporate Choir),

- Worship Commission Chairperson for Redeemer Covenant Church,

- Father of 3 children,

- Husband to an amazing woman!

and as of 2015: