The songs on Ryan David Orr‘s album, New Imperials, reflect the complexity of emotions and catharses that have come with the past several years. Topics range from wedding love songs, to adolescent sexual identity crises, to the notion that maybe we humans just don’t deserve the earth. It is a mix of compelling lyrics, catchy hooks and melodies, and beautiful, rich instrumentation.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Ryan about the album, challenges, his musical journey and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and how do You describe your style of music?
I am originally from Oregon, but I have lived for the past 17 years in Arizona, so now I tend to say I’m from AZ. Generally, I tell people that my style of music is indie-folk or indie-rock. It sort of jumps around depending on the vibe I’m going for at the moment.
How did you get here? As in, what inspired or motivated you to take on this journey through music and the music biz?
I began playing music at a young age, and my mother was a folk/country singer-songwriter, so music and performance was always around. I was in musicals and plays as a child and in my teen years, and I felt at home on the stage. When I was about 14 years old, I really got in to rock music and had switched from focusing on violin to playing guitar, so I spent the next years honing my craft and dreaming of high-energy rock performances. Once I started to write songs I liked, it fueled my inspiration and motivation to keep creating. But once I started to write songs that other people liked, I knew I wanted to take it more seriously.
How does your latest project compare/contrast with your previous release(s)? Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?
My recent album is called New Imperials, and as far as subject matter goes, I think I wanted to explore the ways that people try to control the world. We all do it in different ways and to varying degrees, and often it falls flat or proves to be counterproductive. Not all of the songs on the album are specifically about that, but that’s where my head was during the writing process (which was basically the duration of the COVID pandemic – there were substantial amounts of attempts to control the world going on). Stylistically, there are a couple songs on the album that fall into that indie-rock/alternative realm, but much of the album is melodic and organic, with many acoustic and classical guitar parts and layered vocals. I find that over time I lean more heavily into the folk and americana realm.
Name the biggest challenge you faced as a creative during these unprecedented times. How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?
The biggest challenge during the COVID pandemic, as I’m sure many musicians would agree, was that so many live shows had to be canceled. I was still able to play a decent number of outdoor and socially distanced performances, but it wasn’t quite the same. However, my creative fires didn’t really die down much. In fact, spending so much time at home and in the studio resulted in writing and producing a ton of music. I worked on side projects, did experimental studio stuff, hosted live streaming shows, and generally created material to release when things became more normalized. Now I’m mostly focused on trying to promote my music in a world that is saturated with easily accessible music.
What was the last song you listened to?
I think it was “On the Sly” by the band Palm. I have really been getting into their recent album Nicks and Grazes, and I am going to see them in Phoenix in December.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms?
I am partial to vinyl. I have a large collection that I have been amassing since I was 15 years old. It’s a very intimate medium – you have to touch it, spin it, flip it, really get involved with the listening process. It’s almost impossible to disregard the time and effort it took to make the music you listen to on vinyl, whereas with streaming it is almost impossible NOT to disregard that.
Where is the best place to connect with you and follow your journey?
The first place is my website – www.ryandavidorr.com Then, you can follow me and my creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp
I really appreciate Your time. Anything else before we sign off?
Thank you for your interest in my music. Look for 2023 to be an action-packed year full of new releases and creations!
