Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Cleaver. Ryan was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Bryce Owens.
Hi Ryan, we’re so thrilled to have you sharing your story with us today. Maybe we can kick things off by having you introduce yourself to our readers? We’d love to have you go into your story and how you got to where you are today.
In my lifetime, I can think of nothing else besides music that has stuck with me along every step of my journey, or that has affected me as profoundly. Since I was a child I have been enamored with music and the musicians who make it, and this admiration was furthered by my own family’s involvement in music. Every year my family has a reunion, and every year for my early life this reunion would include a show from our very own family band “Pippenfinch”. I enjoyed these shows immensely, and I often credit them as one of the biggest motivations for my passionate love for music. My father was an excellent guitar player and encouraged me to follow a musical path from the moment I was born, teaching me multiple instruments (or at least attempting to) and introducing me to countless genres. As I grew up I continued pursuing these passions on my own, and eventually, I decided I wanted to begin making music myself. When I was 16 I purchased Ableton Live 9, and my journey truly began. From making beats in my basement to recording and mixing full bands and albums myself, I have been blessed with countless opportunities to work with amazing people and creative artists. I am now working with artists in multiple states simultaneously, and I am preparing to release a lot more music before the end of 2024. From Maryland to Memphis music has allowed me to connect with and share my artistic passions with tons of wonderfully interesting people, and without it, I would not be in half of the positions I am today, or even be the same person.
Please talk to us about your music.
Music has been with me for my entire life, but when I was a teenager it began to truly change me. I became enamored with music so intensely that I spent hours every day intently listening to albums from a wide variety of genres and artists. Constantly I spent hours studying album lore, lyrical meaning, sample locations, and beat breakdowns. I had an unquenchable thirst for music that was new and mysterious to me, and in my sophomore year of high school, I found it. Clams Casino, Spaceghostpurrp, Three Six Mafia, and Raider Klan were the perfect storm of genre-bending acts that fell perfectly in line with my life at the time. Their music spoke to my soul in a way that nothing had before it. I was so inspired by them, particularly Clams Casino, that I could no longer see myself doing anything with my life besides attempting to provide other kids with the same elation that this music had provided me. In high school, I began working with friends and local rappers to create music that we loved, regardless of what others thought. Eventually, I realized I wanted to take music a bit more seriously, and by the time I was 18, I began looking for schools where I could get a formal education in the subject. I figured it would help convince people I was serious about pursuing music as a career. Despite the conviction of many that true musicians do not need a formal education, it was the perfect environment for me to truly blossom. I discovered sides of the industry I never would’ve on my own and learned skills and tricks that I will use for the rest of my life. Not to mention the incredible connections I have made with people along the way. This year I released a self-recorded, mixed, and mastered EP with an artist I have been working with for years now, he goes by “Bo3”. Our music is available on all major streaming platforms, as well as for purchase. I also recorded and mixed 7 songs on an exciting folk rock album that is releasing this September 7th. The album is called “Eastward”, by Zeke Wright and The Remnant and will also be available on all major streaming services. I am employed at the Sam Phillips Recording Studio as an assistant engineer, as well as Resource Entertainment, a Memphis-based live sound company that hosts music events in Memphis, Arkansas, Mississippi, and the surrounding areas. I have also gotten the amazing opportunity to work with the recording academy as the Memphis Chapter Intern this year, which I am extremely grateful for. None of this would have been possible without the support of the incredible people and musicians I have met along the way, and I am very happy to have the strong support that I do. Many more projects and opportunities are coming too, and I’m excited to be able to share them with the world!
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Bryce Owens and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Bryce.
Bryce and I met in the fall of 2021 at the University of Memphis. We had a music industry class together, and I vividly remember his class introduction. I felt like I could really relate to him. His life experiences were similar to mine, and it was clear he had come to similar conclusions based on them. Luckily we were placed in the same group for the final project, a song production project that included marketing our group and its music. This is when I got to truly know him, and I quickly realized how genuine he was as a person, I always felt more than comfortable being myself around him, and our musical tastes aligned perfectly. Working with him has always been smooth as butter, and it shows in our results. The music we have made together is better than almost anything I have done on my own, and I am extremely proud to be able to work alongside him, and grow alongside him. In the studio, we understand each other’s workflow, and we are always able to solve problems quickly and easily. His clever wordplay, excellent vocal technique, and cunning songwriting abilities make him an invaluable asset on both his projects and the projects that he is featured on.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1600tripps/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-cleaver-b88a01273
Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/7CCLvvOlb5OgEcX0xaghV3?si=4nXzqyoGSJ6R3jGjKVVM0Q
Image Credits
Kai Perry, Elaina Moore
