Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself.
My name is Ryro, and I make pop music! I’m from the UK but currently living in Madrid, Spain.
What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
I’ve been writing songs ever since I was a kid – it’s pretty much always been my go-to way to express myself. Once I realised that making music was what I wanted to do with my life I spent several years teaching myself music production and invested a lot of time in co-writing sessions to really hone my songwriting skills. Now I’m proud to be releasing music that I write, sing and produce myself. It’s challenging but it means I have complete creative control.
Tell us about your new music ? And what’s the story behind it?
I released my debut single ‘Tidal Wave’ in April this year – it’s a sultry mid-tempo pop song about reclaiming your sexual power after a heartbreak. I wanted my first official single to be a good introduction to my type of pop music – it’s a bold song about sex and sexuality with a catchy chorus, so I think it sums up my style well!
What makes your music unique? How would you describe it?
I’m a total pop music geek. I like to use sounds from other genres, like dance, house, or country, but at its heart my music will always be pop. My biggest bugbear is lazy pop music – clumsy lyrics or ideas that have been done a million times… I really try with my songs to say things in new ways and to be imaginative with my lyrics.
Who are your biggest musical influences? And any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?
My songwriting is definitely influenced by Carly Rae Jepsen – she has an amazing ability to combine a bittersweet sentiment with super catchy melodies, and her lyrics are a great balance of literal and poetic for me. In terms of production, I grew up listening to Max Martin-produced hits by Britney & Katy Perry, but recently I’ve been taking inspiration from producers like Joel Corry and MK as well. Whenever I’m producing I have these kinds of sounds in mind. I would love to write with Tinashe, I think she’s an incredible and underappreciated star.
Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?
Getting to write with MNEK was an awesome experience. He saw my potential after hearing my demos so invited me for a couple of co-writing sessions. It was my first time co-writing and I was super nervous but it was a watershed moment for me in deciding that this was something I could really do if I set my mind to it.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?
It’s definitely tricky! Especially as an independent artist, the amount of time spent on things like marketing and admin is crazy. I often find I’m not getting enough time to spend on the actual music because I’m so busy with all the other stuff. I just try to be as efficient as possible with my time and plan ahead.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
You have to make a conscious decision to choose to believe in yourself 100%. Beyond that, if you enjoy the process then whatever level of success you have you’ll still feel like a winner.
If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
Pop music is escapism for me – I want to take my fans to the same dreamworld that pop music takes me to.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?
My second single ‘Turn Off The Light’ comes out on Friday 25 June. I’m super excited for this one! The production is an upbeat mix of pop/dance/electronic sounds and the song is about a relationship in peril – a couple who “turn off the light” every night and refuse to talk about their relationship issues. Keep an eye on my social media for teasers!
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