Ryan Cabrera – Interview

Ryan Cabrera has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most compelling new voices on the modern pop scene. A gifted songwriter, singer, and musician, Ryan has also emerged as a captivating live performer and charismatic personality, winning over a legion of devoted fans from coast to coast. Now, Ryan is back with his eagerly awaited new collection, You Stand Watching. Produced by Ryan himself, the album offers dramatic evidence of Ryan’s rapid growth as both a composer and lyricist. YOU STAND WATCHING in stores NOW!

We talk to Ryan!

Hip: There are a lot of expectations, how are you handling that?

Ryan: For the new record?

Yeah.

I didn’t even think about it. Everyone was talking to me about the sophomore slump. But I just went in with the attitude that I was going to make the best record possible. I went in and recorded it and I’m very happy with it.

How long did you take to record it?

I got off the road, I produced it myself—so it flew by. I recorded it in twenty-one days.

Did you write while you were on the road?

No, I had them written about a month before I recorded.

Do the songs come naturally because a month seems pretty short?

Yeah, I wrote fifteen or sixteen songs and then narrowed it down. I was flowing. I was in the zone and going with it.

Obviously the first record came out and you saw who the fans were. Do you think about that when you are writing the record? Or is it you writing songs for you?

Ultimately you have to write a record for yourself. You can only hope that people enjoy it. You only hope they can relate to what you are saying. You have to believe what you—you have to sell what you believe or people won’t relate to it.

And they won’t buy it.

Exactly.

Do you have to work on the hooks?

That is the hard part about writing songs. You have to write the hooks. That’s why not everyone does it.

Does it come off a guitar riff?

Whatever comes in my head. When I hear something I just roll with it.

But you are writing—it’s about the hooks. If everyone could write them we’d all be songwriters.

We’d all be singers.

Do you have the year planned out?

Right now I’m doing lots of press. I shot my own TV show for MTV. Then I’m heading out on tour in October.

What is the MTV thing?

The basic concept is a show called “Score.” There are two aspiring songwriters on the episode. They have one day to write a song to try and score a date. We get together and write a song together and they perform live based upon the song. They don’t get to see the guy. And I also get to perform some of my songs on the record.

What do you enjoy most?

Definitely touring. I’m playing shows now on the weekends so it keeps me happy.

A lot of people dream of being on stage. What is it like?

It’s unreal. That feels like home you know? The touring life and getting to perform is a great freedom.

When fans sing along is that surreal?

It’s the best. That is the coolest thing. You dream about that when you are a kid.

I couldn’t imagine being up there and they are singing along to something you created.

It’s so cool.

How has your life been because people recognize you?

It’s fun. As long as you have a good attitude about it and don’t let it get to you its all good fun.

It’s not so easy to go to the store.

Yeah, not so easy anymore.

Do you ever hope that you get an older base of fans to go along with the teenagers? Obviously you get in all the teen mags but…

…I hope that comes. Those magazines want to have you in it so its part of the world. That comes from being a young singer more than about the music.

What was it like self-producing?

It was great. I’ve always loved to produce. I felt like for this record I was going to show what was up and do it myself. I know what I wanted the record to sound like so I just went for it.

Was the studio at your house?

I did half of it in a big studio and half at my house. Me and my buddies just recorded there.

Pro-Tools?

Definitely.

There is a big learning curve there.

Yeah, but I learned how to use it the first time around and watched. Any time anything happened I would ask why they did certain things.

+ Charlie Craine