We recently connected with Ryan Lindsay and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

“Meaning” can be a tough thing to pinpoint sometimes as an artist. What I have experienced over time is that your sense of purpose in your work as a musician changes as you grow as a person. When I started in my my first band, I thought it was a rush getting out under the lights, and having a good time with everyone in the audience. I was playing mostly dancehalls at that time. As I began to work out my songwriting, and gain new life experiences, I began to dig a little deeper than that. I wanted to share stories, I wanted to connect with people on a deeper level. We stripped the show back and did a listening room tour, which was a really meaningful experience for me to just get back to singing with nothing but my acoustic in front of people. I started to open up to my audience more, and that in turn influenced the songwriting. When I started to get more real with my songwriting, that’s when I experienced people coming up after the show or sending me a message online telling me that the songs really meant something to them. That journey has made the music a lot more meaningful to me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a touring artist from Alberta, Canada – I picked a guitar as a kid and I was always messing around with writing songs. I played in a band in college, and then I put out my own record. I started touring the music, and people have taken enough interest in it that I am fortunate enough to still be doing it. I try to get out on road as much as I can and share my stories and songs with audiences – right now I am touring in Texas. I love that way that music can connect with people no matter where you are from. It helps us place tough emotions, we can celebrate the good moments with it- it’s just something that is a really human experience, it’s part of our culture, and I’m glad to be part of that fabric.

I was playing a festival one time, and this gal comes up to me after the show crying. She said “your album helped get me through a tough year.” She didn’t know it but I had been going through a rough time where I has having all kinds of doubts about myself as an artist, wondering if the music was meaningful enough, wondering if it is all worth it. Her saying that meant alot, and those are the kinds of moments that keep me going. That’s what gets me up everyday to keep at it. Music is a labour of love, and that kind of stuff lights the fire.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Something I’ve learned over the years is to focus on the stuff that inspires you, not what you think other people want. The moments that I have found that stride, are the ones that I’ve ended up having the most success with anyways. At the end of it all, regardless of the outcome, you want to be able to look back on what you’ve created with your own internal satisfaction. That’s what allows you to keep moving forward.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

It was impressed upon me as a kid that if you work hard, you will find success, but what I’ve truly come to learn is that you can’t just work hard and find success. Sure, working hard is important but if it doesn’t come with intentional practice, then it is not going to come with the results you want. Focused, intentional practice is really where it is at.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ryanlindsaymusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanrlindsay/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanrlindsay
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ryanlindsaymusic