A Chat with Ryan Edmond (25.08.2020)
As the last teaser before his debut EP in September, Ryan Edmond has unleashed ‘If She Knew’. Using psychedelic guitars and pulsing drums, he draws you into the single and makes you want more. Blending influences, he takes you on a sonic journey that you will not forget any time soon. We sat down with Ryan Edmond to talk about the single, his creative process, music and much more!
OSR: Was there a moment or experience that make you think that music was the right career for you?
Edmond: I’m still unsure if music is the right career for me, I’m just kind of playing it by ear! (laughs) Although I guess the moment I decided I was going to take a break from carpentry and focus on singing and songwriting was once I moved to Sweden. I began studying Jazz trumpet at a school here which was amazing!
Sweden really pushes people to follow their passions! I met a Swedish guy a few days ago and we got talking, his high school was based around skateboarding so some of his classes were skating! It’s the most epic thing I have ever heard of (laughs), not to mention it’s free schooling. After studying Jazz trumpet for a year, I then began playing some open mics and met a few awesome songwriters who I did some sessions with. Once returning to Australia, I got the opportunity to support my friend and amazing artist Matt Gresham on his Western Australia tour. I was super nervous and after many courage beers, I made it through my set and was hooked.
OSR: If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing right now?
Edmond: My girlfriend and I started a clothing company a few years ago which is 100% organic and ethical called True Threads. So, I would continue to work with that and raising the awareness of the textile industry sweatshops.
I am also a carpenter. I really enjoy being outdoors and working creatively with my hands.
OSR: What instruments do you play and which would you love to still learn?
Edmond: (laughs) This is a tough one as I play many instruments but how good at them I am is another story. I would say guitar, vocals and trumpet although I love to mess around on the drums and I am currently learning the piano. So I guess I would say I would love to learn piano.
OSR: Is there a story behind your single ‘If She Knew’?
Edmond: I started writing ‘If She Knew’ after seeing a woman standing up on a bridge screaming at the top of her lungs, thinking about taking a leap to possibly end her life. I was trying to imagine what she could have been going through to find herself in that position. This thought really stuck with me. You never know what someone is enduring on the inside and you should never be too quick to judge them without knowing their story.
After witnessing a number of friends battling with mental illness, I feel it’s crucial that we talk more about it. When returning to Australia for a holiday, I told the story and played the song to my good friend Callum Ffoulkes, who goes under the artist name Yung Goon. He freestyled a verse on the spot. It blew me away how he immediately could connect to the story and paint a picture through his words and melodic flow.
‘If She Knew’ is a story that needs to be told. A reminder that we need to take care and look after each other, as well as letting go of the stigma that it’s shameful to reach out to friends, family or professionals if you feel that you need someone to talk to. I want ‘If She Knew’ to be a reminder of that.
OSR: What was the creative process for ‘If She Knew’?
Edmond: I had the guitar and lyrics down and I was jamming with my friend and incredible drummer Eddie Narain, he really took it to the next level with his syncopated/reggae-influenced drumming. From there, we jammed it with the band, Phil Legget on guitar and Alex Egan on bass. Then we got into the record studio hothouse in Melbourne and began the recording process.
OSR: After the pandemic, are you planning gigs or a tour?
Edmond: Yes! I am super keen to get out and play some gigs again. I would love to do a European tour and head back to Australia for a tour with the band.
OSR: What did you enjoy most about recording ‘If She Knew’?
Edmond: Just the whole process really. Hot House is one of my favourite places in the world. (laughs)
OSR: If your music was a mountain, how tall would it be?
Edmond: I’m not too sure actually, although since living in Sweden I have been loving snowboarding. So if it was big enough to snowboard down, even just a short run I would be pretty stoked. (laughs)
OSR: What can we expect from you in the future?
Edmond: I am releasing my debut album in the coming months. It was going to be a 6 track EP although I have decided to add a couple of tunes so now it will be an 8 track album. Which I am super excited to release, it’s been a long process with lots of breaks in between. I think the first day in the studio was 2 years ago for this album.
Thanks to Ryan Edmond for chatting with us! You can find more about him on his website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
