1. Tea or coffee?
Coffee no doubt, I have a cup every morning. Tea just never did it for me

2. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Night owl

3. What is your favorite childhood memory?
probably 7th grade, it was just an excellent year all around

4. Why do you do what you do for a living?
I write songs/produce because nothing has ever been more satisfying to me than creating music. It’s a real addiction for me, I simply cannot stop. The overwhelming ecstasy I get from listening to a finished song of my own is worth all the work.

5. How did you start doing what you do?
I just simply started. I sat down at my keyboard and started banging songs out, and then began to arrange and produce the tracks on my computer. As the songs got more and more complex I became more and more fascinated with the process.

6. If you could do something other than this for a living, what you choose and why?
When I was younger I really wanted to make films. I still love the idea, I just wish I had natural talent for filmmaking.

7. What is your favorite song and why?
“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys. It is simply the greatest pop single of all-time. If someone was to write and record “Good Vibrations” today, in 2007, it wouldn’t be so impressive. But for Brian Wilson to record such an awe-inspiring masterpiece with so many different session men, instruments and layers of sound on analog in 1967 was a revelation. It still is. My favorite part is the very beginning, where Brian says “I…I love the colorful clothes she wears” over that eerie, gorgeous organ sound and bass. Amazing.

8. List the top 10 things you must do to die happy:
1) finish my album i’m currently working on
2) learn to play more instruments
3) live in a mansion/own a rolls-royce
4) contribute in some way to the election of a Democratic president in 2008
5) write a symphony
i could only think of five…

9. Do you believe in God? Why or why not?
not really. i’m agnostic. if God shows up and is like “hey Ryan, what’s up?” then I’ll believe in him. until then, I’m a skeptic.

10. Are you happy? Why or why not?
Yes, I’m happy because I’m doing what I love to do the most and getting some recognition for it.

11. What is your greatest triumph to date in your career? In your personal life?
Probably getting on the Rolling Stone 25 Best Bands on Myspace list. That was a real honor.

12. What are your future plans?
To get my album done and hopefully start producing other artists.

13. What inspires you?
great music, art, people. it totally depends.

14. List the top five, all-time, greatest albums:

1. The Beach Boys - “Pet Sounds” no question the greatest record ever. as I’m sure you can tell, I’m a total Beach Boys fanatic…but for good reason. Their music from 1965-67 is the most invigorating, fantastic pop of all-time and “Pet Sounds” is the apex. it’s the only album i’ve ever heard that’s totally impossible to get tired of. “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)” in particular gets me every time.

2. Brian Wilson - “SMiLE”
ah, if only he finished this album in 1967, music would be so much different today. this 2004 revival project is still the same masterpiece though, a great three-movement concept album. van dyke parks’ lyricism is a particular high water mark.

3. The Beatles - “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
how could I not include this? The Beatles were the masters of commercially viable rock/pop in the ’60s and this album is total validation for that. it’s amazing that something so simple musically could turn out so amazing on tape.

4. Van Morrison - “Astral Weeks”
Van Morrison’s criminally overlooked 1967 masterpiece is one of the strangest albums I’ve ever heard. the impressionistic lyrics on top of the strongly jazz-flavored musicianship make a superb blend. but it is of course Van’s heartbreaking, poignant vocals that take the cake.

5. Miles Davis - “Kind of Blue”
I commonly refer to “Kind of Blue” as my first religious experience with music. I was probably twelve when I found this in my dad’s CD collection. i had never heard a jazz record before, and it being the greatest of them all, i was flabbergasted. it’s an endlessly beautiful jazz spectacle.

15. Name five other artists / musicians / bands / people, who you would like to respond to these questions. Pass it on, pay it forward…you can also give me their contact info and I will forward it…
white stripes, phil spector, brian wilson, madlib and girl talk.

16. How can we keep track of you? Please include photos w/ proper photo credits, pics, and links to websites.
MYSPACE, as i’m yet to get a website up.

17. Anything else you want us to know about you…?
not particularly. what i tell people is if they really want to get to know me, take my advice and buy a copy of “Pet Sounds.” it is more telling than anything I could ever put into words.

Read more about PROJECT FOLKS on my website, Media Tea Shop. If you would like to participate, please Read more about PROJECT FOLKS on my website, Media Tea Shop. If you would like to participate, please fill out our form a you will receive an email with instructions.