naked writing...

For this record, I wanted everything to be fresh. Jerry and I toyed around with the idea of rerecording some of my old material, but my sound and musical tastes have changed since that time. Even the reasons that I write are different. It used to be that I would write a song just to try and get a "hit". It didn't matter what the subject matter was, I just wanted it to sell. There are some amazing writers that I really respect that have that formula down. I can't do that. I wish I did. I would make a lot of money! It just doesn't work for me, and it's not as fun to perform if it's not true to me. Also, I feel like with the nature of soul music, the artist needs to have an understanding of the subject to be able to reach a moment of collective understanding with his/her audience. I'm not sure if that makes sense, and it's definitely not that formulaic, but it's early and I was up late... cut me some slack. I do know that my good friend, the extremely lovely and extremely talented Danelle Corbin, once told me (after she mercilessly laughed at one of my song lyrics), "Boy, what do you know about nappy hair!? You'd better write what you know!"

My first response was, "Corbin, I grew up in 110 degree TX heat, 80% humidity, and I inherited my mother's obnoxiously curly hair. Don't tell me I don't know nappy! I will cut you."

To which she replied, "And WHAT do you know about cutting people!?"

And I was like, "Well I'm about to learn all about it right now, and you're about to learn with me!"

She said, "Nuh uh!"

I said, "Ok, you got me, I'll replace the word 'nappy' with 'curly'" But let it be known here and now that I fully realize aesthetically and poetically, "nappy" just sounds better. Whatever. Blame Danelle.

Seriously though, I really do understand and agree with the point that Danelle was making. One of my favorite authors once said that we spend so much time talking about other peoples' experiences (instead of our own), and pretty soon we become travel agents passing out brochures to places that we've never been. Dang.

So, don't expect to hear any songs about me "pimpin my hoes" or dealing with "paparazzi" or "slappin my mama". I haven't done any of those things. Yet... Please, Carole Greenawalt would BEAT ME DOWN in a slappin fight. Once. And only once--circa '95--was I on the receiving end of her mighty right hand. Fourteen years later I still feel the burn of shame warm on my left cheek.

But I digress.
I won't even be singing songs about being in love.

GASP! Ryan, do you mean to say that you've never...

No, No, No... now get over it!

I am, however really excited about the things that I am writing about. Two of the songs are inspired by my amazing sisters, and the rest are songs centered around issues that I feel are really important. And that is when soul music is at its best I think. Soul singers were some of Americas earliest activists. I'm not taking on any political or ideological juggernauts here, but I am taking this chance to get some things off of my chest that I think others can identify with as well.

So, back to my writing process... Some writers I know have some really crazy rituals and eccentricities. I'd like to think that mine are pretty tame :-). Here's a stupid video of me trying to explain what I do every morning. I apologize for the partial nudity.






...And that's how most of the songs for this record were written, with the exception of the ballad I wrote with Jenny. We did half of that at her house and the other half sitting at the miniature tables and chairs in the children's section of Barnes and Noble. They make me keep my clothes on there. I write at a piano also, but I haven't had it moved into my new apartment yet. So it's just me and Mr. Garage Band right now. I pretty much only write songs in the mornings. Throughout the day, I'll think of lyric ideas, melodies, or riffs and record them on my phone or on one of the many recorders that I have strategically placed (one by my bed for when I dream songs... no joke, one in my car, and one in my bag) throughout my life. Then the following morning I'll sift through and work with the ones I like.

All of the songs were written in the last month. A few of the hooks and lyric ideas were from old journals and whatnot; but for the most part, everything is pretty fresh. I'm having a blast! Hope you like it!

jerry, not dave...

So I set up a meeting with Jerry Navarro to see if he would be interested in producing my record. This, ladies and gentlemen is my producer, Jerry:

What a badass. No seriously. That's Jerry.

We met at one of my favorite cafes here in town, and he told me about his new ideas for music industry. Long story short, we decided to team up and make this record. It's been a long time coming, and I can't tell you how excited I am!!

But I'll try ;-). There are some things in life that we do because we have to... other things we do because we enjoy it... and then there are those things (as cheesy and Sister Act II-ish as it sounds) that you know if you didn't do, your head would explode. That "thing" is singing for me... well, performing in general. However, it's just been a job for me for so long. I'm tired of singing other peoples' songs. I want to perform the things that I feel. Like I said, it's been a long time coming, and I'm ready to do a LOT of writing!

a little background

Not too long ago, I signed a record contract to sing with a Christian vocal group. Growing up, that was the pinnacle for me. All I wanted to do was sing like Larnelle Harris or David Phelps. That was the music that I grew up listening to, and I knew that I would finally be "successful" if I was doing what they were doing... singing really high, loud, and loooong notes! Well I finally got my opportunity, and while I don't regret that year and a half of my life--I truly made some deep and lasting relationships--it was clear to me that singing in the "Christian" industry just wasn't for me. In fact, there seems to be way less integrity in that business than there is in the mainstream industry. At the end of the day, the Christian music business is just that... a business. Don't get me wrong. There are beautiful people inside of that world, but they have a fortitude that I find myself lacking. I just didn't belong there.

And now I find myself asking if I belong in the "Industry" (big I) at all. I know that singing is my passion, but I'm not sure if I can do that whole record label thing again. I got off easy. My label never paid for crap sooooo I didn't owe them crap. But I have too many friends in this town that have had "major" deals and when everything went south--for whatever reason--they found themselves with a six-figure debt. It is so common here. It's also no fun to be told where to go, what to do, what to sing, how to sing it, what to wear, how to act, what to say, etc... all in the name of "branding". Basically, singing hasn't been fun for me for a long time. It was time to change that.

I decided that it was time to record my own independent record, and goal number 1 was to have fun. The only problem is, I am an artist in the purest sense. My art lies in my writing and my performing, but everything else in my life is a mess. I am not organized. I can conceptualize, but I have no idea how to make it happen. I needed a producer. And one that understood the kind of music that I want to create. Soul.

A caveat. First, I fully realize that I am a white boy that grew up in middle class suburbia. But also know--if you don't already--that I have been singing this music all my life. Soul music started in the church, and believe me... I know gospel music. (And PS... I'm talking about REAL gospel music. Not the Southern variety. Sorry Gaither fans!) Besides, I just tell people "soul" because everyone wants to know a genre. I guess soul is the "home base" for this record, but I will infuse just about all of my other influences in as well. Basically, I'm just making the record that makes me happy. And I think that will make you happy too.

One of my dearest friends is the lovely and the talented Jenny Slate.

Jenny and me with our Britney Spears microphones. And yes... those are rhinestones on my collar. Don't worry about it.

She is an amazing singer/songwriter, and it turns out that she's pretty good at ovulating (be honest, you were nervous about that hyperlink) too because her and her husband have a baby on the way! Seriously though, check out her music. Now. I'll wait.

Ok, where were we? Oh yes, Jenny had just finished a record with an incredibly talented bass player that we both know named Jerry, but I didn't know that he produced as well. When I told her that I wanted to do a solo soul record she said he would be perfect, I had to get him to produce me, and if I didn't then I was dumb. I said yes ma'am.

and the process begins...

Hello dear friends, family, fans, enemies... whomever you are, thanks for visiting my little blog site. This will chronicle (hopefully in detail) the process of my new record and me, Ryan Greenawalt, as an artist. I'm pretty open. My life is pretty messy, but I love it, and I love what I do. So here are my dreams, desires, frustrations, vices, problems, victories, art, younameits all in one little blog. I hope you enjoy.