In The Studio With Christian Ryan

We sat down for quick interview with the artist who hails from Detroit. His interest span the gamut of American minimalism and computerized orchestras, he is a young force to take note of. We have had the joy of getting to know him in the process that it took for him to give Verdades a new symphonic sound. Stay tuned for more exciting work. Until then, Get to know the man behind the music (coming soon):

M d. E If you could make a fragrance what would it smell like?

I love anything with Ambroxan, I could wear it on its own. I would probably add a floral element, and Geranium –  I just love it! I also want to say leather to add that sort of naughtiness that makes a fragrance interesting.

M d. E Who are some of your favorite Artists and Authors? 
One of my favorite visual artists of all time is Gerhard Richter. He's been a consistent influence on me. Philip Glass of Course, I love that he has so many different eras in his career. Each decade is like a totally different artist. Bob Wilson is writer and a director, he’s just groundbreaking. And I love Richard powers. I've been reading a lot of his his work for the past three or four years.

M d. E Do you have any rituals or ways in which you become yourself? 
My work is so chaotic, nothing is really precious. I'll write things and then scrap it in an instant, it could be a 20 minute orchestra piece, it doesn't even faze me! I'm never really planning. I’ll have an idea and then start from the beginning and go through to the end.

M d. E What do you value in Life and what do you avoid?
I value when things are genuine and honest, especially in the art world. I really appreciate when something isn’t trying to please somebody just to get attention. That's always been an important thing to portray in my work, my life and career. I would probably avoid the opposite of that.

M d. E Do you have any scent memories that stick out in your mind?
It’s kind of a negative one [laughs]. The scent of artificial apples that smell like Pier 1 Imports. My mom, I love her, but she loves Apple Cinnamon specifically that very artificial scent you find in like Glade Sprays. I don't know if I have any positive scent memories [Laughs] I have room to make some!

M d. E Outside of Music who is Christian Ryan, is that even inextricable?
There’s always musical things happening in my mind. Separate from being a composer, I love to cook, I’m a big cat dad, I like to be social; normal people things! I watch a million movies and I’m listening to all types of music obsessively. I think every artist would say that paying attention to everything happening around you is the most important thing. Eventually, you’ll have all of these fragments of things you enjoyed and then all of a sudden they turn into a soundworld that is uniquely your own.

Christian Ryan (b.1992) is a Detroit-based composer and violinist. As a frequent arranger and collaborator, he has written and premiered works for long-time childhood friend and violinist, Natalie Frakes and Detroit-based string quartet Six Mile Strings. Most recently, Ryan composed a new work, Fast Love Song, dedicated to and commissioned by Six Mile Strings, premiered at Strange Beautiful Music — an annual series of concerts dedicated to new music in Detroit, sponsored by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Ryan has also composed several pieces for violinist Kehan Zhang, the first of which, First Viola Study, was performed and recorded at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, followed by a Violin Concerto that premiered in Harbin, China in the Summer of 2015. Additional works include compositions for saxophonist John Seaton; NYC-based organist and composer, Buck McDaniel; and flutist Eric Lamb, of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), along with film scores and dance music. His inspirations range from English Renaissance, to American minimalism and pop music.