Music Q&A with Ryan Allen
Photo courtesy of Ryan Allen
Ryan Allen (Extra Arms, Thunderbirds Are Now!) recently released a new EP titled I'm Not Mean! Taking inspiration from favorites like REM, The Smiths, Teenage Fanclub, Black Tambourine, and Crystal Stilts, the EP offers four short, poppy jingle jangle jams! In this Q&A, Ryan talked about the EP, who he would collaborate with if he could, and more!
Congratulations on the release of I’m Not Mean! What does the EP mean to you?
Hey thanks! The EP is another entry into my catalog - one where I followed a bit of a muse and the next thing I knew had 4 breezy little pop jams to put out there to the world. I never really fully plan out these types of things. Inspiration hits and I just follow it until I feel like something is done.
What’s your favorite song off the EP?
I don't really think of them as singular in that way. The EP has a unifying sound so I think of it more of a cohesive work that attempts to express a single thought or style. This time around I wanted to explore a more lighter, jangle-y sound that had a hint of Smiths melodrama and a few touchstones of late 80s and early 90s indie pop bands like Another Sunny Day, Belle and Sebastian, Pale Saints and Black Tamborine. I think I nailed it?
How did Covid affect the making and creative process of the EP, if it did at all?
Well, it seems almost impossible for COVID to NOT affect everything we do these days. In regards to this EP, my son actually had COVID during that time (he's 10) and was quarantined at his moms house. I found myself missing him a ton and instead of stewing in my sadness I turned it into something creative and wrote and recorded the EP in just a few days.
What instrument do you not play that you hope to learn someday?
I can get by on the piano - just pounding out some chords or playing single notes - but I would love to be able to sit down and go full Elton John on that thing.
If you had a chance to collaborate with a musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
Man - this is such an impossible question to answer. I have so many musical heroes that I can't pick just one...but if forced, I guess I would love to sit down with Johnny Marr and have him show me how to play guitar like he does.
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days. How do you stay positive?
I rely on a combination of things. I always try to remain in a state of creativity. I love projects and working on music. I always have something up my sleeve. I also spend time with my son and my girlfriend, mostly laughing and being goofy. Besides music and family, exercise is a huge outlet for me, whether it's running or lifting weights. Good for the body and the mind!
Thank you for taking the time for this Q&A. Any last words or final message for the readers?
If you have taken time to listen to any of my music ever or read this and want to check it out, I truly thank you!