ARTIST INTERVIEW: Ryan Lafferty

He's the guy who captured everyone's attention on tour with Dan + Shay.

The guy who tells stories and captures moments with his tone, lyrics, and energy.

He's the guy behind one of the best EP's of the summer. 

HE IS RYAN LAFFERTY.

Age 

28

Hometown || Currently Live

Man, WV but currently in Nashville, TN

What made you want to start singing/writing?

I remember laying in bed at night as a kid and sneaking to listen to music and dreaming of being the guy on stage, and somewhere at my parents house is a box of songs I would write at night. They are terrible and let’s all hope they’re never found haha It’s just kind of always been in my blood, but it was probably sophomore year of college before I realized it was something I could chase as a career

Do you play any instruments? Did you teach yourself?

I play guitar and piano. Self taught on YouTube haha. I had lot’s of help along the way by watching friends who were better than me

Who are your biggest musical inspirations?

Keith Urban, John Mayer, Ryan Tedder, and Justin Timberlake

Where do you get inspiration to write?

I think the best songs are always true. I try to pull from my own experiences and the experiences of friends as much as possible.

Do you have a favorite song that you’ve written or co-written?

My current favorite is “Out of the Picture” but this changes weekly. All my songs are like my kids haha It’s really hard to pick a favorite

What moment in your career is your favorite thus far?

My High School alma mater used my song as their prom song about 4 years ago, and that was pretty awesome. That night also happened to be my first date with my wife!

Finish this sentence, If I could write a song for or with anyone I would choose….?

I’ve actually had the pleasure to write with a lot of my writing heroes. But I would still love to write with Ryan Tedder and Keith Urban!

If I could sing a song with anyone I would choose….? 

Carrie Underwood, Adele, or Ariana Grande!

Where do you see yourself in a year? 

Hopefully touring with a first single on the radio!! I dream big ; p

If I wasn’t a singer/songwriter I would be…? 

A teacher and a baseball coach!

I’m afraid of…? 

Bears. I will kill a bear in season or out of season. It’s faster than me and can climb the tree I’m in. I won’t take any chances! lol

I never get tired of…?

Pepperoni, pepper jack cheese, and crackers

What is one thing people may not know about you?

I loaded trucks at 4am at UPS when I first moved to Nashville, so I would have time to write during the days.

I would like to know the process of getting this EP out. Has it been a whirlwind or a long process?

Both! haha In some ways it's been a whirlwind because once we decided in February that it was time to move forward with the EP there was so much to do to get the recordings ready, but also everything else that comes with that like Album Artwork, website, picking the right songs, and a lot more. But in a lot of ways it was also a long process. I have been writing for two years for myself and other artists, and just chipping away and honing in on my sound. It was great to have that time to really work on that, and in return I have an EP that I couldn't be more proud of....

 How did you pick the final 6 songs? 

I meet with my producer's Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens regularly to play them songs that I have been writing, and get their opinions on which one's we like best. So we are always sorting them out and thinning the herd. These 6 songs imparticular just kind of always refused to go away-- they really showcase how I want people to hear me as an artist, they also showcase what I do differently within country music, and they translate perfectly into my current live show which was a big deal as well. We have more songs in the hopper that we are excited to put on the full album, so we haven't let ALL the cats out of the bag just yet. : )

  

Which song looks like it could be a single?

This is a current conversation we are having. If it were going to radio today it would be "Close To You" but that could always change between now and then.

Radio tour? Future?

 Exciting things are in the works to make sure we get the EP out there for people to hear. We'll head out on a radio tour once things unfold a bit more, but for now I'm staying busy working on the rest of the album and touring!

Ryan sums up his debut EP best in his song What The Night Might Bring…

"the kind of feelin' rushin' through your veins that you just can't explain. And it won't go away"

These six tracks will flow through your veins, flutter your heart, and make your toes tap for weeks.

Trust me, I'm still riding this music high.

HEAR RYAN'S DEBUT EP HERE:

EP REVIEW: The Half Of It // Ryan Lafferty

You've probably heard his name, his voice, his music.

Maybe you've jammed out to his SoundCloud page.

Or are you one of the lucky ones who's seen him on the road with Canaan Smith and Dan + Shay?

Regardless, you've NEVER heard Ryan Lafferty quite like this.

Country music, and music in general, tends to focus on story-telling. Ryan has the ability to capture moments in lyrics and songs like no one else I've ever met. The tone in his voice will have you heartbroken, overjoyed, and yearning for more. No matter the song or mood, Ryan captures it perfectly. 

The Half Of It EP features 6 songs:  Close To You, Out Of The Picture, Let Me Get You Through The Night, Thief, Stalemate, and What The Night Might Bring.

EP's are meant as a preview. A way to get to know the artist before the full album is usually released. I look at an EP as a platform to show people what you have to offer straight from the start. 

EP's should showcase a little of everything the artist has in their soul.

With The Half Of It, you have energy, lust, love, mystery, and soul all wrapped up in six great songs.

The song Stalemate was an early favorite. From the first line ["first date, sex great, check…"] I knew this was something I'd never heard before in country music. It's one of those songs that gets you thinking immediately. After the first listen, I wrote down "find out how this song came together" in my notes. And I did….

What is the story behind Stalemate? How did it come to life?

Ryan Lafferty: I was driving to a gig in Arkansas and i had the idea in my head, and that first line came to my head with that melody. I immediately recorded it into my phone and felt like it could be special. From there I wanted to write a song that didn't diminish the truth of a lot of those types of situations while still being true to the high, the lure, and the sexiness of it all. 

 Let Me Hold You Through The Night, Close To You, and Out Of The Picture are three songs I could see seamlessly folding into country music radio without people blinking an eye. Upbeat, fun, and relatable tunes that will have you groovin' on a Friday night for sure.

What The Night Might Bring is the perfect 'going out' song. It's about being in that moment of love/lust but not knowing what will happen at the end of the night.

"You broke into my heart. Now you're all I want…" // Thief. The song on the EP that really brought the groove. Ever had someone steal your heart? Well THIS is the song for you. Expect this little jam to be on repeat all summer long.

If HE had to pick a single right now, he says it would be Close To You. If I had to pick a single FOR HIM? Yeah, I couldn't. This EP is just THAT GOOD people. 

Ryan sums up his debut EP best in his song What The Night Might Bring…

"the kind of feelin' rushin' through your veins that you just can't explain. And it won't go away"

These six tracks will flow through your veins, flutter your heart, and make your toes tap for weeks.

Trust me, I'm still riding this music high.

Catch your first listen to The Half Of It when it is released exclusively to Spotify today:

Purchase the EP on iTunes in July.