Ry
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Ry

Sunbury, Victoria, Australia | Established. Jan 01, 2012

Sunbury, Victoria, Australia
Established on Jan, 2012
Solo Hip Hop

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Review: Ivory Coast EP by Ry"

Ry’s new EP Ivory Coast has been a long time coming and the wait has been well worth it.Hitting #13 on the iTunes chart and featuring in the artist spotlight, Ry’s also added to Spotify’s Official Australian Hip-Hop playlist.

When interviewing Ry, I asked what was one thing he wanted to tell listeners before they heard Ivory Coast, he answered;
“I just want them to keep an open mind and realise that it’s not just hip-hop and rap. It’s music that anyone can take in and absorb. I’ve really got my sights on the bigger picture here. I don’t just want to make a good release and move on with it. I really want it to be something that puts me on a new level, so to speak. If they could find the time to check it out i would really appreciate it.”
So thats what I did. Admittedly I had been listening to it before the interview, but after hearing the statement and listening to it again, it makes all of the songs that much sweeter. There’s nothing slap dash about this EP. Everything is so precise and done with intention. Everything links up. The songs flow into each other and the cover art ties it all up perfectly, showcasing Ry’s keen eye for design. It’s refreshing to see an artist making something to their best ability, rather than churning out produce to just get to the next step.
Ivory Coast is an escape to an oasis. The EP features give brand new songs, Torn Denim being a personal favorite of both Ry and I. While Neon (Part 1) has gained top popularity on iTunes, the release also includes favourites Circles and Lightning in a bottle. Thrown into the mix is latest single Gimme That; 90s East Coast hip-hop with a catchy chorus will undoubtedly be added to the box of classic crowd pleasers for his live shows. There’s a range of tracks from party vibes to deep inner monologues; it’s a smooth mix providing something for every occasion. Normally I would liken an artist to someone else, but Ry’s stuff is ahead of the game so I just can’t. Its a mix of American hip-hop with some pop, but that’s as narrow as I can get. I challenge you to find someone who has the same sound.
To listen to all of his stuff before hearing it live on tour (soon to be announced) you have a few options, buy the EP on ITunes or stream it on Spotify. It’s not too late to get on the Ry train, you can buy hard copies of his pervious work here too. I’m so excited to see what’s coming next from Ry, I can barely sit still to hold a thought in my head. - Semple Size


"PREMIERE: Ry – ‘Gimme That (Feat. Jordan De La Cruz)’"

Rising Melbourne MC Ry, aka Ryan Egan, has just dropped his breezy new single Gimme That, made in collaboration with Brisbane singer Jordan de la Cruz, and along with a video to accompany it’s getting its premiere right here on Music Feeds.

The track is taken from the MC’s forthcoming Ivory Coast EP, and pays homage to late 90s east coast hip hop. Explains Ry, “Sometimes I take things too seriously, but this song is about the opposite of that. The ultimate high is just to let go.”

The young MC is part of a community of rising hip hop artists intent on diversifying the genre. “People are just a bit more open to opening up,” he says. “Maybe that’s what being ‘real’ is nowadays – just being upfront and honest and talking about that sort of stuff.”

The Gimme That video was directed by Luke Goodall, the guy behind Ry’s web series Good Things Work Out, and is a cheeky commentary on today’s digital culture. It intercuts between footage of Egan and de la Cruz performing the song with fans, some of whom are familiar faces, listening to the track online.

The video even features a special cameo appearance from Grammy Award winner, Melbourne-based producer and artistM-Phazes and actor Alan Fletcher, aka Neighbours‘ Dr Karl Kennedy.

“It’s almost a bit of an ode to the role the internet plays in our lives, because we’re definitely the webcam generation,” Egan explains to Music Feeds. “At the end of the day, the song wouldn’t have happened without the Internet – all the artists on the song met through that. So we just kinda wanna show how one thing leads to another online and how a song is received nowadays that way.”

Ry’s Ivory Coast EP is due out soon via Inertia. Watch the video for Gimme That (Feat. Jordan De La Cruz) below. - Music Feeds


"THE AU INTERVIEW: RYAN EGAN AKA RY (MELBOURNE) TALKS "IVORY COAST" EP!"

vMelbourne rapper Ry has been on the grind for a while now, and with the recent success of single "Gimme That" and the imminent release of EP Ivory Coast it won't be slowing down for him anytime soon. Ry is still somewhat of a mystery, so the AU review had a quick chat with him to find out more.
Let's start off with a fun one, I've seen on your Facebook that you're a Drake fan, so what's your favourite Drake song and why?
Haha, this is the hardest one! My answer probably changes every time I see this question but for now it would be "The Resistance" back from his first (official) album. Just something I really relate to right now I guess. He's talking about losing touch with friends and family because of the music thing, I'm really starting to understand that these days.
If we're looking back to the beginning of your career, how important was the backing of Triple J Unearthed?
Very important. It kinda gave me a new platform to build off and I won't lie - there's definitely a validation that comes with it. It just kind of gave me that extra push like. "Okay, you're off now, you're doing the right thing; keep going...".
In terms of how your music has progressed and how you have grown as an artist, at what point did you decide you wanted to add your own vocals to tracks? Was starting singing lessons a challenge?
It was and it's really confronting too. Just you and a teacher with all these horrible notes coming out of you. But you get comfortable, find your strengths, work on the weaknesses and you slowly make progress. Fortunately, I have a really great teacher too who breaks everything down easily for me. It's good fun. I've been recording my vocals for years. From the horrible demos and mixtapes, all the way to my current stuff. For this EP, I built a studio in my old bedroom back at my Dad's house using YouTube tutorials and everything turned out great.
What influence has living in Melbourne had on your career?
I'm Melbournian through and through. I ride the tram everyday, I act like I know heaps about coffee and my Dad is a Collingwood nut. I've grown to be so grateful for this city. It's taught me about different cultures, different arts, music and people.
The Australian hip-hop scene is certainly taking off at the moment. What is it like to be a part of that?
It really is. I still don't consider myself a part of it completely yet, but it's flattering that people see me in that light. When I first started rapping I would be so pumped for people to put me in that class like, "Oh, here's the new kids on the block!!"
Who do you look up to/respect in the scene?
Pez - I wish he'd make a new album. I really do. He was one of the first guys who just had that swagger in his voice. I remember the first time I heard "Festival Song" - I was working at car dealership and I just stopped in the middle of the garage and was just like, "Fuck - I want that to be me".
You've described yourself as being a part of 'new-wave Australian hip-hop'. What is the new-wave of Aussie hip-hop?
I didn't mean for it to come off like that. Sometimes I get a bit excited and make bold statements. What I meant was, everyone coming up right now has their own sort of niche, if that makes sense. We break boundaries of the genre, bend the rules a bit. Bring new ideas to the table. Tradition is great, but it also can evolve.
How important is social media for your career and connecting with your fans?
Social media is what keeps me connected with my fans day in, day out. I can stay home all weekend, not go out and make music and not lose any contact with any fans. That's amazing if you really think about that. We live in a great time, it's bittersweet because I do enjoy there being a certain mystery to an artist. I owe a lot of my success to social media.
What has the recent success of "Gimme That" been like?
It's been great - just shows how much a positive message reflects positive energy from everyone. I've never had a song gain such momentum quickly, so I'm trying to enjoy the moment but also not drop the ball, if that makes sense? To get a song on MTV with no record label and radio backing is something I'm quite proud of, and rare. It's always a good thing when you can sit back and just be like, "Oh, I wasn't crazy - the song really is everything I thought it would be".
How did the video clip come about? How did you get the big name actors involved?
M-Phazes has always been a super nice dude and we live pretty close. I took a chance and asked him and he was happy to help. We made the Dr. Karl (Alan Fletcher) thing happen 24 hours before the video's deadline, we literally JUST got it in there. Director Luke Goodall knew Georgia from working on the set of Wentworth and pitched it to her, she loved the song and was a breeze to work with.
What can we expect from your next EP Ivory Coast? How does it differ from previous releases?
Ivory Coast definitely is a lot more concise. It takes you through different stages as you listen from start to finish. It took me two years to make, whereas other EP's/releases happened over three to six months. I just took my time with it and developed it. It's been fun, stressful, exciting, tiring.
Will we be seeing you tour anytime soon?
I want to organise a tour as soon as the EP is out, just weighing up my options and seeing how things go for now. *Prays for Jay-Z to call*
You seem like a really driven and perseverant individual, what keeps you motivated?
I think I've just had an underdog mentality for a long time. My music career wasn't an overnight hit, I just stuck at it. Nowadays I embrace that and trust it. Sometimes, the underdog wins too. My Dad has worked six days a week since before I was born and still does to this day, my Mother still works two jobs. They really instilled hard work into me from a young age and I love them for that. They don't realise how much it influenced me.
Who do you want 'Ry' to be, what is your vision?
Someone who did it on his own terms, a creative admired by creatives. Right now I'm just trying to get on the map, but if I find myself in that position, I'd love to venture to other artistic endeavours like design, film etc.
And finally, if you could have three people to dinner (dead or alive) who would they be?
Rick Rubin, David Attenborough and Oprah Winfrey. Imagine how calm that dinner would be. - THE AU REVIEW


"'Holograms' Review on Triple J Unearthed"

Cool tribute to Ignorant Shit. Ry's 'Wall Street' EP should let everyone (who doesn't already know) that this dude's arrived. - Dave Ruby Howe - Triple J


"'Won't Be Long' Review on Triple J Unearthed"

"This song is made for summer days driving to the beach with the windows down. I've found my new cruising soundtrack." - Dom Alessio, Triple J


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

Photos

Bio

Hailing from Melbourne’s suburbia, Ry isn’t afraid of dreaming big. Although he’s softly spoken, he’s also quietly confident and unashamedly ambitious.

It’s this confidence that underpins Ry’s effortless swag, complex rhymes, and a sonic flow that lends itself to an intoxicating mix of iconic American hip hop.

After discovering his idols Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G, Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan and OutKast, Ry started rapping in secret as a teenager in his bedroom, and he admits, “It was only about 5 or 6 years ago that I developed the confidence to learn how to construct songs and make music. Fortunately, Melbourne is filled with so many great bars, clubs and events for young hip hop artists, so I’ve really been able to use that to my advantage.”

When Triple J recently plucked him out as a featured Unearthed act, Ry admits that moment put him on the local map, gaining him radio exposure and giving him some great momentum.

His latest single Gimme That is a breezy homage to late 90s East Coast hip hop, but although it’s jam packed with lyrical wit and a killer chorus, underneath it’s a personal reminder for Ry, who admits “Sometimes I take things too seriously, but this song is about the opposite of that. The ultimate high is just to let go.”

However, Ry’s not letting go of his vision, and that’s evident on his 6 track EP Ivory Coast, whose title refers to the West African country: “It’s a dangerous place, but also a beautiful place. It’s full of contradictions and surprises, and my EP is a lot like that. Artistically, I’m trying to break boundaries and take risks.”

Finally, Ry’s risks could be about to pay off. “It’s the fear of being so close and losing it all that keeps me going,” he admits. “One little thing could change it all. It could validate all the little things I’ve done in the last two years on a leap of faith – gigs with no pay, shitty hotel rooms, all those things that they don’t tell you in the fine print when you say you want to be a musician. This could finally justify everything.”

Band Members