Secrets in Stereo

We are only here on this earth for a blink of an eye...
make the most of it, and leave your mark. - Josh Ryan

To me... life is a book. And you can only hope it’s a novel rather than a short
story. It’s a narrative, persistently penned with each passing second. You’re the
author of your own story, and it can be about whatever you want. There are
only two parts you can’t compose... the beginning, and the end.

My name is Josh Ryan. And my book begins on a chilly January morning in Mississippi...

I was born the son of a teacher and a minister. Growing up in the small town of
Clinton... I learned about discipline from the teacher, and about morality from
the minister. I learned about love from both.

A large portion of the early chapters of my life took place in the church. It was
here I found God, grace, and music, although early on... the howl of the organ pipes
resonated in my head more than the sermons did. And it was in these chapters
that I uncovered the power of music.

Flipping ahead... the high school chapter. Like many other people’s books, some
of the content in this chapter was great... some, not so much. Through all the
ups and downs of this period, one significant event rose above the rest, and
changed the direction of my book. I became a part of the performing group,
Attache’ showchoir.

We were, by far, the best in country at what we did. Over a five-year period,
this group produced 7 major record deals. Not to mention numerous
professional musicians and performers. Attache’ alum include Lance Bass of
N’SYNC, and Keith Carlock, drummer for Steely Dan and Sting.
This experience taught me what hard work was, and what it meant to be a
professional. But most importantly... it was in this chapter I realized the power
of the stage.

Next in my story... were my college years. This stretch is the most memorable part of
my book so far. I joined the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, and eventually became
president of the organization. It was in my interactions with this group of people
that I learned how to depend on others, as well as lead them. I was taught about
confidence and humility... and the importance of both. It was in these pages that I
was introduced to who I was as a person. And most importantly... I discovered the
power of one.

In the latter part of this college chapter... I not only found what defined me as a
person, but also found out what the rest of my book was suppose to be about. I may
have gotten my degree in marketing... but my first love was music and performing. I
realized it was the reason I was put on this earth.

Over the next few years, I traveled between Mississippi and Nashville, where my
older brother, Jason, had established himself as a well respected musician/
producer/songwriter. It was in those years, I journeyed down the bumpy, and
sometimes humbling, road of developing as a songwriter and an artist. Pop music was not Nashville's flavor of choice. It still isn't. And I knew that. I wanted the challenge, and I got one. But, I also wanted to stand out. And I did.

In the summer of 2006... my guitar, my Mac, and I made the move to Nashville.
Excited... of course. Scared... a little bit. Ready... definitely.
Understanding the power of the individual, the power of the stage, and the power of
music... a new chapter has begun. And I do enjoy writing it.

Secrets in Stereo is the character's name now. And, "progressive pop" is his sound. Progressive Pop is made up of lyrics with substance and ahead-of-the-curve production concepts, while maintaining infectious radio hooks. Think of me and my sound as a more grown up, male Avril that connects with today's twenty-somethings. Interesting, huh? This sound comes from all the experiences found in the preceding chapters of my book, but it is just the first entry into my definition as an artist.

Why the name?

First, I felt like the music that I was creating was bigger than me, and I didn't want to be confined to the solo singer/songwriter mold. And also, It's always fascinated me that as songwriters we lay out all of our most well guarded thoughts and insecurities for the world to hear and judge. When I perform, or my song is playing on the TV or radio... I'm telling all my secrets to whoever will listen.

During the Secrets in Stereo chapter, I have released 3 projects in the last two years. My debut album had only been out 6 months before all 10 tracks had found their way onto TV shows like Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, and The Real World. The second, The Acoustic Sessions, was a video and audio release of acoustic performances of the debut album. And the third, just released in January '09, is an EP entitled Wrong Side of Yesterday. To date, all 15 songs released have been featured in TV, Film, and Advertising. Over 60 placements to be exact.

These releases have consistently b