Bret Ryan Makes Music That Feels Right

Musician or not, music lessons have entered our lives at some point or another. Many of us have even dabbled in trying to play an instrument and reading music. But for Canadian up-and-coming pop star Bret Ryan, reading music is the last thing he wants to do. "I totally despise reading music. I hate it. I totally don't like it," said the mulleted musician when we met up at a Burnaby Starbucks last month. "I can't read music at all. I never ever wanted to, I never cared, and I still don't."

Ryan, who has tried his hand at piano, guitar, saxophone, drums and harmonica, prefers the old-school approach to making tunes. "I was never into the technical aspect of music since I play mostly by ear. It was all instinct for me, feeling what I do, as opposed to reading it on a piece of paper," he says. "And then I met this music teacher who somehow allowed me to explore music in that way instead of being all technical about it. It gave me a more natural approach to it. I personally think it's better to produce music naturally through your ear, your instinct and your feelings."

Wrapping up his cross-Canada mall tour from Cape Breton to Vancouver, Bret Ryan played a free concert in the Grand Court of Burnaby BC's Metrotown Mall to promote his self-titled album, released on August 4th. Produced and mixed by music heavyweights Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Sum 41) and Justin Grey (Emma Bunton, Joss Stone), Ryan describes his sound as pop with a twist. "I've always had an eclectic eye, but then I've always loved pop," says Ryan. "Eclectic and pop music are usually different, but we figured out a way to make eclectic pop."

Living life with a twist seems to be a recurring theme in this pop star's life. When asked about his high-school experience, Ryan recalls feeling slightly different from his classmates. "I was never an outcast, but I was different from my friends in the way that I was always pursuing what I wanted to do, while all my buddies were just out being normal kids," he comments. "I just really want young people to know they should embrace their differences because one day they can end up doing exactly what they want to do in life, which is what I'm doing now, touring around the country, playing music."

Following his instincts in both music and life, Bret Ryan is taking the advice of his first single to heart and doing what feels right.