Hailing from San Diego, CA, Ryan Nealon is an up and coming singer/songwriter who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. With his music being cited as “fragile, emotional, and beautiful” (Robert Dye, American Songwriter), Nealon strives to connect to his listeners through his own personal experience. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2013, Nealon has performed across the United States, has been included in over 100 publications such as the San Diego Union Tribune, Digital Tour Bus, and American Songwriter, has had his music placed on both Apple Music and Spotify editorial playlists, and has garnered over 3 Million Streams on his catalog. Nealon’s latest release “Not Coming Home” tells the story of his mother’s death after she was killed by a drunk driver on New Years Day in 2000, and has also gained the attention of non-profit organizations like the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) who have publicly championed Nealon along with MADD featuring him in a Voices of Victims article which can be seen on their official website. Nealon’s next single “Grow Up” which talks about mental health from a youth perspective comes out on October 21st, 2021.
When did you decide you wanted to become an artist and show the world your music abilities?
Honestly, it might sound a little cliché but I always knew. Since I could remember, I was always drawn to music—singing in particular. My first taste of performing was actually when I was five years old; I would sing at my Grandma Lila’s alzeyhemers home every weekend and I’d bring my little karaoke machine and sing my heart out. Apart from that, I started getting the inclination that I wanted to be an artist when I first moved to Los Angeles in 2013 which is also when I started really focusing on writing songs.
How do you think this record is different from your past ones?
Grow Up is completely different from anything that I’ve ever put out and I’m honestly really proud of how it came to be. It’s much more live-based, and has a lot of singer/songwriter and indie roots than my other songs. I wrote this song with my main collaborator Bret Paddock in late 2020 with really no intention of it going on my record, but this song has such an amazing message behind it, and I was really stoked to finally have another uptempo song in my current catalog of songs since I’ve been releasing ballads for literally a whole year haha.
Do you have a favorite track that you have released? What does each track say about you as an artist?
If I could pick one song it would have to be Not Coming Home. I released it on May 9th this year, and the song is about the death of my mother. It’s the most vulnerable piece of music I’ve ever written in my entire life, and it truly sets the tone for the direction I’m taking as an artist.
Are there any moments that stood out to you when writing and recording this track? How was the process different from previously released tracks?
This is the only song that I’ve ever done 4 sessions for. I have a golden rule that if the song doesn’t come after 2 or maybe 3 sessions then it’s a wash, but this message was so cool and once we got the chorus I knew we needed to finish it (even though Bret wanted to give up lol). This one was also relatively quick to mix and master—everything just fell into place pretty organically and Zack Djurich (my producer) really killed it.
Are there any records that have been released that helped shape you as an artist or impacted the way that music connects with you?
Absolutely. I could sit here and name a million records that have shaped me, but I think my favorite one to analyze as a writer would be Tapestry by Carole King.
Who is an artist or band you look up to these days?
Phoebe Bridgers hands down.
‘Not Coming Home’ and “Grow Up’ are vulnerable tracks that tell personal stories. Are these tracks apart of a bigger project that you have in the works, currently, or do you plan to stay releasing singles?
Not Coming Home and Grow Up are the first two songs off of my record that I’m putting out next year most likely in the fall. I’ve been writing this record for literally going on 2 years, and I finally have a collection of songs that I think fit really well together, and I love all of them.
As an artist, and having the chance to impact people, what does music mean to you?
I mean there’s no feeling like it, and music means the absolute world to me. My mission as an artist is to make people know that they’re not alone. I talk about things in my music that are commonly very uncomfortable to talk about, and I think it’s so important to be willing to open up and let your listeners know who you are inside and out.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never been introduced to your music?Sad yet uplifting music that might make you want to cry or dance around in your living room with your pj’s on.
