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Steve Ryan — Continued
Aside from your personal experiences and dreams which were a big part of your creative inspiration , who influenced you into taking your hardships and pain and creating music from it ? Both famous and non famous . I would say Janis Joplin , Sheryl Crow , Billy Holiday , Beyonce , Willie Nelson , Mariah Carey , Luther Vandross , Lifehouse , maroon 5 and countless others .
When did you make the move to NY from Georgia ? Do you think this move has helped catapult your career ? What would be your advice to an indie artist who is trying to
make it in a small town ?
Actually New York is like a second home . I still have a place in Georgia as well . New York happened about 1.5 / 2 years ago . I ’ m thinking about Los Angeles now since I have been going there a lot this year . I think it has helped the career for the simple fact that , connections are all over . I think if you want to be successful in the music industry , you have to meet people all over . Just being in one city is not enough . If someone is in a small town , they you can use the power of social media to establish themselves and then when they are able to explore a bigger city , they should take on the opportunity . There ’ s no excuse . You have so many ways to submit to things over the internet and get exposure . Nothing
beats meeting people in person , but the second best thing to that is online .
With all the music downloads from your over a million fans , you are the epitome of a successful artist who did not need to sell their soul for a slice of success . Many of our readers are indie artists who are trying to get where you are . Do you have any advice for them to rise to the top without future
regrets of what they did to get there ?
I will say to other artists , to find ways to stay persistent at what you ’ re doing . Be open to growth and be open to perfecting your craft constantly . And network , network , network . You never know when it ’ s the right place and the right time .
Do you have a significant other or is that on the backburner due to your burgeoning career ? How important is a partner to you right now ?
Having a significant other is on the back burner for now . Relationships take a lot of time , energy and dedication and it really takes two people being compatible with each other . My friends and family often get frustrated with me because they all say I work too much . I ’ m learning to balance leisure time , but when you are building a foundation of your career , sometimes that ’ s the cost of success . Having a partner will be important and I am open to it at the right time as long there is mutual understanding and communication .
What project can we look forward to from you ?
I am working on putting out a book that is estimated to be out at the end of the year , or the beginning of next year . I ’ m also working on some great music to bring to the fans and it will be another part of the evolution of Steve Ryan .