Ryker & The Rise - A New Season of Expression

I’ve been writing music since I was in high school and have played with many bands over the years. But for quite a few years now, I’ve been playing either solo or in a duo when performing my own music. Now, having launched Ryker & The Rise, I feel this music is taking the form it was meant to have.

I’ve always been very groove oriented in my music. When singing around the house, I am very often singing a baseline or beatboxing a drum beat. In my college years, I was often the base/vocal percussionist in a cappella groups. So, the music I write and the way I play is pretty punchy, and having a proper rhythm section feels right on these songs.

As a vocalist, I am drawn to a great melody with a good hook. And placing these songs in the context of a 4-piece band let’s those melodies float along on top of a full texture.

I try to craft a well-thought out arrangement, but Love to feel the interplay between musicians and discover the new directions a song can go each time it is played. I am primarily focused on live shows in this season, and part of what is magical about the live setting are the unexpected twists that come up in the moment. Extended solos, new grooves, and spontaneous melodies are all part of the fun, and happen more often when there are more musicians to play off of. Having highly skilled musicians in the band means we can be really flexible and follow the inspiration of the moment to new places of expression. A 4-piece band feels like just the right size for me. It’s big enough to have a very full sound, but small enough that we can still be spontaneous.

I try to compose songs that are solid regardless of the instrumentation. But even when I’m working on a song, expecting that it will be played solo, I imagine it in the context of a full band. So it has been wonderful to finish a song, bring it to a band rehearsal, and be able to hear it more fully formed. And I think this has expanded my horizon during the writing process.

In short, I’m excited about Ryker & The Rise. It feels like the right setting for these songs and my personal expression. And I feel lucky to have found highly skilled musicians who are also into the music.