Ryder-Talks New Single, New EP, Life In The Band Room, Among Other Cool Things

Intro

Formed in 2016, Ryder is a hard rock band hailing from Queens, New York. Signed in 2021 by UK recording label, Bad Monkey, the band uses their varied talents to throw down a classic style for a modern crowd. Lead singer & guitarist, James Ryder, reminds us what determination, passion and the spirit of rock means. Billy Smith fuses precision with rebellion on drums and guitarist Andrew Block rounds out the band by weaving musical threads that unite Ryder into a single force of pure rock.

Ryder plays at their best to live audiences with their authentically heavy sound. Their first EP, For What It’s Worth, is a live compilation of original songs. Ryder has played at some of the most iconic venues in the United States like LA’s Whiskey A-Go-Go, NY’s Gramercy Theater, NJ’s Wellmont Theater, the 2018 & 2019 Rocklahoma Festival et al. and knows how to leave a lasting impression on these audiences. With mass appeal and music that leaves you wanting more, Ryder is set to bring back those nostalgic memories of rock concerts of the past with a mix of modern day rock vibes that take their live concerts to the next level.

Ryder’s first studio album, Killer Karma, came to life with producer, Anthony Esposito (Lynch Mob/Ace Frehley/Jake E Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel) at Obscenic Arts Studio in Dillsburg, PA. Released in August 2020, it has already caught the attention of fans across the world with its classic yet contemporary sound. Killer Karma fills in the gap of what’s been so sorely missing in the hard rock scene lately. Ryder’s style pays respect to bands prior like Thin Lizzy, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath while incorporating their own modern spin on hard rock that impresses audiences from the East to West Coast. This is the rock you’ve been missing, finally come to life in a unique band of passionate and talented musicians. We chat to Lead vocalist/guitarist James Ryder about the bands music career, new single, upcoming EP, life in the band room among other things, Enjoy the read!!

Questions

Hi Guys, welcome to Fanbase Music Magazine, how has COVID been treating you, are you all safe?

James: We are holding up as best we can, and have been very fortunate during these trying times.

How many band members are there in the band and what does each member do in the band?

James: Currently, we have 3 band members. I am the vocalist/guitar player, Andrew Bloch plays guitar, and Billy Smith is on the drums.

Can you tell us what is each band member’s background, where did you grow up, and how did you get into music?

James: All of us have eclectic backgrounds but, I got I into music at a very young age. I grew up in New York, just outside the city, and originally started out as a jazz tenor saxophone player before picking up the guitar at 14.

How would you describe the band’s sound and genre?

James: We consider ourselves a rock band. Hard rock if you want to get technical, but, it gives us enough wiggle room to go lighter or heavier.

Who are some of the band’s influences?

James: There are many to list but, just some off the top of my head, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, Guns N Roses, and Metallica.

Let’s talk about the new single, can you tell us what is it called and can you describe how the song came to be?

James: The song is entitled Lilan’s Lullaby, and it’s a song about a not so pleasant encounter with someone. The germ of the idea came about when I took a trip to Oklahoma and met said person, and really came to fruition in the weeks that followed.

Where was it recorded and who worked on the single?

James: It was recorded at Obscenic Arts Studio in Dillsburg, PA with our longtime friends Anthony Esposito (Producer/Engineer) and Roger Lian (Mastering Engineer).

When you writing music and particular this song, how do you put a song idea together, do you work on lyrics first or do you work on the music first?

James: Generally, we work on the music first and save the lyrics once we develop a structure. However, in the weeks since recording this, we’ve been trying some different approaches.

Can you explain what is the typical day in the band room, are you guys completely serious when jamming and making music or do you guys sit back and think and work on things?

James: It can vary from day to day but, generally the feeling is a more laid back one.

I hear you have an EP coming out, can you tell us more about that?

James: All I can say so far is it’ll be 4 songs, and keep an eye out in July for it.

Can you tell us what to expect if we were to see the band play live show?

James: A high energy rock show with some NYC attitude.

Thank you for doing this interview, do you have any last messages for your fans and our readers?

James: Thank you all so much for the support and we hope you enjoy the new music we are putting out.

What is your social media, how can people get hold of you or stream your music?

James: We are available on all streaming platforms and you can listen to our new single here: https://lnk.to/ryderlilanslullaby

Catch us on Facebook: facebook.com/ryderband, Instagram: @ryder_ny and YouTube: youtube.com/ryderband