Singer-Songwriter Ryan Daykin Spills the Beans on New EP, ‘Keeping Secrets’

A typical day sees Ryan Daykin spend most of his time at a full-time job in real estate, but country music is his true passion. His debut EP, Dreams was well received by fans and critics alike, earning him two nominations at the 2016 Australian Country Music Awards.

In anticipation of the release of his long-awaited second EP, Keeping Secrets (which, incidentally, is out today!), I caught up with him to discuss what fans can expect from the record, the ins and outs of the recording and writing process as well plans for a debut album.

 

Congratulations on the release of your latest single, Ain’t Gonna Miss Me, the first track from your brand-new sophomore EP Keeping Secrets. It sounds great!  What’s your fans’ reaction been like so far?

Thanks Jackie, so far it has been great – it’s definitely appealed to a wider audience than some of my previous releases. I think the fact that it is a bit more up tempo and has a bit more energy to it than some of my previous releases has had a big impact.

 

The single debuted at number four on the iTunes Charts upon its release. How did that make you feel?

Super happy and overwhelmed! I really didn’t know what to expect as it had been a few years since I had released anything so I wasn’t sure if my fans were still going to be interested! It’s one thing for people to say they’re interested, but another thing entirely for them to physically make the effort to purchase your music.

The release of your debut EP, Dreams saw you receive two nominations at the 2016 Australian Country Music Awards in addition to two of the tracks being featured in the top 40. According to your press release, this put a bit of pressure on you when writing for Keeping Secrets. Can you talk me through that process?

Yeah certainly. Well, the whole thing with a first release is there really is no expectation – your music could possibly blow up, flop, or land somewhere in between.

Once the first release has come out, people generally know who you are and what you’re capable of, so you’ve already set yourself a standard to not only match, but improve. I definitely set a lot of pressure on myself to improve on how my previous release did. I was happy with how it went, but I knew in my heart that I could do better, and I had that in my heart when writing for Keeping Secrets. I also didn’t just want to re-hash the same topics in my songs.

Quite a bit of time has passed since you released Dreams. How have you grown as a songwriter and musician over the years?

A lot has changed for me personally in the time between Dreams and where I am now. There’s a been a whole lot of different people come and go from my life (some have come and stuck around!), and a whole lot of experiences I’ve had which have definitely helped to shape and inspire me. The type of music I listen to has certainly evolved as well, so my influences have adapted to that also.

 

How indicative is Ain’t Gonna Miss Me of what people can expect to hear on Keeping Secrets?

The tracks on Keeping Secrets really are quite a mixed bunch. There [are]  a few mid-tempo songs, a big ballad, a couple of grittier songs (including Ain’t Gonna Miss Me) and then some classic pop/country story songs also.

My influences are so varied that I sometimes struggle to reign in my sound, but at the same time, I don’t want to have to do that. I love the fact that there are so many ‘blends’ of country which can still fit under the country umbrella.

 

What are the main similarities/differences between this EP and Dreams?

The main similarity is that the influences and sounds are varied, and that none of the songs on either of the EPs are simply filler songs – they’re all songs that I believe are capable of being singles. They all tell different stories, and I like to think that because they’re quite different from one-another, that a lot of listeners are also going to have a different favourite song of the bunch.

 

Do you plan on touring after the release of Keeping Secrets?

Yes, we’re in the process of planning some touring for later in the year. A lot of the gigs I play currently are centred around Victoria, purely because I am restricted with my day-job hours. However, we’re planning on getting interstate during the second half of this year – SA, QLD and NSW are all on the list at present.

 

Can you talk me through the recording process of Ain’t Gonna Miss Me?

This was a bit of a funny one actually. When we had ‘finished’ recording the EP, it was missing something. I wrote stacks and stacks of different songs which I’d hoped would fill the gap on the EP, but nothing did. I ended up getting in touch with Shane Barrett (Nashville-based publisher) and explaining my predicament. He put forward some songs as options to help fill the gap – the songs were all great, but nothing grabbed me. I couldn’t describe what the EP was missing, but I knew I’d know when I found it.

I stumbled across Ain’t Gonna Miss Me but it also didn’t initially grab me either. It wasn’t until around five days later when I still had the song stuck in my head that I thought it may be something worth looking into.

I spoke to Brad [Bergen, producer] about it, and we made a few changes to the arrangement, played with some instrumentation, and I really focused in on the lyrics and began to resonate with the meaning of the song – it all started to come together. As time went on and we kept building the mix, I just kept falling more and more in love with it. It fit perfectly and it filled that gap.

 

You launched Ain’t Gonna Miss Me at Tamworth Country Music Festival earlier this year. What is it about Tamworth that makes it so special?

I think it’s just the fact that people are in Tamworth for the festival because they love country music – it’s not like you’re there performing in the background to people at a pub who couldn’t care less. The people are there because they love the same thing you do – the common ground between yourself and those fans/listeners is the special thing.

 

I believe a full-length album is on the cards soon. Can you tell me more about that?

Certainly – it’s been a goal of mine for some time to make a full-length album, and due to a few uncontrollable circumstances. The release of Keeping Secrets was delayed multiple times which was frustrating. So as soon as Keeping Secrets was finished, we got started with writing the album.

I didn’t want to have a ‘break’ in between as I was worried how that would affect the momentum. At this stage, nothing is solidified in terms of dates, but my goal is to spend this year writing and hopefully have a good selection of songs to choose from at the end of the year.

 

In addition to Brad Bergen, you’ve worked with a number of different musicians and producers since your debut EP, including Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis (from MSquared Productions), Drew McAlister, the late Karl Broadie and Luke O’Shea. What have you learnt from those experiences in relation to the music industry?

That at the end of the day, we are all human beings who share the same passion. Sure, we may have differing levels of success, some different opinions and influences, but we’re all driven by the same thing … and that gives you a great mutual ground to fall back on.

Hayley Marsten and Aleyce Simmonds feature on Keeping Secrets, in two of my favourite tracks from the EP. What did working with them bring to the overall sound of Keeping Secrets and the experience in general?

Thanks Jackie! I love both of those amazing women – they are such incredibly hard workers and truly dedicated to their craft – often a lot more than I can be, and that in itself helps to push and inspire me personally. Both of those songs were co-writes with Aleyce and Hayley individually, and I approached both of them about making the songs duets.

The working tapes that I had of the original demos both featured both vocals, and they both just seemed to work. I’m a bit of a sentimental person, I loved sharing the experience with them, and having them as a part of it, so for them to both be keen to record the songs with me was really humbling.

How did you first get into music?

Well my grandmother bought an electric keyboard for my brother and I when I was about 10 years old. I did about 12 months of lessons, but it didn’t grab me. My parents then bought a guitar for us about a year later which I absolutely loved. I did lessons for quite a few years then, and it only seemed natural to co-ordinate singing with the guitar playing. On my guitar teacher’s recommendation, I then started singing, and the fact I could do the two together was exciting.

 

Who inspires you, both musically and personally?

As cliché as it is, personally, my parents have always inspired me. We never had much when my brother and I were growing up, but they both worked their guts out in order to give us as much as they possibly could, and to shield us from anything that they thought may be harmful.

Musically, I really look up to Kacey Musgraves – she is a prime example of someone who has truly stuck to their guns, stood by their beliefs and the music world has come around to truly appreciating.

Tamara Stewart has said you’re part of a fresh new wave of country musicians making their way in the industry currently. How do comments such as that encourage you when writing new material or approaching a new project?

I certainly don’t take comments like that flippantly – I place the importance on ‘making their way’. Everyone’s journey is going to be different. That’s the message I keep in my mind when I’m approaching anything new.

 

If you could collaborate with anyone in the industry (living or dead), who would it be and why? Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont – without a doubt. Amazing talents, who write amazing songs and sing the hell out of them with their amazing voices. Plus have you seen them whenever they’re interviewed or hosting something together? It’s hilarious – it certainly wouldn’t be a dull experience!

 

What are the highlights and lowlights of your career thus far?

So far, my highlights have definitely been the release of this newest single, and the success that it has been having, alongside my original acceptance into the CMAA Country Music Academy in 2012 – that is where a lot of it started.

The low light of my career so far would have to be when Karl Broadie passed away. I had worked with Karl on a few different projects, and he was a dear friend whose advice and friendship I truly valued. Getting to work with Karl was an amazing experience – he managed to see the truth in everyone and make them feel so important. Having a friend like that is a really special thing, and for him to be taken away so suddenly was heartbreaking.

 

You’re known for your live performances and unique ability to blend genres (as you did in Pressure with Kyran). Do you think this is something that makes you stand out from other country music artists?

Definitely – I believe adaptability is so important. People’s tastes change, their tastes develop. If you can’t move with those tastes and still be true to yourself, then you’re going to get left behind. Some of the biggest artists in the world have all developed and adapted their sound and it has only helped them to grow and reach wider audiences.

 

Why does country music appeal to you so much?

The honesty and the truth behind the stories. The humble people that you meet, and the beautiful simplicity of a song that can make you cry or laugh in an instant. Country music seems to be the type of music that can do that to me.

 

What do you enjoy most about touring and performing live?

Seeing new faces who I have never seen before, and hearing their stories about who they are and how they got to be here. “What brought them along to this exact place and time to watch me perform? Are they only here because old mate is on 25 minutes after me?” That’s okay, they now know who I am too, and chances are they’ll remember this sometime in the future. Well, that’s what I hope anyway!

 

How do you see country music in Australia evolving?

I see the alternative country/roots/bluegrass becoming a lot more prominent with younger performers and audiences as time goes by, especially with the rising of such artists such as Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton etc.

 

When not performing or recording, what does an average day look like for you?

I work full time in real estate during the week, so my weeks are very hectic! Apart from that, I’m in the process of renovating my home at the moment, so spare time is generally minimal! When I do get some down time, you can generally find me on the couch, with my guitar, generally watching some trashy lifestyle TV!

 

What’s the biggest misconception regarding making a career out of music, in your opinion?

That we just rock up to gigs, play songs, pack up and go home. The amount of work that goes into putting on a single gig is astounding.

 

How does social media play a part in your success thus far, in terms of expanding your audience and connecting with fans?

Social media is so important – it gives you the opportunity to put forward however much or little that you want to your fans. Obviously having maximum reach is crucial and I believe the best way to do that is by being yourself – it doesn’t have to be strictly business all the time.

People want to know who you are, they want to be able to relate to you. The more they can relate to you, the more they will engage with you. The more they engage with you, the more likely you’ll stick in their head.

 

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

Just keep doing it. Yes, it’s a hard slog, but nothing good in life ever came easy. Keep pushing, keep your head high and be true to yourself.

 

What’s the epitome of success for you as an artist?

To be able to rely solely on my music as my income. Whether that be from performances, song writing, or a combination of the two. Obviously, a Golden Guitar or two would help.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

 Hopefully as a regular on the festival circuit. Traveling constantly, working with all sorts of different artists/songwriters, and still putting out music that I believe in. Possibly with some more grey hair though if I’m honest.