If you haven’t heard of First Up with RBCxMusic, it’s a program that spotlights emerging Canadian musicians and recording artists and helps support homegrown talent through the challenging circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the second round, 27 emerging musicians and recording artists, along with nine alumni from Round 1 participated.
We caught up with Toronto, ON-based alt-R&B singer-songwriter, Eric Ryan. Eric is currently hard at work prepping his debut EP, which will be released in early 2021. Eric has already amassed over 1,000,000 combined streams on all platforms.
“I want my music to help people get throughwhatever they’re going through,” shares the 24-year-old. “At the end of the day, if Ihelped one person get through a sad time in their lives or they can attachthemselves toa songin a loving way, that makes the experience for me.”
Check out his lyric video for “Close” below, and find out more about him via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! My name is Eric Ryan (24), & I’m an upcoming Alternative R&B/Soul Artist coming out from Toronto.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style
If I had to list the top artists that have inspired me in music it would be: Frank Ocean, Rex Orange County, Dijon & Daniel Caesar. I find that their songs have so much emotion; not only in the words they sing but the way their notes flow so effortlessly which I’m learning to implement myself. When it comes to making music/songwriting, I like to write based on my own experiences in love, life hardships & self-thought; I feel that when the song has a real story behind it, it makes it all more meaningful/powerful.
Tell us how it feels to be a recipient for First Up with RBCxMusic and how the program has impacted you?
It feels super dope to be a part of it all & to be playing alongside all these other super talented artists! The lessons learned while in this program were huge; my team and I learned how to shoot & produce live set videos all while in our own homes which I feel will be super useful as an artist.
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
If I had to pick one, it would be SoleiI (feat. Shqdel)! It’s a song about that special feeling you get with that special someone where it’s like you just feel so nourished & warm while spending time with them; almost like solar rays hitting your skin on a bright sunny day.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?
Here are some of my favourite upcoming Toronto artists that I listen to on the daily (in no specific order)
Julles
Shanuka
Blvnk
JSP
Pat Williams
Elyssa Plaza
Shqdel
Agapé Love