Ryan Kingsley has an unconventional sales pitch. Instead of pointing out the listening joys his song would bring; or the low price of just .99 cents — he simply told me I should buy it. And, I did. It probably helped that I was in a sea of amazing clothing at store called Stitched at Cosmopolitan where he worked. The digs are way out of my price range. A bow-tie could set you back a hundred bucks. Anyway, a couple of I-phone clicks later and “Butterfly” was permanently placed into my music library. As I listened to “Butterfly” on the car ride home, I fell in love with it. It’s one of those tricky ones, though. The music is all bubbly and happy. The message in the song — eh, not so much. Very well-written though. I wanted to know more about the man behind this music. So I went to Ryan Kingsley with my sales pitch and simply asked if he’d do an interview. He agreed.
Mike: Butterfly’s bubbly and upbeat sound is super catchy – what was the inspiration behind this song?
Ryan Kingsley: “Well, this is certainly a “love lost” type of song. I was in Boston when I wrote this song, and I had just ended a relationship. I arrived very late to my hotel from the airport, and the front desk left my key with a note that said “The door is unlocked, and we left the light on for you.” That became the first line of the song, and the snow outside became the inspiration for the almost bell-like guitar intro.”
Mike: So by day you sell clothes and by night you make music — is this the modern day starving artist?
Ryan Kingsley: “No, I don’t think so. Both of those professions are things that I love, and they actually work in tandem. My “day gig” has taught me a great deal about how to create business, and those lessons have helped me push forward in music.”
Mike: Did you write Butterfly on your own or collaborate with someone?
Ryan Kingsley: “I wrote Butterfly on my own. I either write on my own or I collaborate with Fion Rossi, who has helped me refine my writing.”
Mike: Who are the artists that inspire you currently and who did you grow up listening to?
Ryan Kingsley: “I grew up listening to the old jazz singers, and my favorite was Ella Fitzgerald. These days, I draw a lot of inspiration from Stevie Wonder, Queen, Annie Lennox and George Michael. The 80’s were such a fantastic time for pop music in my opinion, and I love the artistry and musicianship they all displayed.”
Mike: Where do you find your inspiration and sound?
Ryan Kingsley: “Songwriting for me has never been anything more than spontaneous. I want to tell a story or express an emotion, and the writing begins. I’ve never sat down and gone, “today I’m gonna write a song about this.” It’s always in the spur of the moment, and that emotion inspires the sound.”
Mike: If you were an instrument — which one would it be and why?
Ryan Kingsley: “Easy – a guitar. The guitar is such a diverse instrument to me because it can be calm or turbulent; percussive or smooth. You can evoke colors through the chords you choose. I’ve always been naturally drawn to the guitar.”
Ryan Kingsley is on IStar Records and works with a producer whom he also calls his mentor — Fion Rossi. Kingsley started teaching himself guitar at age 11. “Butterfly“is his first official release. And, both Ryan and I have the same sales pitch for the song. We think you should be buy it!
Ryan Kingsley has an unconventional sales pitch. Instead of pointing out the listening joys his song would bring; or the low price of just .99 cents — he simply told me I should buy it. And, I did. It probably helped that I was in a sea of amazing clothing at store called Stitched at Cosmopolitan where he worked. The digs are way out of my price range. A bow-tie could set you back a hundred bucks. Anyway, a couple of I-phone clicks later and “Butterfly” was permanently placed into my music library. As I listened to “Butterfly” on the car ride home, I fell in love with it. It’s one of those tricky ones, though. The music is all bubbly and happy. The message in the song — eh, not so much. Very well-written though. I wanted to know more about the man behind this music. So I went to Ryan Kingsley with my sales pitch and simply asked if he’d do an interview. He agreed.
is his first official release. And, both Ryan and I have the same sales pitch for the song. We think you should be buy it!