hey everybody! this is ryan (sleeping at last) - so excited to talk with you guys! let's get this thing started...

Originally Posted by Keagan Ilvonen

Thanks for taking the time to do this Ryan!

dude, totally my pleasure! thanks for having me!

Originally Posted by a nice person

Was "turning page" the biggest turning point in your career?

hey there! definitely - it was one of the best experiences i've had! played a really great role in introducing my music to a lot of new ears. very grateful and i definitely consider it a real highlight in my career so far!

Originally Posted by a nice person

Can you tell us anything about your involvement in Jon Foreman's new solo record?

i can, i think! jon was kind enough to invite me to contribute to about 5 or so songs on his upcoming solo record. he'd send me some guitar/vocal tracks and basically gave me free reign to do whatever i envisioned with the songs.. it was a really special and wonderful experience for me to be able to do whatever i wanted on music from someone i admire so much!

so i played strings, pianos, drums, bass, etc and just layered tons of stuff! no release date is nailed down yet, but i can't wait for folks to hear it! it's some of jon's best songwriting to date.

Originally Posted by BraxtonE

how long will you be doing atlas? and will you do a boxset at the end again?

love the first set of songs, you are a great inspiration, ryan!

hey there! i have about 3 years of atlas mapped out already.. (thematically).. but i don't really have an end date in mind after that at all... the overall theme of the project is kind of large enough that i could do this for as long as i want. i'm pretty excited about it!

thanks for the kind words about the first ep! means a lot to hear that!

Originally Posted by Atlas1212

Hello Ryan! How are you?

I was hoping maybe you could answer a question for me, maybe...

I was so curious as to know what All This To Say was about... because its my motivation for writing, I have such a big love for writing and journaling when I listen to it, that's the vibe I get off from the song. I really wanted to know what the inspiration was for it.. its the first song I ever hear from you that made me a fan of you and is still my favorite song from you today.

Oh and do you know at all when you might be going on tour again?

God bless you Ryan, you'll always be my favorite singer.
-Ariel Cerbus

thanks, ariel! it's definitely about writing.. it's about the role of writing and creating plays in our lives. how important those elements of being human are.

that's pretty vague, i know... but i hope it gives at least a little inside into the theme there!

Originally Posted by Sbelle

Hello Ryan :)

I am curious to know what your inspiration was for Overture. It is the one song on the new EP that really speaks to me.
I've been a fan of your music for quite a while and it am so glad it is part of the soundtrack of my life. thank you :)

firstly, thanks so much! that means a lot to hear that you like that one. when i started this "atlas" concept, i knew right off the bat that i wanted to have 1 song that could kind of sum up the concept of the project. the preface. so the heart of this song is definitely in the lyric "the universe began with our eyes closed" which to me means, that there is so much mystery involved in the beginning of all things that matter. it also points out our lack of knowledge in subjects so huge.

one fun side note... i incorporated a hint of each of this year's ep themes in the lyrics to "overture".... obviously "darkness" is mentioned, and so is "light" (the next ep) and the remaining 4 eps are referenced in there too. :)

Originally Posted by stepawff

hey ryan! i was wondering, do you had an all-time favorite band of your own? i mean, im sure you do, haha. top 3 maybe?

top 3! radiohead.... joanna newsom... and maybe, bjork!

Originally Posted by a nice person

What is your favorite EP from the Yearbook project?

i know it's lame to say it's too hard to choose, but i have a connection with each of those songs, as they are so tied to the months that they were written in.. but... if i had to choose, i might say "october" since it has grown into some neat opportunities for my music, and is the beginning of such an intense year!

Originally Posted by imagination

I just need to say that your music is absolutely wonderful. Breathtakingly beautiful.

thank you so much for that!! honored.

Originally Posted by Datywhit

Ryan,

What is the story behind "Woodwork" ?

well, the ep is called "darkness" so i wanted to explore all sorts of variations of what "darkness" means. in "woodwork" i wanted to tell the story of someone who experiences the very edge of life. a near death sort of thing.. in this case, a car wreck. a long time ago i had this weird thought that when we get into accidents, i wonder if the music that we were listening to still plays on the stereo. so that image was sort of the catalyst for the song. all of these huge, disastrous things are happening during a wreck, that i liked the idea of focusing in on these very small sounds. heartbeat.. breathing... music.

Originally Posted by Fuse And Ammo

First off, I'm a huge fan of your work!

I was wondering a few things:

1. Who's your dream artist to collaborate with?

2. Are you collaborating with any other artists right now besides the amazing Jon Foreman?

3. Are you looking to release Atlas in vinyl form at any point as you go along?

Thanks so much, your music is incredible!

great questions!! if i could colab with anyone in the world... hmm... alive? paul mccartney. as for who i'm working with lately... matt hales of aqualung and i have been working a little bit here and there on some things. mariah mcmanus and i as well. jon foreman on his upcoming solo record. and a few other film score thing here and there! as for atlas on vinyl.. i have some ideas. :)

Originally Posted by ashleyfletcher

You have changed my life through your music. I love print out all your lyrics and read it like poetry. Thank you and God bless!

wow, thank you SO much!! that's incredibly encouraging. :)

Originally Posted by a nice person

If you could have one of your songs featured on any current television show, what show would it be?

oh man, that's a tough one! maybe mad men! or... the new arrested development!! (which would make no sense, but whatever!)

Originally Posted by kennedyAM

You'll still sing "umbrellas" at my wedding, right?

Also, everyone purchase the atlas bundle!

haha, thanks for the invite! :) it's possible.. ;)