SIX STRINGS Q&A: Ryan Martin John

Ryan Martin John released the quite sublime album Goodness Gracious Graceless earlier this year and it was one of those albums that completely hit the spot for me on first listen. In my REVIEW of the album I said “This is sophisticated music, yet wholly accessible and overflowing with both melancholy and melodies that will warm the most cold-hearted and sceptical music fan. File under sun-kissed Americana.”

Check out the full review and read on to find out more about Ryan’s musical journey as he answers the PTW Q&A.

What was the album that first led you down the dusty path of alt-country/Americana music?

There’s always been tinges in people like Neil Young or bands like Fleetwood Mac. But I think basically anything with Gram Parsons/The Byrds/Flying Burrito Brothers really was the gateway into more countryfied music for me. Perhaps Flying Burrito Brothers’ album ‘Gilded Palace of Sin’ was the big turning point for me.

Describe your latest release…

It’s a sunshiny nod to late 60’s country/folk/Americana songwriters, but with my own twist on the era. I tracked the record with specifically vintage tones in mind so I cooked all the mics and tried to make the songs ‘break up’ in a pleasing way. I’d say thematically it’s an introvert’s record – I like to think about how we all work and relate and try to write about that sort of stuff, rather than the more exhausted country tropes.

Which gig of yours has been the most memorable?

Stone Pony, in Willunga SA for my album launch tour this year. My friend Isobel Caldwell supported with her band, and they’re all friends of mine – plus the audience was just so dialled into everyone’s music that night. We all just had a really nice night.

How did you learn to play your main instrument?

I’d say I’m mostly self taught. But through listening to a bunch of different artists I often find a bit of osmosis in what I’m playing; if something sticks out and piques my curiosity like ‘what’s that chord? what’s that sound? how did they do that?’ I’ll probably look into it. I’m not formally schooled at all. But I love asking my more clever musician friends if there’s a better way I could be doing something or whether I’m communicating music directions in the way that they all know it – like I’ll stop saying things like ‘upside down chords’ and call them inversions like a proper musician would.

What do you consider the finest song you’ve written?

Hmm… of the released ones possibly ‘Bourbon St’. Musically, it’s pretty pleasing to my ear, some nice little changes and dynamic lifts. Lyrically, ‘Sunburn’ is actually low-key riddled with poetry techniques, so I think that’s a clever one despite its half-jokey vibe. But there’s some new stuff I’ve been working on that I think is my best work yet. All my songs are good to me in their own way, but the new stuff has really optimised the vehicle of songwriting to express an idea. Look out for a song called ‘Turning World’ soon!

If you could sit-in with one other musician (living or dead) who would it be?

Just one? Yikes. There’s a few – Neil Finn, Leslie Feist, Paul Simon, Thom Yorke, Paul McCartney. But I think the person I’d most love to bask in their music brain would be Gillian Welch. Maybe for dead – George Harrison or Bowie?

Do you feel there is a strong alt-country music community in Australia and if so, what does it need to keep growing?

Sure! There’s definitely a big pop-country contingent, perhaps alt-country is the cooler, more indie variety. Maybe more awesome tastemakers like PTW reinforce the cooler country stuff and dispel the tropes? I feel like to outsiders ‘country’ is a big catch all word genre, outside people seem a bit put off if all they think country is is pickup trucks, and songs about beer and denim. Like get ’em to check out Angel Olsen or Big Thief or Julia Jacklin – not that they’re specifically always country but they’re definitely adjacent to alt-country spirit of that kind of writing.

Describe a typical Ryan Martin John live show…

At the moment I’m playing more minimalist stuff with my friend Tom Kneebone on guitar. So I’d say there are songs and chats with the room in-between songs. Lots of guitar interplay between us two, and some nice harmonies. Usually a joke about both of us being too shortsighted to see the setlist at our feet – yet despite that being a staple point of banter, we refuse to wear prescription glasses on stage.

Name two favourite Americana/alt-country releases over the last year…

Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys – All Night Long

Angel Olsen – Big Time