I recently had the opportunity to interview recording artist Ryan Calhoun about his album “The Heaven Switch”. It was fascinating to learn about him and the work that went into creating The Heaven Switch. Check out the interview after the jump:
Brian: How did you come up with the name The Heaven Switch and why did you come up with this name instead of
using your own name?
Ryan: My manager and I were talking one day about how music can change your mood at the flip of a switch. It can almost bring you to a place of Utopia… and The Heaven Switch was born. I really felt this new album felt like more like a band, sonically. For me it was something new and fresh. Allowing me not to be pigeon-holed as just a singer/songwriter.
Brian: Did you write all the songs on the album or did you co-w rite them?
Ryan: It was a little of both. I did do a lot more co-writing on this album than the last. I was fortunate to write with some amazing people that helped me approach my songs in ways I hadn’t before.
Brian: How long did it take you to put material together to create this album?
Ryan: This album, has definitely been a labor of love. All together it took about 9 or 10 months to do. I worked with 3 different producers, which I had never done before. It was a new experience for me and one I’m grateful for.
Brian: Who produced your album & have you worked with them before?
Ryan: I worked with Dallas Kruse and Mike Green (Boys Like Girls, Paramore, Beyonce) for the first time and they were both amazing. And I teamed back up with Bill Lefler (Gym Class Heroes, Plan White T’s, Tyrone Wells) who I did my last album with.
Brian: How is the material on The Heaven Switch different from past material you have done?
Ryan: Like I said before, I think this album feels more like a Pop/Rock band. And that’s the vision I had for the record. I think there is a lot more energy. My last album had more ballads, sad songs etc… I was in a much different head-space when writing and recording this go around.
Brian: A couple of of my favorite songs from The Heaven Switch are Someday and Dam This Flood….
how did those songs come about?
Ryan: With Someday, I was sitting at a friends’ piano and it just poured out. It was inspired from a past relationship, being ok with letting go and moving on. And Dam This Flood comes from the perspective of one person giving everything the other person wants and is asking for, yet it’s still not enough.
Brian: Is there anyone you would like to work with in the future?
Ryan: I would love to one day work with Dave Grohl. He has always been a big influence and just seems like a blast. I’d also love to work with producer Butch Walker on a track or two.
It was a real pleasure to interview Ryan Calhoun and Eclipse Magazine thanks Ryan for his time. The Heaven Switch is now currently available on the CSF Music Group label and can be purchased on Itunes and Amazon
The Heaven Switch can be found on the web at:
http://www.theheavenswitch.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theheavenswitch
http://twitter.com/ryancalhoun