January 19, 2025 • 24 mins
Christian Artist Ryan Ellis Talks New Album, Losing A Son, JABBAWOCKEEZ, and more
Host: @alexandriaikomoni
Host: @alexandriaikomoni
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Once a guy to girl Alexandria Ikamoni in the studio
with Ryan Ellis, how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good, I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Oh yeah, so happy to have you. Great things to
talk about, starting with your new album, I love it.
I am a fan of Listen to the whole album
the day released and it is titled Real Love. But
I really want you to tell me more about your
new album because it's really personal. It's really vulnerable and
really something people need to hear. So you tell me
more about why decide to put this project out right now?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
You know, I decided to put this project out right
now just because I felt like you knows, as a culture,
you know, Christians and Church, you know, we have our songs,
we have our worship songs, and we have artists. But
for me, I really felt as an artist, I wanted
to be a little bit more vulnerable on music, a
little bit more dynamic and the imagery that I was
(00:53):
painting and make it really feel like a conversation sometimes
with God instead of it rather just being like, you know,
very vertical, which I love. I love worship. That's where
I got my start, you know, it's house church worship,
but then growing as an artist, I learned, you know,
vulnerability is a huge part of what makes a good artist,
(01:15):
you know, knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly.
So there's some songs on here where you know, might
be a little sad boy vibes. You know, you know,
you're not one hundred percent sure. There's a lot of
things that are left open ended, you know, where I
feel like a lot of Christian music, there's not a
lot of that, you know, it's very matter of fact,
(01:35):
but songs like better Days, you know, you know, it's
really like a faith cry, you know, really standing in
the place that you're at, being honest with with where
you're at, what you're dealing with, but also giving the
hope that is the gospel. So I really felt like
I wanted to just challenge myself and also challenge the listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Which is a beautiful actually, because I love that you're
talking about out you know, like saboy vibes and a
sense or being vulnerable. Because some of my favorites were
you know, a little on the satur side, better days,
like you said, calling on Heaven, Satisfied, Save my Love,
some of those were some of my save Love. Yes,
oh my goodness, I absolutely love it. And you are
not new to this, by the way, Grammy nominated one
(02:19):
a few awards here, tied to Maverick City. Tell me
more about your background and how that really influenced this
project or do you feel like it's different than things
you've done and put out in the past.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, well, thank you first of all saying that. Yeah,
it's kind of a trip to hear that out loud,
you know. Oh I am Grammy nominated. Yeah, okay, we
out here. Yeah, it's it was It was cool. I mean,
the journey from just being a songwriter. I start off
just as a songwriter, you know, And and really it
was more just for me, just for me and and
(02:51):
my mom and my brother. You know, we started going
to church together, you know, we didn't grow up going
to the church. I started going to church in my
in my twenties. And and so me picking up the
guitar writing songs was really my way to commune with
God on my own terms, you know, and and just
commune with my family. And then I had a song
(03:12):
get picked up by a pretty well known Christian artist
by the name of Chris Tomlin, and he released a
song called Resurrection Power and and that kind of just
changed the whole spectrum for me. I didn't know people
got in rooms and wrote songs and labels and a
and rs and publishers and all this stuff and and
so it really I really got thrown into it, you know,
(03:34):
and so I had to really learn how to swim
or sink. So you know, I got into the writing
rooms and and I was a writer for a long time,
just writing for the artists, and you know, had amazing
cuts from you know, Maverick City, that was the one
that got nominated for a Grammy. God Problems it just
wanted to double ward and wrote some other songs for
(03:55):
Natalie Grant, Meredith Andrews and house Fires and a bunch
of other people, Brandon Lake, and so it was I
liked it because you know, I got to go in
do the thing and then let them carry the responsibility,
you know, like you all got to go out there
and perform it and market it. And and I love creating.
So that was a joy for me. But then when
(04:18):
I felt like God was like, okay, you need to
step out and and own these songs, because not only
I was writing them, but there's something different about you know,
you as an individual representing you know, the artistry. So
that was a huge step of faith for me, you know,
just being like, Okay, I'm going to sing these songs myself,
I'm gonna be on stage, I'm going to try to connect,
(04:38):
and it's a whole different vibe from just being a songwriter.
But it's definitely it's been an amazing.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Journey, which is amazing, and you really just put your
all into this project from a songwriter standpoint as well.
So I do want to ask your number one your
favorite song off of the album. You have to pick one.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Oh my gosh, I mean my my favorite one, and
there's so many good ones down there. I would have
to say better Days. Better Days is definitely one of
my favorites. It's a it's one of those sneaky ones,
you know. Again we we we just posted on Instagram
on TikTok. It wasn't even on the list from my label.
(05:17):
You know, you gotta you know it's not just me
being like I'm gonna put out all these songs. You know,
I got a team of people that are listening to
the songs and they're like, we think these are the
best and you know, I trust them too. Is great.
But there was also you know, you know, with social
media going on, there was talks of all right, well
you gotta do something viral. I'm like, so the Grammy
Nams and the Double Awards and the number ones aren't enough.
(05:39):
I gotta go viral now. I was like, all right,
that's that should be easy, right, And so I come
home and I was kind of like down and out.
You know. My wife was like, you know what, why
don't you just go in the garage and lip sync
two better days, you know, And it was one of
our personal favorites. It didn't make the list, but we're like,
you know, just do this. It's just a test, you
know that way. If it doesn't work, then it's not
(06:00):
the songs that you guys all picked. So I went
in there, recorded myself, just sang to the track. And
then it was during it was last year actually, or no,
it was during Thanksgiving, and and I think people just
really connected with the you know, God, thank you for
my family and for all my blessings, and so it
got over. I think like one hundred and eighty remakes
(06:21):
on TikTok. One hundred and eighty thousand remakes on TikTok
the sound was used, and I mean millions of views
and about one hundreds of thousands of life So it's
just been crazy to see that because I mean, I've
been posting on social media for years, you know, and
you see people go viral and you're like, man, what
is that like? You know, that'd be kind of dope,
and then and then it will be you never know,
(06:43):
and then all of a sudden, your phone is just
blowing up and you're like, wow, this is crazy. So
it was trying to capitalize on that momentum, and and
that was really I felt like the direction I wanted
to go with my music anyways was just a little
bit more R and B hip hop influence, and I
love that.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
And now the album, it's the first track, and then
you had the radio edit at the end of it,
so I was there twice. Okay, producers, but I love it,
absolutely love it. So let's talk about actually really, you know,
diving into the cover art for a quick second. We
know you've had something horrible I cannot even put into words,
you know, losing a child. So I do see and
(07:21):
I noticed, you know that angel that you're carrying. Tell
me more about that cover art and why you decided
to put it out there.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, it was. It was interesting. It was it was
kind of this you know, sometimes you do something and
and and it's like the meaning catches up, you know,
it's kind of like a prophetic act in a way.
You know. So I was shooting, you know, different pictures
for the album cover, and then we had this idea.
(07:50):
You know, we brought my kids in there there just
watching the photo shoot, and it was a nice vibe.
The wife, he was there and one of the thoughts was, all,
let's just take a photo with my youngest with some
angel wings on. And and so as we were doing it,
it started, you know, as we're taking the photos, I
think the meaning of what I was doing and what
(08:11):
it represented really hit me, you know, in that moment
of just you know, and I think, I think with
all my music and all my songs, there's always that
that's always going to be in there, the pain, the
loss you never forget, you know, if if you've lost
a child, if you lost a family member, you know,
you're never never really fully goes away. And so this
(08:31):
was more of like a representation of you know, I'm
still holding my son, you know that we lost and
and and that he's you know, in heaven, and and
also that it's a it's a process, and so this
and this and real love looks like that. Real love
(08:52):
looks like it holds on to things, you know, and
that's how you really that's and that's love. That's what
they say, you know, the sadness, the hurt, that's that's
how you know it's love. And so for me, the
album cover was really important. I wanted to really have
like this iconic you know, like remember Nirvana when they
had the baby in the in the pool, you know,
something just really iconic like that. But the meaning to
(09:14):
me is so much deeper, and I'm just really glad
it worked out.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yes, absolutely so I do have to ask, how are
you the wife and of course your family, how are
you guys doing right now? You know, dealing with that.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
We're doing good, you know. Every year, you know, he
passed December seventh, twenty nineteen, so anytime we get into December,
we always know that date is coming up. And you know,
I made a post on my Instagram too. Every Christmas
there's supposed to be one more you know, there's supposed
(09:46):
to be one more that's opening up gifts, and we
have three now, but there's supposed to be one more.
You know. You can feel that, you know, when my
son he's seven, he's supposed to have a brother that's
about maybe a year and a half younger than him,
you know, so he has that grace to be older
a big brother that way. But now we have two
toddlers that he's dealing with, driving him crazy. I love it,
(10:07):
but you know, we're doing good. Every day is just
a new day, and we're taking it one day at
a time, but still being very honest and vulnerable. And
I'm just thankful I have my wife and we have
our connection because I know a lot of people, you know,
marriages have a hard time after something like that. But
with my wife and myself, we've really found comfort and
(10:31):
safety in each other, being like you're my battle buddy
during that, you know, and so we really help each
other out, especially in that month. It's really hard.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Absolutely, I did see the post about the celebration of
life that you do. It's very beautiful, and of course
there are others who are in similar situations that could
really resonate and appreciate the efforts that you're you know,
doing just to bring light to never forget. Of course,
definitely celebrate that life every way you can, so we
appreciate that. Now switching gears, though you are based out
of Orange County, a lot is happening over there in California,
(11:04):
specifically of course South California there. What are your thoughts, like,
I mean, from your perspective being out in California, how
has it been like being in an environment like that.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
I mean, it's crazy. I mean California, you know, definitely
is an interesting state. I think to everybody in the country,
you know, every time I go places, you know, if
I'm like out in the South or anything, and I'm like, hey,
what's up. I'm rying, I'm from California, They're like, we
don't want you out here. You know, I've heard that before. Like, man,
California gets a lot of hate and you know, but
(11:35):
I also feel like that's the reason why I stayed
out there for so long is because I really feel
like God is doing something in California. Yeah, and I've
had the opportunity. I almost moved to Atlanta, almost moved
to Decatur. I you know, I might still who knows,
get a vacation. I was out here, but it's I mean,
because I just love you know, the culture out here
is just amazing. Everyone's super nice, down to earth, true art.
(12:00):
Everything is just amazing out here. But California, you can
go to the mountains in the beginning of the day
and then you can go surf in the ocean in
the afternoon, you know, and so it's and just it's
beautiful and just the different spots. But the people too,
you can feel, I don't know, it's ginny. It's interesting,
I think in just the country in general, you know,
(12:21):
a little a little hairy. But what my mission is
is just to spread light, you know. So I know
a lot of people that moved out of California, like
it's getting too crazy out of here. I'm like, but
if y' all leave, who's going to be the light?
You know what I'm saying. If everybody leaves here, then
how's you know. So me and my wife, we've planted
our flag on the ground and we've seen amazing things.
(12:43):
But with everything happening right now, with the fires, I mean,
it's just devastating, it's heartbreaking, But you know, that's what
the Bible says it's gonna be hard times. There's gonna
be hard times. There's gonna be things that you don't understand.
There's gonna be things that are confusing, and there might
be you know, the principalities of the air. You know,
you know, the enemy's still roaring, running around trying to
(13:04):
do what he wants to do. But I really do
believe in twenty twenty five that we're going to see
one of the most dramatic shifts in music and in
culture when it comes to Christianity. With music and with
just I think people.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
In general tell me more. You can't just drop something
like a statement like that and not tell me where
your mind is that why you say that, what do
you think is coming? And like why I'm just curious,
you know, from your perspective.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I mean, I've been doing this a long time, not
as long as you know, like TD Jakes or anything
like that, but you know, it's like I remember when
I first started writing worship music, you know, when I
first started going to church and how different it is
and compared to what it is now and the people
who are representing I mean, Jamie Fox is special. Do
(13:50):
you guys watch Jamie Fox Special that boy was preaching.
I mean, I was getting rocked in the spirit. I
was just like wow. And so to have mainstream artists
like that, people like Justin Bieber, you have so many
different artists that are really kind of encountering God and
then making their platform a platform to preach that. That
(14:13):
to me is a sign you know, that the grace,
that there's grace for it, and that people are hungry
for it because we've been in some dark times for
a long time, and so I think people are really
searching for the light. And so for so many amazing
people like Jamie Fox or even like you know, Justin
Bieber and people who represent that, you know, the main artist,
it's it's encouraging to me where I'm like, okay, you
(14:36):
know the world's kind of ready for that news. So yeah,
it's waking up. I feel that.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Yeah, I agree, and you're talking about people who are mainstream.
I do want to touch on there's just a little
bit the Jabbawaukee's. I mean, I was a huge bad
I'm like, I'm so excited. I'm sitting with one of
the OG's here. Tell me more about that, because I
also want to know how you transitioned from something like
the Jabbawakee's into writing me M making music. Tell me
(15:01):
more about that experience.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Well, I'm Filipinos, so we have to do whatever we can,
you know what I'm saying. Like my mom, she sang,
she was in theater. She just an amazing personality, and
so she passed that on to me. And so I
got into performing arts at a young age with tap dance, ballet.
I had a scholarship to a ballet school, did musical
(15:26):
theater growing up. My mom was my first my first
musical theater or my first play. My mom was in
a play called Showboat, and I went to the rehearsal
with her and the director was like can he skip?
Can you skip across the stage? And that was my
first performance, you know. And so I was like maybe
six years old, and so I've always kind of been
on the stage, you know. Yeah, And so when I
(15:49):
got into hip hop dance, I was actually transitioning from
being a cheerleader. And so I was a competitive cheerleader.
We took first place. I mean it was like it
was not like heist go football cheerleading, This was like
competitive ESPN. I was seven years old, on an all
girls squad. They took first place every competition. We took
Nationals twice, so it was high level, elite, high performance.
(16:13):
And this was back in like ninety two or something
like that. And then we used to share the space
with a hip hop class, and so after cheer practice,
I'd start hearing the hip hop music. I hear in
missy Elliott.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I love it, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I was like, Yo, what is this? And so I
go across and I started doing the classes, and then
there was my cheer coaches would try to give me
back over to cheer practice, and I kind of made
the decision. I was like, I'm going to get I'm
going to do this hip hop thing. And so that's
when it was first starting in San Diego. It was
kind of like the birth center for choreographed hip hop
(16:53):
dance cruise, like you know New York break dancing for sure,
but like on the West coast San Diego Angie Bunch
and they were the creators of the movement of hip
hop dance teams in SoCal. So I was there from
the very beginning. And then we had these boys come
from Sacramento and they had a whole new style. They're
from the Bay, you know. So it was a whole
(17:15):
different vibe. And that's and they were the ones who
created the Jabwuaukeis and so they were like in their twenties.
I was probably like fifteen, fourteen years old, so I
was like the young bro, and I was good enough
to hang out with them. I didn't know why they
was one of the kick with me, but I was like, yo, okay,
this is dope. These guys are amazing. They're like kung
fu masters. It's like new kung fu masters that come
in and you're like, I'm trying to learn from you know,
(17:37):
let me follow your Waystin say and eventually came to
me one day like, yo, bro, we're starting a group
called Jabwaukees. You want to be in it. I was like, man,
as long as we're all kicking it, I don't care,
you know. And and so we started with our first
couple of shows, you know, were amazing, and uh, it
was cool to be a part of that in the
very beginning process. But you know how life is, and
(17:58):
I'm only fourteen years old. Mom said we're moving up north.
We're moving to Fresno. So I had to leave San
Diego and I'm totally different. You ever seen Footloose, That's
what it was like. I mean, I was dripped out.
I mean matching green visors. Remember when the advisors were
in and I walk up and all these kids are
wearing cowboy boots and bell buckles, and I'm like, I
(18:20):
am not in Kansas anymore. But and then and then
I joined the Navy after high school. And then that's
when I saw them on America's Best Dance creweah, and
I was like, dang. I was happy for the homies.
You know, I was happy for them, but I was like, bro,
I could have met you know, Mario Lopez too, that
would have been dope. But it was funny though, because
(18:42):
I was in the Navy, I still had like five
years left and uh, and I said, I'm just getting
my head down do this thing. And I just kind
of put that on the back burner. But when I
got saved and I started making music, you know, the
Jabberwaukees weren't even in my on my radar. I was
just like, I'm just trying to serve the law, trying
to become better myself. And then and this is where
(19:04):
it happened, which was so funny my wife. We got married,
and she wanted to bring me to a Jabbuwaukee show
in Vegas. And at this time I wasn't doing anything.
I wasn't making music. I don't even I had a
job at the time. I said no, I don't want
to go. I had her cancel the tickets, I had
her cancel the flight. Everything was my birthday. I felt bad,
(19:24):
but I was like, I'm about to see these homies
on an l you know what I'm saying, And for
some reason inside of me, I felt like God said,
you guys are gonna link up when it's time. And
that was before I even had a record deal, even
before anything, and so it was funny and I was
looking at my photos. But just like twenty twenty three,
we went to the Jabbawaukee show for the first time
(19:47):
and by the end of the year we had the
collapse with them. I love it. So the beginning of
the year, I was like, I think it's time and
I met the homie I said yo, and they actually
reached out to me from ever coming down, like, yo,
we should do this song.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
So it's just a journey, It's a god journey for real.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Absolutely, Now you have like a circle. Yes, yes, okay,
So I don't know if you still dance at your
grown page, but would you ever do anything else with them,
any other cool collapse or projects just to kind of
revive that og vibe.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
We'll see. I mean, I'm very I mean, I mean
you saw the Instagram video. Yeah, I was twenty years
I had a dance in twenty years.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Like, I was like, you know, look good, You'll want
me to be in this.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I was like, I don't mind. You guys are doing it,
But I mean I think you know, it's always in me.
I really, you know, I got a headline tour starting
up in May, Lord Willing, and so you know, I've
been trying to think do I have dancers on stage?
Should I do a little dancing? So I do know
it's in there. It's a tool on the tool belt.
We'll see perfect.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
I'm happy touched on the tour. We do want to
get more information about that. When is it star, what
is it going to be? What can people expect from
that tour?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yeah, so it's going to be the Real Love Tour,
So it's going to be a lot of the songs
that are already out plus the Real Love project, and uh,
it's just gonna be a very intimate setting, you know,
not big rooms, maybe three hundred four inch of cap.
And the whole vision is just to have fun, just
to get people in a room, you know, cancel the
(21:16):
world outside and silence it and just be in this
room and just kind of commune and see what God
does really, And that's always been my dream, is just
to get people in a room and let the presence drop.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I love it. That's powerful in itself. And we know
that the tour is coming up here in twenty twenty five.
What else can we expect from you? Or we're just
gonna focus on the tour, let this album flourish and
then see what happens later down the road.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Man, we got a lot of stuff. We got the tour,
we got some more music coming out, some amazing features
and collapse. I gotta ask who, oh my gosh, yeah,
we gotta we have an amazing song. I don't know.
Have you heard of Lee Vassi?
Speaker 1 (21:54):
No?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Yeah, check her out. I'm about to yeah, shout her out,
shout out le Vassi.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
She's an amaze using R and B Christian singer songwriter.
We just wrote a song. Yesterday. She might be coming
out on it. I don't know. This is I'm like
putting all this out of the exclusive. But so things
like that. Yeah, so we just got a lot of
amazing collapse and different different projects coming out soon. I
(22:20):
love that.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I love it. Ending on a positive note here for
twenty twenty five New Year's Resolutions goals. Give me one
that you're playing on, accomplishing or doing this year. What
do we got.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
I'm trying to get jacked, you know what I'm saying.
I want to get like a six pack. I mean,
at least once in my lifetime. You know. I'm trying
to eat healthier, trying to work out more, definitely, want
to go to more basketball games with my son, trying
to go to the Lakers games. So just a little
bit more, you know, just those types of things.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I love it. Trying to go before you know, Braun retires, or.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Exactly get it before he retire. But who knows. Man,
he's the go. He might give us another five six years,
that's what he said.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Yeah, yeah, we'll see, we'll see. I can see it
at the same time. Okay, forty, I know I love it.
I love it. Any last words you want to leave
with the people and how can they follow you?
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yes, thank you guys so much for listening, and thank
you for you guys do here. iHeartRadio and I appreciate
all the love and support from all the fans and
all the new listeners that are showing love on this project.
And if you want to follow me, you can follow
me on Instagram, Ryan Ellis and on TikTok. I think
it's Ryan Ellis c A. But we'll see if we
(23:31):
still have TikTok tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Wait a minute, don't break my heart right now. Yeah,
we'll see what happens if TikTok stays. Honestly, they've been
back and forth for so long, so let's keep making
viral videos until then. And I see your TikTok flourishing
as well, so of course follow on there as well.
But thank you so much, Ryan. We appreciate you coming
into the studio, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
For having me. Thank you guys.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I love it. Once again, Alexandrakimoni in the studio with
Ryan Ellis
Once a guy to girl Alexandria Ikamoni in the studio
with Ryan Ellis, how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good, I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Oh yeah, so happy to have you. Great things to
talk about, starting with your new album, I love it.
I am a fan of Listen to the whole album
the day released and it is titled Real Love. But
I really want you to tell me more about your
new album because it's really personal. It's really vulnerable and
really something people need to hear. So you tell me
more about why decide to put this project out right now?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
You know, I decided to put this project out right
now just because I felt like you knows, as a culture,
you know, Christians and Church, you know, we have our songs,
we have our worship songs, and we have artists. But
for me, I really felt as an artist, I wanted
to be a little bit more vulnerable on music, a
little bit more dynamic and the imagery that I was
(00:53):
painting and make it really feel like a conversation sometimes
with God instead of it rather just being like, you know,
very vertical, which I love. I love worship. That's where
I got my start, you know, it's house church worship,
but then growing as an artist, I learned, you know,
vulnerability is a huge part of what makes a good artist,
(01:15):
you know, knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly.
So there's some songs on here where you know, might
be a little sad boy vibes. You know, you know,
you're not one hundred percent sure. There's a lot of
things that are left open ended, you know, where I
feel like a lot of Christian music, there's not a
lot of that, you know, it's very matter of fact,
(01:35):
but songs like better Days, you know, you know, it's
really like a faith cry, you know, really standing in
the place that you're at, being honest with with where
you're at, what you're dealing with, but also giving the
hope that is the gospel. So I really felt like
I wanted to just challenge myself and also challenge the listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Which is a beautiful actually, because I love that you're
talking about out you know, like saboy vibes and a
sense or being vulnerable. Because some of my favorites were
you know, a little on the satur side, better days,
like you said, calling on Heaven, Satisfied, Save my Love,
some of those were some of my save Love. Yes,
oh my goodness, I absolutely love it. And you are
not new to this, by the way, Grammy nominated one
(02:19):
a few awards here, tied to Maverick City. Tell me
more about your background and how that really influenced this
project or do you feel like it's different than things
you've done and put out in the past.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, well, thank you first of all saying that. Yeah,
it's kind of a trip to hear that out loud,
you know. Oh I am Grammy nominated. Yeah, okay, we
out here. Yeah, it's it was It was cool. I mean,
the journey from just being a songwriter. I start off
just as a songwriter, you know, And and really it
was more just for me, just for me and and
(02:51):
my mom and my brother. You know, we started going
to church together, you know, we didn't grow up going
to the church. I started going to church in my
in my twenties. And and so me picking up the
guitar writing songs was really my way to commune with
God on my own terms, you know, and and just
commune with my family. And then I had a song
(03:12):
get picked up by a pretty well known Christian artist
by the name of Chris Tomlin, and he released a
song called Resurrection Power and and that kind of just
changed the whole spectrum for me. I didn't know people
got in rooms and wrote songs and labels and a
and rs and publishers and all this stuff and and
so it really I really got thrown into it, you know,
(03:34):
and so I had to really learn how to swim
or sink. So you know, I got into the writing
rooms and and I was a writer for a long time,
just writing for the artists, and you know, had amazing
cuts from you know, Maverick City, that was the one
that got nominated for a Grammy. God Problems it just
wanted to double ward and wrote some other songs for
(03:55):
Natalie Grant, Meredith Andrews and house Fires and a bunch
of other people, Brandon Lake, and so it was I
liked it because you know, I got to go in
do the thing and then let them carry the responsibility,
you know, like you all got to go out there
and perform it and market it. And and I love creating.
So that was a joy for me. But then when
(04:18):
I felt like God was like, okay, you need to
step out and and own these songs, because not only
I was writing them, but there's something different about you know,
you as an individual representing you know, the artistry. So
that was a huge step of faith for me, you know,
just being like, Okay, I'm going to sing these songs myself,
I'm gonna be on stage, I'm going to try to connect,
(04:38):
and it's a whole different vibe from just being a songwriter.
But it's definitely it's been an amazing.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Journey, which is amazing, and you really just put your
all into this project from a songwriter standpoint as well.
So I do want to ask your number one your
favorite song off of the album. You have to pick one.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Oh my gosh, I mean my my favorite one, and
there's so many good ones down there. I would have
to say better Days. Better Days is definitely one of
my favorites. It's a it's one of those sneaky ones,
you know. Again we we we just posted on Instagram
on TikTok. It wasn't even on the list from my label.
(05:17):
You know, you gotta you know it's not just me
being like I'm gonna put out all these songs. You know,
I got a team of people that are listening to
the songs and they're like, we think these are the
best and you know, I trust them too. Is great.
But there was also you know, you know, with social
media going on, there was talks of all right, well
you gotta do something viral. I'm like, so the Grammy
Nams and the Double Awards and the number ones aren't enough.
(05:39):
I gotta go viral now. I was like, all right,
that's that should be easy, right, And so I come
home and I was kind of like down and out.
You know. My wife was like, you know what, why
don't you just go in the garage and lip sync
two better days, you know, And it was one of
our personal favorites. It didn't make the list, but we're like,
you know, just do this. It's just a test, you
know that way. If it doesn't work, then it's not
(06:00):
the songs that you guys all picked. So I went
in there, recorded myself, just sang to the track. And
then it was during it was last year actually, or no,
it was during Thanksgiving, and and I think people just
really connected with the you know, God, thank you for
my family and for all my blessings, and so it
got over. I think like one hundred and eighty remakes
(06:21):
on TikTok. One hundred and eighty thousand remakes on TikTok
the sound was used, and I mean millions of views
and about one hundreds of thousands of life So it's
just been crazy to see that because I mean, I've
been posting on social media for years, you know, and
you see people go viral and you're like, man, what
is that like? You know, that'd be kind of dope,
and then and then it will be you never know,
(06:43):
and then all of a sudden, your phone is just
blowing up and you're like, wow, this is crazy. So
it was trying to capitalize on that momentum, and and
that was really I felt like the direction I wanted
to go with my music anyways was just a little
bit more R and B hip hop influence, and I
love that.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
And now the album, it's the first track, and then
you had the radio edit at the end of it,
so I was there twice. Okay, producers, but I love it,
absolutely love it. So let's talk about actually really, you know,
diving into the cover art for a quick second. We
know you've had something horrible I cannot even put into words,
you know, losing a child. So I do see and
(07:21):
I noticed, you know that angel that you're carrying. Tell
me more about that cover art and why you decided
to put it out there.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, it was. It was interesting. It was it was
kind of this you know, sometimes you do something and
and and it's like the meaning catches up, you know,
it's kind of like a prophetic act in a way.
You know. So I was shooting, you know, different pictures
for the album cover, and then we had this idea.
(07:50):
You know, we brought my kids in there there just
watching the photo shoot, and it was a nice vibe.
The wife, he was there and one of the thoughts was, all,
let's just take a photo with my youngest with some
angel wings on. And and so as we were doing it,
it started, you know, as we're taking the photos, I
think the meaning of what I was doing and what
(08:11):
it represented really hit me, you know, in that moment
of just you know, and I think, I think with
all my music and all my songs, there's always that
that's always going to be in there, the pain, the
loss you never forget, you know, if if you've lost
a child, if you lost a family member, you know,
you're never never really fully goes away. And so this
(08:31):
was more of like a representation of you know, I'm
still holding my son, you know that we lost and
and and that he's you know, in heaven, and and
also that it's a it's a process, and so this
and this and real love looks like that. Real love
(08:52):
looks like it holds on to things, you know, and
that's how you really that's and that's love. That's what
they say, you know, the sadness, the hurt, that's that's
how you know it's love. And so for me, the
album cover was really important. I wanted to really have
like this iconic you know, like remember Nirvana when they
had the baby in the in the pool, you know,
something just really iconic like that. But the meaning to
(09:14):
me is so much deeper, and I'm just really glad
it worked out.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yes, absolutely so I do have to ask, how are
you the wife and of course your family, how are
you guys doing right now? You know, dealing with that.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
We're doing good, you know. Every year, you know, he
passed December seventh, twenty nineteen, so anytime we get into December,
we always know that date is coming up. And you know,
I made a post on my Instagram too. Every Christmas
there's supposed to be one more you know, there's supposed
(09:46):
to be one more that's opening up gifts, and we
have three now, but there's supposed to be one more.
You know. You can feel that, you know, when my
son he's seven, he's supposed to have a brother that's
about maybe a year and a half younger than him,
you know, so he has that grace to be older
a big brother that way. But now we have two
toddlers that he's dealing with, driving him crazy. I love it,
(10:07):
but you know, we're doing good. Every day is just
a new day, and we're taking it one day at
a time, but still being very honest and vulnerable. And
I'm just thankful I have my wife and we have
our connection because I know a lot of people, you know,
marriages have a hard time after something like that. But
with my wife and myself, we've really found comfort and
(10:31):
safety in each other, being like you're my battle buddy
during that, you know, and so we really help each
other out, especially in that month. It's really hard.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Absolutely, I did see the post about the celebration of
life that you do. It's very beautiful, and of course
there are others who are in similar situations that could
really resonate and appreciate the efforts that you're you know,
doing just to bring light to never forget. Of course,
definitely celebrate that life every way you can, so we
appreciate that. Now switching gears, though you are based out
of Orange County, a lot is happening over there in California,
(11:04):
specifically of course South California there. What are your thoughts, like,
I mean, from your perspective being out in California, how
has it been like being in an environment like that.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
I mean, it's crazy. I mean California, you know, definitely
is an interesting state. I think to everybody in the country,
you know, every time I go places, you know, if
I'm like out in the South or anything, and I'm like, hey,
what's up. I'm rying, I'm from California, They're like, we
don't want you out here. You know, I've heard that before. Like, man,
California gets a lot of hate and you know, but
(11:35):
I also feel like that's the reason why I stayed
out there for so long is because I really feel
like God is doing something in California. Yeah, and I've
had the opportunity. I almost moved to Atlanta, almost moved
to Decatur. I you know, I might still who knows,
get a vacation. I was out here, but it's I mean,
because I just love you know, the culture out here
is just amazing. Everyone's super nice, down to earth, true art.
(12:00):
Everything is just amazing out here. But California, you can
go to the mountains in the beginning of the day
and then you can go surf in the ocean in
the afternoon, you know, and so it's and just it's
beautiful and just the different spots. But the people too,
you can feel, I don't know, it's ginny. It's interesting,
I think in just the country in general, you know,
(12:21):
a little a little hairy. But what my mission is
is just to spread light, you know. So I know
a lot of people that moved out of California, like
it's getting too crazy out of here. I'm like, but
if y' all leave, who's going to be the light?
You know what I'm saying. If everybody leaves here, then
how's you know. So me and my wife, we've planted
our flag on the ground and we've seen amazing things.
(12:43):
But with everything happening right now, with the fires, I mean,
it's just devastating, it's heartbreaking, But you know, that's what
the Bible says it's gonna be hard times. There's gonna
be hard times. There's gonna be things that you don't understand.
There's gonna be things that are confusing, and there might
be you know, the principalities of the air. You know,
you know, the enemy's still roaring, running around trying to
(13:04):
do what he wants to do. But I really do
believe in twenty twenty five that we're going to see
one of the most dramatic shifts in music and in
culture when it comes to Christianity. With music and with
just I think people.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
In general tell me more. You can't just drop something
like a statement like that and not tell me where
your mind is that why you say that, what do
you think is coming? And like why I'm just curious,
you know, from your perspective.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I mean, I've been doing this a long time, not
as long as you know, like TD Jakes or anything
like that, but you know, it's like I remember when
I first started writing worship music, you know, when I
first started going to church and how different it is
and compared to what it is now and the people
who are representing I mean, Jamie Fox is special. Do
(13:50):
you guys watch Jamie Fox Special that boy was preaching.
I mean, I was getting rocked in the spirit. I
was just like wow. And so to have mainstream artists
like that, people like Justin Bieber, you have so many
different artists that are really kind of encountering God and
then making their platform a platform to preach that. That
(14:13):
to me is a sign you know, that the grace,
that there's grace for it, and that people are hungry
for it because we've been in some dark times for
a long time, and so I think people are really
searching for the light. And so for so many amazing
people like Jamie Fox or even like you know, Justin
Bieber and people who represent that, you know, the main artist,
it's it's encouraging to me where I'm like, okay, you
(14:36):
know the world's kind of ready for that news. So yeah,
it's waking up. I feel that.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Yeah, I agree, and you're talking about people who are mainstream.
I do want to touch on there's just a little
bit the Jabbawaukee's. I mean, I was a huge bad
I'm like, I'm so excited. I'm sitting with one of
the OG's here. Tell me more about that, because I
also want to know how you transitioned from something like
the Jabbawakee's into writing me M making music. Tell me
(15:01):
more about that experience.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Well, I'm Filipinos, so we have to do whatever we can,
you know what I'm saying. Like my mom, she sang,
she was in theater. She just an amazing personality, and
so she passed that on to me. And so I
got into performing arts at a young age with tap dance, ballet.
I had a scholarship to a ballet school, did musical
(15:26):
theater growing up. My mom was my first my first
musical theater or my first play. My mom was in
a play called Showboat, and I went to the rehearsal
with her and the director was like can he skip?
Can you skip across the stage? And that was my
first performance, you know. And so I was like maybe
six years old, and so I've always kind of been
on the stage, you know. Yeah, And so when I
(15:49):
got into hip hop dance, I was actually transitioning from
being a cheerleader. And so I was a competitive cheerleader.
We took first place. I mean it was like it
was not like heist go football cheerleading, This was like
competitive ESPN. I was seven years old, on an all
girls squad. They took first place every competition. We took
Nationals twice, so it was high level, elite, high performance.
(16:13):
And this was back in like ninety two or something
like that. And then we used to share the space
with a hip hop class, and so after cheer practice,
I'd start hearing the hip hop music. I hear in
missy Elliott.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I love it, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I was like, Yo, what is this? And so I
go across and I started doing the classes, and then
there was my cheer coaches would try to give me
back over to cheer practice, and I kind of made
the decision. I was like, I'm going to get I'm
going to do this hip hop thing. And so that's
when it was first starting in San Diego. It was
kind of like the birth center for choreographed hip hop
(16:53):
dance cruise, like you know New York break dancing for sure,
but like on the West coast San Diego Angie Bunch
and they were the creators of the movement of hip
hop dance teams in SoCal. So I was there from
the very beginning. And then we had these boys come
from Sacramento and they had a whole new style. They're
from the Bay, you know. So it was a whole
(17:15):
different vibe. And that's and they were the ones who
created the Jabwuaukeis and so they were like in their twenties.
I was probably like fifteen, fourteen years old, so I
was like the young bro, and I was good enough
to hang out with them. I didn't know why they
was one of the kick with me, but I was like, yo, okay,
this is dope. These guys are amazing. They're like kung
fu masters. It's like new kung fu masters that come
in and you're like, I'm trying to learn from you know,
(17:37):
let me follow your Waystin say and eventually came to
me one day like, yo, bro, we're starting a group
called Jabwaukees. You want to be in it. I was like, man,
as long as we're all kicking it, I don't care,
you know. And and so we started with our first
couple of shows, you know, were amazing, and uh, it
was cool to be a part of that in the
very beginning process. But you know how life is, and
(17:58):
I'm only fourteen years old. Mom said we're moving up north.
We're moving to Fresno. So I had to leave San
Diego and I'm totally different. You ever seen Footloose, That's
what it was like. I mean, I was dripped out.
I mean matching green visors. Remember when the advisors were
in and I walk up and all these kids are
wearing cowboy boots and bell buckles, and I'm like, I
(18:20):
am not in Kansas anymore. But and then and then
I joined the Navy after high school. And then that's
when I saw them on America's Best Dance creweah, and
I was like, dang. I was happy for the homies.
You know, I was happy for them, but I was like, bro,
I could have met you know, Mario Lopez too, that
would have been dope. But it was funny though, because
(18:42):
I was in the Navy, I still had like five
years left and uh, and I said, I'm just getting
my head down do this thing. And I just kind
of put that on the back burner. But when I
got saved and I started making music, you know, the
Jabberwaukees weren't even in my on my radar. I was
just like, I'm just trying to serve the law, trying
to become better myself. And then and this is where
(19:04):
it happened, which was so funny my wife. We got married,
and she wanted to bring me to a Jabbuwaukee show
in Vegas. And at this time I wasn't doing anything.
I wasn't making music. I don't even I had a
job at the time. I said no, I don't want
to go. I had her cancel the tickets, I had
her cancel the flight. Everything was my birthday. I felt bad,
(19:24):
but I was like, I'm about to see these homies
on an l you know what I'm saying, And for
some reason inside of me, I felt like God said,
you guys are gonna link up when it's time. And
that was before I even had a record deal, even
before anything, and so it was funny and I was
looking at my photos. But just like twenty twenty three,
we went to the Jabbawaukee show for the first time
(19:47):
and by the end of the year we had the
collapse with them. I love it. So the beginning of
the year, I was like, I think it's time and
I met the homie I said yo, and they actually
reached out to me from ever coming down, like, yo,
we should do this song.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
So it's just a journey, It's a god journey for real.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Absolutely, Now you have like a circle. Yes, yes, okay,
So I don't know if you still dance at your
grown page, but would you ever do anything else with them,
any other cool collapse or projects just to kind of
revive that og vibe.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
We'll see. I mean, I'm very I mean, I mean
you saw the Instagram video. Yeah, I was twenty years
I had a dance in twenty years.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Like, I was like, you know, look good, You'll want
me to be in this.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I was like, I don't mind. You guys are doing it,
But I mean I think you know, it's always in me.
I really, you know, I got a headline tour starting
up in May, Lord Willing, and so you know, I've
been trying to think do I have dancers on stage?
Should I do a little dancing? So I do know
it's in there. It's a tool on the tool belt.
We'll see perfect.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
I'm happy touched on the tour. We do want to
get more information about that. When is it star, what
is it going to be? What can people expect from
that tour?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yeah, so it's going to be the Real Love Tour,
So it's going to be a lot of the songs
that are already out plus the Real Love project, and uh,
it's just gonna be a very intimate setting, you know,
not big rooms, maybe three hundred four inch of cap.
And the whole vision is just to have fun, just
to get people in a room, you know, cancel the
(21:16):
world outside and silence it and just be in this
room and just kind of commune and see what God
does really, And that's always been my dream, is just
to get people in a room and let the presence drop.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I love it. That's powerful in itself. And we know
that the tour is coming up here in twenty twenty five.
What else can we expect from you? Or we're just
gonna focus on the tour, let this album flourish and
then see what happens later down the road.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Man, we got a lot of stuff. We got the tour,
we got some more music coming out, some amazing features
and collapse. I gotta ask who, oh my gosh, yeah,
we gotta we have an amazing song. I don't know.
Have you heard of Lee Vassi?
Speaker 1 (21:54):
No?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Yeah, check her out. I'm about to yeah, shout her out,
shout out le Vassi.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
She's an amaze using R and B Christian singer songwriter.
We just wrote a song. Yesterday. She might be coming
out on it. I don't know. This is I'm like
putting all this out of the exclusive. But so things
like that. Yeah, so we just got a lot of
amazing collapse and different different projects coming out soon. I
(22:20):
love that.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I love it. Ending on a positive note here for
twenty twenty five New Year's Resolutions goals. Give me one
that you're playing on, accomplishing or doing this year. What
do we got.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
I'm trying to get jacked, you know what I'm saying.
I want to get like a six pack. I mean,
at least once in my lifetime. You know. I'm trying
to eat healthier, trying to work out more, definitely, want
to go to more basketball games with my son, trying
to go to the Lakers games. So just a little
bit more, you know, just those types of things.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I love it. Trying to go before you know, Braun retires, or.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Exactly get it before he retire. But who knows. Man,
he's the go. He might give us another five six years,
that's what he said.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Yeah, yeah, we'll see, we'll see. I can see it
at the same time. Okay, forty, I know I love it.
I love it. Any last words you want to leave
with the people and how can they follow you?
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yes, thank you guys so much for listening, and thank
you for you guys do here. iHeartRadio and I appreciate
all the love and support from all the fans and
all the new listeners that are showing love on this project.
And if you want to follow me, you can follow
me on Instagram, Ryan Ellis and on TikTok. I think
it's Ryan Ellis c A. But we'll see if we
(23:31):
still have TikTok tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Wait a minute, don't break my heart right now. Yeah,
we'll see what happens if TikTok stays. Honestly, they've been
back and forth for so long, so let's keep making
viral videos until then. And I see your TikTok flourishing
as well, so of course follow on there as well.
But thank you so much, Ryan. We appreciate you coming
into the studio, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
For having me. Thank you guys.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I love it. Once again, Alexandrakimoni in the studio with
Ryan Ellis
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