“Powerfully reflective and contemplative, with layers to be burned and undressed slowly, finding passionate expression in the extra-ordinary themes of childhood, nature, the wonder of existence, the beauty and tragedy of the human condition, and a healthy subversion of societal norms.”
“Both sensual and intellectual, metaphysical and deeply human, the music of Ryan Heflin takes us beyond the prosaic and back into life as poetry.”
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Dark and light, soulful, singer-songwriter made band, vocal and lyric driven, sensual and intellectual, indie rock and singer-songwriter influences with literary influences (Whitman, Kerouac, Alan Watts)
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Bluesy, melyncoly, smokey-sultry, singer-songwriter (think: John Mayer), darkness, gospel-soul, indignation, and slam poetry (think: Hozier), a splash of the playful and conversational, sardonic indie/emo piano-rock (think: Jack’s Mannequin) fused with mind and heart opening wisdom-words set to tasteful beats (think: Trevor Hall, Alex Serra, Brett Dennen).
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Red wine, rainstorms, candlelight, dusk, lonely autumn coastline, dark warm wood, well-worn old books, nature...
spiritual/yoga culture, slam poetry dens, underground jazzy bohemian art galleries, subversive street-art, poetry/literature/word lovers, “artivism” (artist-activism), environmentalism.
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Ryan got his start as the resident musician of The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel for 8 years (2012-2020). He now gives himself over fully to writing, recording, and performing his soulful, iconoclastic, singer-songwriter words, set to dark, hurts-so-good indie rock vibrations. The debut album ’Where Does the Wonder Go?’ shows us the start of something un-usual and wonder-full.
Drawn to the seaside artist town of Laguna Beach, Ryan has been highly involved as a main act in The Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center, a place curating artists with a message (see article). His involvement with the center has lead to shows all over Laguna Beach including performances at The Sawdust Art Festival and Sunset Serenades Series.
Ryan has also been involved in collaboration with the band The Wheeland Brothers, sharing the stage at places like The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA and is currently working on a recording collaboration with them.
New album in the works….
Also See CanvasRebel Article
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“the lovers, the dreamers, and me, the children and inner children, the seekers and mystics, our sacred, paradise planet, the passionate, the romantic, the artist, the poet, and those overwhelmed by the beauty and absurdity of everythingness.”
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