Newcastle-based singer-songwriter Ryan Renaissance is preparing to release ‘Migrating Birds’, a socially conscious debut exploring division, misinformation, multiculturalism and the need for greater understanding. Accompanied by a child-friendly animated music video intended for educational use, the project aims to encourage discussion among younger audiences while supporting charities working in affected communities. John Curtis caught up with Ryan to find out more.
‘Migrating Birds’ uses social commentary and political allegory to deliver an anti-racism message. How did you craft the metaphor of migrating birds to address topics like division, misinformation, and multiculturalism?
Using migrating birds as the metaphor happened naturally, almost unconsciously. I suddenly found myself humming this melody and, moments later, the words “migrating birds, trying to outrun the apathetic winds / migrating birds, searching for sweet shelter from the bitter storm” flew out of my mouth. It was clear what was happening and where this was going. I’ve always been politically engaged but, like a lot of people, didn’t know what to do with those feelings. I never wanted to force it. My approach to songwriting is to let inspiration find me and follow the music’s lead. I love the allegory of the birds. People are understandably burnt out by politics or instantly turned off by it, so this removes that barrier. I believe art should never dictate and is at its best when open to interpretation. I don’t want to insult listeners’ intelligence or imagination by spelling things out.
You’re pairing the release with a child-friendly animated music video designed for educational use in schools. How has your previous work with BBC Teach: Ryan’s Story informed your approach to creating content that resonates with younger audiences?
The BBC Teach animation had a profound, long-lasting impact on me and undoubtedly influenced my decision to pair this release with an animated music video. It showed me the importance of getting vital messages to people as early as possible, when we’re at our most open-minded, eager to learn and adaptable. It also taught me how much good you can achieve with a platform, as well as the power of animation. Attention spans are getting shorter and kids are brimming with energy, so you have to give them a reason to sit still. No matter how important the message is, it’s redundant if it isn’t executed in a way that grabs their attention. It has to be fun, engaging, entertaining and inspiring.
Having secured support from charities, local MPs and regional press, how do these partnerships help amplify the song’s message? And what outcomes do you hope to achieve for the charities?
Choosing this as my first release carried the risk that such an important message might be missed because I haven’t yet built a following. These relationships are invaluable for community outreach and promoting the cause. Given the topic, and the fact that I’m currently unknown, I expect some scepticism. By getting the backing of established, respected organisations, I hope it alleviates some of that doubt, legitimises the project and helps it be taken seriously. It also allows the project to reach people it otherwise might not.
I want to showcase the incredible work of these charities, which sadly goes unnoticed sometimes. Services are so strained, and they’re performing miracles with very little money. I hope the project brings people to charities who otherwise wouldn’t have been aware of them.
What response or dialogue do you hope to inspire among local communities, policymakers and educational leaders through this release?
Frankly, the response I would most like is a response: to challenge this clumsy narrative that we’re all apathetic. It’s not that we’ve stopped feeling. Everywhere you turn, people are overwhelmed by intense feelings. I think people have plenty to say; they just don’t know how to say it or who to say it to because they’ve felt unseen and unheard for far too long. I hope this encourages people to stand up and speak out for what they believe in, while creating a safe space for people to share their views productively and peacefully.
As a 23-year-old Newcastle-based artist preparing for this debut release, how does ‘Migrating Birds’ reflect your overall direction as a singer-songwriter and the role you want music to play in driving social change?
Truthfully, ‘Migrating Birds’ is probably an unreliable indicator of where I’m headed musically. It could be an outlier in my catalogue, and that’s partly why I chose it. It certainly reflects where I’m headed as a person, though: using my voice to speak up for what I believe in, expose corruption, counter toxic narratives and not be afraid to take a stand. I also want to rally the everyman to speak up, because it’s always the ‘ordinary’ people who have the most extraordinary stories to tell.
You can listen to ‘Migrating Birds’ now on all major streaming platforms.
