Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan LaPerle.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I grew up in Exeter, New Hampshire with a small family of four and myself. I remember in 4th grade looking up to my older brother who played the trumpet in concert band in school. He was only three years older than me. I wanted to play that instrument too. So, I picked up the trumpet, after what felt like months of playing (it was probably weeks) I found my self not excited or interested in this instrument anymore. The year went by, I would sing to songs at home or in the car with my mother and in chorus at school but I didn’t pick up another instrument for a couple more years. I loved singing and did it whenever.
It was around 6th grade when I saw my neighbor and many other peers give interest to this unconventional instrument in the school system, called the ‘guitar.’ Our school would have all the usual concert band/marching instruments and chorus. Once I saw the guitar, I knew it was love at first sight. The six strings and tension on the neck and that sound. The guitar to me sounded like a full orchestra on its own. It has a low end and high end sounds that were just so full. After two years of weekly lessons with a local guitarist who gave lessons in his house. I couldn’t put the guitar down, I’d say my growth on this instrument wasn’t from discipline it was from never wanting to put it down. Around the end of middle school going into high school is when I found my self-singing and playing this guitar together. I started playing some school events and I was asked to sing at my 8th grade field day in front of my whole class. After that, I was hooked on performing and singing. I ended up going to Keene State College where I received a BA degree in Communication.
At Keene, I did keep up with playing the open mics there and taking classical lessons and being one credit short of a music minor but I got the training for which helped me grow as a musician. After leaving Keene, I found myself here in Boston where I went to audio production school at BU at a satellite school called then CDIA at BU (The Center For Digital Imagining Arts). Since then, I put out my own first full band album called “Disguise.” Not knowing how to grow or any direction in the musician industry besides moving to LA, NYC or Nashville. I got discouraged when my album didn’t go anywhere. I did continue to play small venues around Boston and in NYC. I didn’t find any growth in my fanbase and a family member was sick I took a break from music. Back in 2014, I found myself wanting to still pursue music, so I began to street perform in Harvard Sq. in Cambridge. I found a real join in performing and bringing a lively sound to the square. After two years, a friend of mine told me I should audition for Faneuil Hall. Which I did two years ago and have found my skills become very fine-tuned and my fan base growing. I still perform around the US at Colleges and Universities. I am working on a new single and album to put out in 2018 and 2019. I’m really proud of where I am and where I’ll be in the future.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a musician. I play guitar/sing. I write songs. I do an original rendition of covers. I love singing and performing and I want to enhance peoples life with my work. Be it a cover or an original, I want people to feel like they can relax and enjoy and put worries away. I use a looper pedal when I’m live and attempt to create this larger than life sound just as one man. I gather my inspiration from artists I work with or know now. I have been influenced by Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran anyone who’s not afraid to put their work out there and share it with the world. The good the bad and the ugly that comes with sharing your art. Artists we aren’t for everyone.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
I agree there is no path or ladder to climb in the arts. You can share your craft and work and hope people like it and then it spreads to other people. Now, in the digital day and age, we can cast a larger net then we would be able to before. But I’m not the best at looking and talking into a camera or I feel like there’s not human connection. But with street performing I feel that, so I know I’m better at one on one or live concerts so I put those on all the time around Boston. And post modestly online so not as much as others. Advice: find your strengths and expose them to use them to your advantage. If you have something you need to share and find you have the talent, you’ll find a way in my mind. I took other small jobs like working at Starbucks and treated it like not a career but a place to help financially incubate my art, so I could keep pushing and get myself to a more independent financial place.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Go to my website www.ryanlaperlemusic.com or come to see me at Faneuil Hall. If you purchase my music on the Google music store or iTunes. Or give a donation at Faneuil or even watch like and subscribe to my YouTube or Instagram. Spread the word let people know that helps.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ryanlaperlemusic.com
- Phone: 617-910-0741
- Email: ryan@ryanlaperlemusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlaperlemusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rlaperlemusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rlaperlemusic
Image Credit:
Kristof Torok, Tommy Gotsch
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