Talking to Ryan Medeiros isn't always a normal conversation. Not only is he one of the most hilarious people I've ever met, but he is also incredibly down to earth and realistic. A few years back we were driving home from summer league basketball when he told me to but an instrumental on. Skeptical at first, I scoured YouTube for a decent beat and let him do his thing. Four minutes later, jaw to the floor of my car and a look of awe on my face, I threw on another beat and made him freestyle again.
Ryan's ability to come up with sensible lyrics off the top of his head, story-tell, and flow on a variety of beats made other people think the same way I did- If he can do this off of the top of his head, he must be able to put something dope down in writing. Alas, we have One Last Thing, a legitimate storytelling album by Ryan featuring 10 well-written songs placed perfectly in chronological order.
I highly suggest listening to this album through, and I was lucky enough to interview him about how it feels to not only make music for the first time, but get the reception that he did (nearly 200 downloads). Check it out below.
Ryan Medeiros Twitter
How does it feel to actually drop a mixtape? Did you think you would ever do it?
It’s a cool feeling. Not necessarily because I “dropped” an album but because I finished something that required a lot of work. I’m very satisfied with the finished work and regardless how many people heard it or liked it, I am happy with it. I never thought I would. I thought She Used To Call Me Ry was it for me.
When did you decide to create it? Did someone convince you?
I used to make songs for fun or as a joke and every once and a while I would show them to my friend and they would always give me amazing feedback and tell me how good they are. That kind of made me decide like "ok maybe I should actually try to make something out of it". My friends convinced me.
Did you make all of the beats yourself?
No, I wish. I did add my flare to each of them though. I am not that talented with beat making software but I did make a lot of the extra sounds and drum sounds, especially on “Worst Way.”
As of a few days ago you were at 178 downloads, how does that feel?
Pretty incredible. Not lying when I say I expected maybe 35 at the most. I love that people can enjoy the music. Some people who don’t even know me have told people that I know that they downloaded because they thought it was good. That’s a crazy feeling to me, that’s the reason I put it out there.
When did you start getting into music?
I used to just write things down, whether they were songs or just ideas. I started to turn them into songs and put them to music. This summer when I was working on this album is when I kind of took it more serious and got more into it. I have so much fun with it, it’s a good hobby.
When you were building your project, did you have a format you wanted to stick to? Was your mixtape trying to tell a story song by song or was it just a showcase of the songs you had made?
One Last Thing is a story. More importantly its my story. I don’t have a very interesting life so naturally it is difficult to find topics to write about. Im not famous, I don’t have a lot of money or nice cars. So One Last Thing tells a story about my past relationships and experiences and the things I used to feel as well as the tough times I went through. What I think is great about the album is that anybody who has had love and lost it can relate to the lyrics. My hope is that people take the songs for what they are instead of trying to figure out why I might say certain things. People always ask who I’m writing about or who a song was about. I don’t answer because I want them to listen to each song for what it is. When the music stops, what have you learned and what do you feel? That’s what I ask myself after I finish each song. I hope everybody will listen to the album from start to finish at least once.
Explain the title “One Last Thing”? How did you come up with it?
One Last Thing means exactly what it says. This album is the last thing I have to say about this part of my life. I wont speak on this topic ever again, and that’s why it’s my One Last Thing. I have nothing more to say about it.
I think “Worst Way” is your best song all around, do you feel the same? What are your favorite songs?
I can’t pick a favorite. Worst Way is a great song but also an ambiguous song. It can be taken in many different ways and people have expressed to me what they feel and picture when they hear it. There is such an important message behind that song that kind of depicts college hook up culture, I loved creating that song from the bottom up, it felt right.
Do you plan on making more music in the future?
I don’t plan on anything; I didn’t even plan on this album. Music is funny because you can sit down and try to force yourself to write a song to a certain beat and it will probably sound just ok. It’s not easy at all. I get inspiration at random times and when I do the first thing I do is write it down. In my phone, on a napkin, back of receipts, anything I may have on me. I wouldn’t say I wont ever make another song, because I am sure I have a few left in me. It’s too fun to stop.
What are your inspirations when you are making music, whether they are musically or not?
I am inspired by memories. I’m always thinking about times in the past that I’ve had and I tend to always write about that. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t so nostalgic because it gets annoying, but that is what truly inspires me to write. I think mainly because those memories have so many feelings associated with them.
Are you that self conscious about losing your hair?
Haha. This makes me laugh. Not anymore, now it’s kind of a running joke with people that know me. It doesn’t bother me but it used to a lot. I realized that there are way worse things in life and that I need to stop complaining about something so minuscule in a world plagued with disease and other horrible circumstances. My life is truly amazing and I needed to get the hell over that. You can hear me poke fun at it on some songs. I’m glad you asked that.
Seeing the success you had, how does it feel to know you are supported by so many people to do music?
It is a great feeling but I just want it to be made clear that I only do this for the people who support me and who like it so much. I don’t do it so people can tell me I’m a good rapper or to hear that my music is good. I make the music for the people who take the time to listen to what it is I have to say.
Where do you want to see your music take you, if anywhere at all?
Nowhere. This is a hobby and as previously mentioned I do it for pure enjoyment. I’m a student and I love school too much to ever think about compromising my education in order to make more music in hopes of achieving something with it. It is and always will be for fun.
What do you want people who are too scared to be follow their artistic passions to know?
That I was scared about people hearing me rap. But I realized I’m somewhat good at it and it’s the only way I know how to express myself in some art form. I’m happy with the results and feedback I’ve gotten. The best thing about art is that you can say whatever you want without actually saying it. It’s an awesome thing. Chase your dreams no matter the size of them.
Last Words
To any and everybody who likes my music or took the time to listen to my music, I truly thank you. I know it may not be the best you’ve ever heard but it means a lot that you care. Thank You.
I highly suggest listening to this album through, and I was lucky enough to interview him about how it feels to not only make music for the first time, but get the reception that he did (nearly 200 downloads). Check it out below.
Ryan Medeiros Twitter
How does it feel to actually drop a mixtape? Did you think you would ever do it?
It’s a cool feeling. Not necessarily because I “dropped” an album but because I finished something that required a lot of work. I’m very satisfied with the finished work and regardless how many people heard it or liked it, I am happy with it. I never thought I would. I thought She Used To Call Me Ry was it for me.
When did you decide to create it? Did someone convince you?
I used to make songs for fun or as a joke and every once and a while I would show them to my friend and they would always give me amazing feedback and tell me how good they are. That kind of made me decide like "ok maybe I should actually try to make something out of it". My friends convinced me.
Did you make all of the beats yourself?
No, I wish. I did add my flare to each of them though. I am not that talented with beat making software but I did make a lot of the extra sounds and drum sounds, especially on “Worst Way.”
As of a few days ago you were at 178 downloads, how does that feel?
Pretty incredible. Not lying when I say I expected maybe 35 at the most. I love that people can enjoy the music. Some people who don’t even know me have told people that I know that they downloaded because they thought it was good. That’s a crazy feeling to me, that’s the reason I put it out there.
When did you start getting into music?
I used to just write things down, whether they were songs or just ideas. I started to turn them into songs and put them to music. This summer when I was working on this album is when I kind of took it more serious and got more into it. I have so much fun with it, it’s a good hobby.
When you were building your project, did you have a format you wanted to stick to? Was your mixtape trying to tell a story song by song or was it just a showcase of the songs you had made?
One Last Thing is a story. More importantly its my story. I don’t have a very interesting life so naturally it is difficult to find topics to write about. Im not famous, I don’t have a lot of money or nice cars. So One Last Thing tells a story about my past relationships and experiences and the things I used to feel as well as the tough times I went through. What I think is great about the album is that anybody who has had love and lost it can relate to the lyrics. My hope is that people take the songs for what they are instead of trying to figure out why I might say certain things. People always ask who I’m writing about or who a song was about. I don’t answer because I want them to listen to each song for what it is. When the music stops, what have you learned and what do you feel? That’s what I ask myself after I finish each song. I hope everybody will listen to the album from start to finish at least once.
Explain the title “One Last Thing”? How did you come up with it?
One Last Thing means exactly what it says. This album is the last thing I have to say about this part of my life. I wont speak on this topic ever again, and that’s why it’s my One Last Thing. I have nothing more to say about it.
I think “Worst Way” is your best song all around, do you feel the same? What are your favorite songs?
I can’t pick a favorite. Worst Way is a great song but also an ambiguous song. It can be taken in many different ways and people have expressed to me what they feel and picture when they hear it. There is such an important message behind that song that kind of depicts college hook up culture, I loved creating that song from the bottom up, it felt right.
Do you plan on making more music in the future?
I don’t plan on anything; I didn’t even plan on this album. Music is funny because you can sit down and try to force yourself to write a song to a certain beat and it will probably sound just ok. It’s not easy at all. I get inspiration at random times and when I do the first thing I do is write it down. In my phone, on a napkin, back of receipts, anything I may have on me. I wouldn’t say I wont ever make another song, because I am sure I have a few left in me. It’s too fun to stop.
What are your inspirations when you are making music, whether they are musically or not?
I am inspired by memories. I’m always thinking about times in the past that I’ve had and I tend to always write about that. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t so nostalgic because it gets annoying, but that is what truly inspires me to write. I think mainly because those memories have so many feelings associated with them.
Are you that self conscious about losing your hair?
Haha. This makes me laugh. Not anymore, now it’s kind of a running joke with people that know me. It doesn’t bother me but it used to a lot. I realized that there are way worse things in life and that I need to stop complaining about something so minuscule in a world plagued with disease and other horrible circumstances. My life is truly amazing and I needed to get the hell over that. You can hear me poke fun at it on some songs. I’m glad you asked that.
Seeing the success you had, how does it feel to know you are supported by so many people to do music?
It is a great feeling but I just want it to be made clear that I only do this for the people who support me and who like it so much. I don’t do it so people can tell me I’m a good rapper or to hear that my music is good. I make the music for the people who take the time to listen to what it is I have to say.
Where do you want to see your music take you, if anywhere at all?
Nowhere. This is a hobby and as previously mentioned I do it for pure enjoyment. I’m a student and I love school too much to ever think about compromising my education in order to make more music in hopes of achieving something with it. It is and always will be for fun.
What do you want people who are too scared to be follow their artistic passions to know?
That I was scared about people hearing me rap. But I realized I’m somewhat good at it and it’s the only way I know how to express myself in some art form. I’m happy with the results and feedback I’ve gotten. The best thing about art is that you can say whatever you want without actually saying it. It’s an awesome thing. Chase your dreams no matter the size of them.
Last Words
To any and everybody who likes my music or took the time to listen to my music, I truly thank you. I know it may not be the best you’ve ever heard but it means a lot that you care. Thank You.