Photography by Peter Park.
Born and raised in Germany, in a small town outside of Frankfurt, Aly did not always know she wanted to be a musician but knew music would always be part of her life. Growing up, she was fascinated by the music her father would play and sing to her. She loved the meaning behind lyrics and how to create something that made people feel a range of emotions. This was solidified by the impression that The Little Mermaid’s infectious music made on eight-year-old Aly. From that moment, she knew there was nothing else she wanted to pursue, and once she started making music, there was no going back. In her early teens, songwriting became Aly’s salvation. Drawing inspiration from artists like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Beyonce, she had found an outlet to express herself and a place to feel safe. She began skipping classes just so she could run to write thoughts down to write new songs. At age 16, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue writing full time. After making the move to LA to pursue her career as an emerging singer/songwriter, the unthinkable happened. Wanting to pursue music more than anything, Aly took a shot at reaching out to one of her idols, Babyface, on Facebook. To Aly’s surprise, he responded to her message and invited her to see his recording studio. Since then, Babyface has become a mentor to Aly, working with her one-on-one on her new music.
We had a wonderful opportunity to chat with Aly about her latest projects. Check the interview below.
Hi, Aly! Thank you for the opportunity to interview you. Tell us what inspires your music?
My life and the lives of the people around me!
You love the meaning behind lyrics. Tell us about your writing process.
Whenever I write music, it usually starts with an emotion I feel really strongly about. Then the lyrics will flow. But the writing process varies. Sometimes I’ll start with a melody and the lyrics follow. Sometimes it’s the other way around. It really depends.
How would you describe your sound?
I’m in love with a lot of the bands from the 80s. One band that really inspired me is ABBA. I grew up listening to their music. I’m sure some of that bleeds into my sound.
You loved writing so much that you skipped classes as a teen to write. Has
writing always been this thrilling for you?
I think I started writing when I was 14. It became my outlet for everything that was going on in my life. Kind of like a diary.
You moved to the Los Angeles, to pursue a career in music. Tell us more about this decision.
I felt I needed a new place to start over. I grew up on music that was written in the English language so most of my writing was in English as well. I felt like moving was the best thing for me to do to be able to express myself.
Growing up, what songs inspired you?
There were a few songs. One of them was Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The River’. Another one was by Pink Floyd ‘Wish You Were Here’. I feel like the songs I grew up with birthed a certain kind of nostalgia in me. Today I’m still a really nostalgic person. I think that comes through in my music as well.
Do you draw from personal experiences to create your music?
Yes, a lot!
Your lyrics make people think! What is the most important aspect of songwriting for you?
To capture a feeling that others can relate to because it is put into words in the right way.
What is the biggest misconception about being a singer?
That it’s just about the singing. There’s so much more that goes into it.
What is your favorite experience in your career to date?
I went on a school tour in the U.K. A few years ago and has hundreds of students singing the words to my song was an amazing experience.
List the 5 things you need to have with you on a stage.
Hmm.. water, an instrument, mic and my set list? Lol
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
Yes, my song ‘No Parachute’ is out now and was featured on New Music Friday- one of Spotify’s biggest playlists last week. The song also charted at number 15 on the New & Hot Pop Chart on SoundCloud.
Connect with Aly:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/alyryanmusic
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/alyryanmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyryanmusic/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/alyryanmusic
Web: http://alyryanmusic.com
Spotify: Play Me
Featured image: Peter Park.
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