Meet Ryan O’Neill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan O’Neill. 

Hi Ryan, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Thank you for hearing my story. As a young boy, I always had an ear for music–after hearing a catchy song on the radio, I would proceed to hum and sing it until I learned the song all the way through. I would then watch award shows such as the Grammy’s or the Oscars and see all of the talented legends of music perform their catchy hits live & I always knew that I wanted to be on those stages one day. As I grew older, I began to practice singing to backing tracks & I would perform as if I were headlining a show in a large arena. By this time, I decided it was time to invest some time and effort in vocal coaching at a local music shop in my hometown. Not long after meeting my coach, I was writing some of my own songs. It is unbelievable how songwriting really made me grow more anxious to make my voice heard. Eager to perform, singing and songwriting has pushed me to enter competitions & opened doors to performances at various sporting events. The more I was engaging with the crowds while performing, the more I truly fell in love with sharing my passion for music & entertainment with people. Now, I am full steam ahead in preparation for releasing my debut single! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As passionate as I am to chase my dream, this has not been a smooth road. Chasing your dreams is not easy, it’s hard work–among the hardest tasks someone could ever take on. Going through competitions has been an abundance of fun & I am humbled to have the opportunity of competing against the other incredibly talented individuals, however, it is difficult to break out of the mold & find what sets you apart from the other artists. With music, you have to make choices given who you are & who you want to be. In the industry, many artists change–leaving the person they always thought they would be behind. Regularly, I remind myself that I want to remain the same person that I was when I went into this career, still a kind, big-hearted, passionate individual. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer, songwriter, and performer. As far as specialty, I write my own songs, which tend to be in the country-pop style. I would say that my stage presence is what sets me apart from many other singers. When I sing a song–I don’t just sing, I put on a show. Between the passion & effort, I ensure that no matter what song I sing, I make sure that the audience can not only hear me but I ensure that they can feel the music & the genuine passion behind it. 

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a young boy, I always had a strong interest in music! I played the drums for my church band throughout middle school & enjoyed every moment of it. I grew up mainly listening to country music through the radio or via CDs with my mom. We would sing all the words to the songs at the top of our lungs! I never really grew out of it–more or less, I grew into it. I always associate my passion for music with cars since that is where I found myself listening to music most of the time. Given the association, I grew a strong bond with automobiles which led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in automotive marketing & management. After losing my grandfather (who in which I was VERY close with) in 2019, one of the last things he said to me was that I have a strong gift & God-given talent that should not go unnoticed. From the moment he told me that, it became evident that I needed to pursue a career in music. 

Contact Info:

• Website: imryanoneill.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imryanoneill
• Facebook: Facebook.com/imryanoneill