Some people’s artistic inclinations are inbred, while others embrace their aspirations a little later in life and find it was an uncannily natural fit. The latter is the case of BEC Recordings artist Ryan Stevenson, who aside from a flirtation with drums as a child and time in the high school band, fully developed his craft as a singer/songwriter/worship leader/guitar player in college alongside several familiar faces, most notably future Sparrow signee Shawn McDonald, Gotee artist Paul Wright and even BEC executive Tyson Paoletti.
“When I was graduating high school, my youth pastor gave me a guitar because he felt like God was telling him to, which up until that point, I’d never played, sang or written songs,” notes the Oregon-born/Idaho-based performer. “It sat around for awhile until I met Paul and Shawn at Northwest Christian College and we found ourselves in the dorm or the hallway just playing an acoustic guitar together. God lit a fire in my heart and I literally learned to play overnight. It just fit and made sense to me, so I started writing songs and leading worship during chapel services.”
Stevenson even went so far as to form an indie band with Wright called Front Row Joe, landing a much coveted spot on the Creation Festival’s Fringe Stage, though the timing wasn’t exactly right for that particular group. Not only did Wright score his solo deal, but Stevenson switched gears all together, first becoming a teacher, followed by time as a paramedic.
“I was at a place where I was graduating and just getting married, so it was really tough to do the band as a full time entity,” he recalls. “It was a period filled with a lot of confusion and heartache, but eventual growth. I had always struggled with insecurity, and at the time, didn’t think I could cut it as an artist, but God wouldn’t let me put music down, even as I led worship in small, mundane places.”
Indeed, his wife’s hometown of Boise isn’t exactly a mecca for Christian music, but out of playing little coffee shops and churches across the Northwest, Stevenson slowly but surely refined his craft. The turning point came when he won a Christian battle of the bands at the state fair, after which he was awarded studio time to record a demo.
“At the time, I was fully involved in my career as a paramedic, working 50 hours a week and seeing everything you could every imagine responding to 911 calls,” he remembers. “To me, winning the competition was just my last hurrah and I wanted to get some songs down and lay it all out there. I truly had a peace in my heart about it and said ‘God it’s yours- if it’s not 100% in your heart, I don’t want to do it anymore.’”
It turns out the material was so strong that it attracted the attention of mixer Chris Stevens (TobyMac), followed by Paoletti, who eventually signed his long lost friend to a deal. The resulting Yesterday, Today, Forever EP finds the freshman artist blending the best of his days leading worship and time on the local singer/songwriter circuit under an unconventional blend of funky pop and innovative electronica.
“I grew up on Michael Jackson, George Michael and Duran Duran, but I’m also a huge fan of OneRepublic, Justin Timberlake, Owl City and Katy Perry, so pop music’s always been in my DNA,” Stevenson asserts. “But I’m also a worshipper and I felt God was wanting me to take that type of approach to songwriting over more of a rhythmic flavor. A lot of people said it would be risky because it’s not really being done, but my goal was honestly to have people shake and pulsate to a pop/dance/rock/rhythmic beat as they sing praises.”
The title track and lead single is an ideal example of that slick merger as it speaks of God’s unwavering consistency, even amidst our earthly trials and shifting personal sand. The soulful groove “No One Ever Cared” was inspired by the old time hymn of the same name, though this rewritten gem speaks of Jesus’ unconditional care for creation. The building ballad “Let the Praises Rise” is an anthem of unabashed praise, while “In the Sun” is a personal cry that unveils Stevenson’s shift from doubt and fear to hope and peace. “We Got the Light” rounds out the listening experience with a rippling electronic attitude and faith-affirming premise that promises Christ can fill even the deepest voids.
“It might sound cliché, but even though I’m on the radio, I’m a real person with the same real struggles as someone working at a desk or on a potato farm,” he suggests. “One thing I notice is that the church is sometimes afraid to talk about struggle, but I hope this music will help disciple someone through their issues or addictions. There’s so much emotion and raw reality in my songwriting from being a paramedic and seeing so many suicides, overdoses, rapes and addictions. Now more than ever, people are so desperate for something real and tangible and I want them to know God is incredibly real and tangible. If you reach out to Him, He’s right there, and as you start crying out in worship, it will start changing the environment around you.”
Stevenson is sure to spread that message on an upcoming tour alongside Press Play, Group 1 Crew, Rachael Lampa and Charmaine, which comes on the heels of opening slots for McDonald, Wright, Switchfoot, Needtobreathe, Rock & Roll Worship Circus, Remedy Drive, Meredith Andrews, Everyday Sunday and even a worship tour in Israel with 20 other artists. No matter what the audience, the troubadour is committed to exposing his vulnerability within vertical songwriting, with an underlying goal of uniting listeners, no matter their walk of life.
“My biggest inspiration is King David, who was one of the most powerful and anointed worshippers, but was always quick to run to God as problems arose in his life,” Stevenson sums up. “I believe God takes us through things to strengthen and stretch us and my ministry is about resonating with people, connecting heart to heart, being a source of hope and a voice of compassion. I hope these songs draw us to a new realm of worshipping the creator, breaking down walls and embracing those the world would deem unembraceable. I want to sharpen the body and speak life and love into my generation.”
