Ryan Peters
Artist: Ryan Peters
How do you avoid falling into the male John Mayer/Dave Matthews/Jack Johnson/ Howie Day singer-songwriter cliche? I try not to emulate anyone. Obviously, the goal is to become yourself. I just try and take songs that mean so much to me and make them my own.
Who are your influences? I'm influenced by a lot of things I hear. Pretty much anything you hear is going to become part of you. . . . Artists that move me the most are bands like Radiohead, Sting and The Police and U2.
Last three albums you listened to? "The Bends" by Radiohead. I don't really pop in an album. I've got a bunch of songs I've downloaded. I listen to a lot of '80s music. Recently, I've been listening to this song by Adam Ant, "Wonderful." It's just a cheesy '80s song. . . . I do a version of "Time After Time" (by Cyndi Lauper).
Worst song on the radio right now? I try to appreciate everything, and that's not a bullcrap answer, that's the truth.
Who is your biggest musical guilty pleasure? I like '80s music a lot. I'm a big fan of James Taylor and folk music. Simon and Garfunkel, too. Those guys all had a big influence on me.
If you could share the stage with any band or artist, who would it be and why? Probably U2. Just because . . . they've influenced so many bands, me included, and they've done so much for the world. They've inspired me so much in so many different ways. I realize my reason for playing music is to move as many people in a positive way as possible. I think they uncovered that. That should be the purpose for everyone's music.
What songs do you like to cover? "One" by U2. "High and Dry" by Radiohead. I try and do that one every time I play. "Africa" by Toto. . . . I heard it on the radio one time and thought "Oh my God, this is such a cool song." I can't sing as high as those guys, so I had to transfer it to my voice. It took me a while to do it but once I did, it turned out all right.
Plug one other local band: The Glorious Filaments. They've got a really neat style. It's unique to York, and they're influenced by a lot of bands that I'm influenced by, so it's a natural thing for me to enjoy their music. And Katie Robinette. She's something different.
Who would win in a fight: U2 or Radiohead? U2 would win probably because they have a lot more backing.
What do you need to work on as an artist? Everything. There's not one area that I can't improve in. I don't care how big I get, if I get outside of York, there's always going to be something to get better at.
Shoutouts: A lot of people. All the venues I've played at. White Rose Bar & Grill, Granfalloons, 4-Bs, Jamie's Courtside. And a guy by the name of Kenton Shelley. I'd like to thank him.
- JASON COX, FLIPSIDE STAFF