K nown for his high-energy performances and commanding stage presence, Ryan captivates audiences with his voice and charisma. Influenced by the music of his upbringing and driven by a deep sense of responsibility to his family, he approaches his career with focus and passion. In this Emerging Artist Spotlight, Sean opens up about resilience, entrepreneurship, and building a lasting career in country music. Spotlight on Business: Tell us a little bit about yourself off stage. Let’s get to know Sean as a person. Sean Michael Ryan: Well, I’m a New Brunswick kid. I grew up on the East Coast, around people who worked hard and helped their neighbours - a lot of blue- collar folks. I spent most of my childhood doing regular kid stuff: playing hockey, playing in bands from an early age, and getting lost in the woods with my buddies during the summer. Those years taught me a lot - teamwork, passion, loyalty, work ethic - and how important it is to have good people around you. In the small community I’m from, Riverview, people really show up for each other. Growing up, you learn that family isn’t just blood. It’s how I teach my own kids now, and it’s how I approach everything in life - friendships, business, music - with the mindset that surrounding yourself with the right people is everything. That’s family, man Spotlight on Business: What do you like to do with your spare time when you’re not writing music or on stage? Sean Michael Ryan: First and foremost, when I’m not on stage, I’m with my kids - I love being a father. For a long time, I struggled to find my purpose. I knew I had talent in music, but I never quite fit into the traditional path growing up. Becoming a dad changed everything. The minute I held my first daughter, I knew this is what I was meant to do. If all else fails, this is my greatest success. Outside of that, I’m a big outdoorsman. I love being in the woods, fishing, sitting by a fire - that kind of peace. I’ve also been in carpentry since I was a kid, and I love working with my hands and building things. Spotlight on Business: When did your
passion for music begin? Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that inspired you to get into the music industry? Sean Michael Ryan: My mother is a musician - she’s a beautiful singer and guitar player - and music was always in the house growing up. My father was in country radio, so my early years were spent in radio stations, backstage at concerts, and around the industry. I fell in love with both sides of it - the singer-songwriter side I got from my mom, and the behind-the-scenes, production, and entertainment side from my dad. I got my first set of drums when I was seven, and I remember sitting in my room as a kid, listening to bands like Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses, just thinking, one day I’m going to get that phone call. Once I got a taste of performing - I was on stage by the time I was eleven - it lit something in me, and it’s been burning ever since. Spotlight on Business: You’ve built a successful career in carpentry while keeping music at the heart of your life. How have you balanced those two worlds over the years, and what led you to bring country music back to the forefront when the time felt right? Sean Michael Ryan: When you become a parent, own a home, and have bills to pay, you do what you have to do to put food on the table. Carpentry came into my life early, and the work ethic I learned, swinging a hammer, paid for my instruments, my first tour van, and kept things afloat when music had to take a back seat. There were years when I had to step away from music, especially when my kids were young. Those were tough decisions - selling instruments, putting the dream on pause - but they were necessary. Still, the dream never went away. As my kids got older, I wanted to be the kind of father who showed them that if you have a dream, you follow it - no matter how old you are or how hard it feels. So, I worked my ass off building my own carpentry business, and that’s what eventually gave me the freedom to bring music back into my life in a serious way. Over the past five years, music has become top of mind again.
“
Growing up, you learn that family
isn’t just blood. It’s
how I teach my own kids now, and it’s how I approach everything in life ”
10 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 26 ISSUE 1
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE 11 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE 11
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