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ABLE Voices Ep 94: Rion Paige
9 Plays18 days ago
We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the Able Voices podcast. Today, our guest host is Tony Memmel.
Tony Memmel is a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher with unique charisma and creativity. Though he was born with one hand, he taught himself to play the guitar professionally by building a special cast that he designed out of guerrilla tape. He has toured toured 47 of the 50 states, 25 countries, and has worked with 16 countries, virtually sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience. His work ranges from visiting schools, hospitals, and churches, to writing and arranging music for children, composing symphonies, performing in historic concert venues, and helping people with hand and limb differences, like his, to develop their adaptive methods that allow them to make music part of their lives. Today, Tony will be speaking to Rion Page.
Rion Paige Thompson is an American country singer from Jacksonville, Florida who finished in 5th place on season 3 of the X Factor USA. She was a part of the Girls catagory, mentored by Demi Lovato. Rion, who has a rare condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita which has caused permanent damage to her arms, resulting in her hands being in a fixed bent position.
Follow Tony on Social Media:
Website: https://www.tonymemmel.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonymemmel/
Follow Rion Page on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohrionpaige/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohrionpaige/
The ABLE Voices podcast is produced and edited by BIAAE Operations Coordinator, Daniel Martinez del Campo. The introduction music was written by Kai Levin and the ending song was written by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the Arts Education Programs at the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education.
For more information about our programs visit us at https://college.berklee.edu/BIAAE
Follow us for more weekly updates at:
Instagram: @BIAAE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BIAAE
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Transcript
Introduction to Able Voices Podcast
00:00:13
Speaker
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Able Voices Podcast. I'm Dr. Rhoda Bernard, founding managing director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education and the assistant chair of the Music Education Department at Berklee College of Music.
00:00:27
Speaker
and I am proud to present this podcast featuring disabled artists and arts educators. We are inviting artists with disabilities to be guest hosts for the Able Voices podcast.
Meet Tony Memel: Overcoming Challenges with Music
00:00:37
Speaker
Today, you'll meet our next guest host, Tony Memel.
00:00:41
Speaker
Tony Memel is a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher with unique charisma and creativity. Though he was born with one hand, he taught himself to play the guitar professionally by building a special cast that he designed out of guerrilla tape.
00:00:59
Speaker
He has toured 47 of the 50 states, 25 countries, and has worked with 16 countries virtually sharing his music and his message of hard work, determination, and resilience.
00:01:13
Speaker
His work ranges from visiting schools, hospitals, and churches to writing and arranging music for children, composing symphonies, performing in historic concert venues,
00:01:24
Speaker
and helping people with hand and limb differences like his to develop their own adaptive methods that allow them to make music part of their lives. Tony grew up in, oh, I can't say that, Tony. Where did you grow up? Waukesha, Wisconsin. Thank you, Waukesha, Wisconsin, and now resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and two sons.
00:01:48
Speaker
He enjoys playing basketball, swimming, hiking, and cooking and trying new foods especially if hot sauce is involved.
00:02:00
Speaker
Okay, welcome to the Able Voices pod. My name is Tony Memel, guest host today, and I am joined by a very special guest, my friend Ryan Page. We are going to get into a really nice discussion, but because it is my first time guest hosting, I'm just going to give you a very short introduction about who I am and why I'm here, and then we're going to get it all into Ryan's story for the whole rest of the pod. so So my name, again, Tony Memo. I'm a singer, songwriter, speaker, and teacher. And something that is unique about my story in music is I'm a professional guitar player, and I was born with one hand.
00:02:33
Speaker
And through my life, I've had the opportunity to travel to 47 of the 50 United States and 26 countries around the world sharing music and a message of encouragement and hope ah Through the long lesson that I learned of learning how to play the guitar, it took me eight years of practice and trial and error to build my adaptive tool that I use today.
00:02:58
Speaker
So through that story, I love to get out on the road and share that with people and get people thinking in creative ways about what they can do in their lives, things that are possible. What can you do? what my My tool is ah built out of this special adaptive tool tape called Gorilla Tape. So what what do you have in your house so you can get started with today? That's kind of my main message and mission.
Ryan Page's Early Musical Journey and Challenges
00:03:22
Speaker
And it's really cool today to have this chance to sit down with Ryan Page, who has her own story in adaptive music. And Ryan, I'm just going to just jump right in. Would you just tell us a little bit about who you are and your background in music from like like the early days? Tell us about Ryan as a child growing up in and music and what sparked your your early love of of what you do.
00:03:43
Speaker
Yes. Well, thank you so much for having me. i am just so honored. I love Tony and I love how just adaptive he is and also just a great musician in general. But I feel like when you have that adaptation and determination, it makes the music even better. um But yes, I've been singing literally ever since I could talk.
00:04:01
Speaker
I was in the backseat of my mom's car and my mom was noticing that I wasn't getting out words. I was singing melodies. And ever since then, i just knew I was really like glued to what music could give me what it could bring. And I started ah singing at a karaoke bar near my house in Florida where I lived.
00:04:22
Speaker
And as a punishment, if I didn't get good grades or something, my mom would go, well, you can't go sing. And I mean, that was like the end of the world. So I always, always just knew that there was a place in my heart for music. And then i soon realized that music would maybe have a little bit more obstacles for me than maybe some others.
00:04:39
Speaker
Because I was born with a disability called arthrogryposis multiplex congentia. if anyone listening wants to say that five times fast, you know, take a pause real quick here and try. You're welcome to But it affects my hands and it also affects different things of like playing instruments and also being able to, you know, adjust a microphone or put on a pack for myself or my in-ears or literally having a lot of autonomy when it comes to music. And especially it really affects my songwriting in a lot of ways because I have to be very creative about
00:05:12
Speaker
describing to other musicians well what I'm envisioning because I'm not always able to manipulate that or show that on an instrument. But I started singing really young and at the karaoke bar, my mom noticed that kids were coming up and handing me napkins to sign.
00:05:26
Speaker
And she was like, Oh, this is this is crazy. And I was like, Yeah, this is a bit crazy. And then I started ah kind of doing a little little bit of touring very low key. I was 10 at the time.
00:05:37
Speaker
of around Florida and around any area we could really get to in a car and just started noticing that people really connected to what I was saying. They connected to the stories. but i would say I really, really lead with story in the music that I do. Stories are really
Adapting to Disabilities in Music and Life
00:05:51
Speaker
important to me. And I found out really quickly that, oh my gosh, this is someone's job. This could be someone's job. This is, wow, this has to be my job.
00:05:58
Speaker
So then after that, I actually ended up becoming really determined. And after singing gigs for many, many years, told my mom, that I wanted to be on a singing TV show. And she was like, absolutely not.
00:06:11
Speaker
You're 13 years old. You're crazy. So I made her a PowerPoint that actually showed her the amount of gas it would take to get there, what I would sing, how I would do it, everything. and then I ended up actually being like a top five finalist when I was 13. And I'm 25 now. So I moved to Nashville after the show.
00:06:28
Speaker
And I've just been creating music ever since, but just really trying to find those people who understand the vision, who are in the heart of it. And I've just been so blessed because like recently we've been like recording and I've been writing a lot more.
00:06:42
Speaker
and it just feels really exciting and very hopeful. And that's that truly the thing that I love about Nashville living here is that there's so many people who are who just have a willingness to try. And I think that's really what you spoke to in the beginning as well about your adaptability like your adaptability and things that you do. It's like you just have to be willing to try. That's with music and also with a disability because I can't tell you what I can or can't do unless I fail or unless I do it right. So that's a bit of my story with music.
00:07:12
Speaker
And I've been so blessed to just be in the community. Like I love so much. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for digging into that full backstory. So because we're not going to be able see each other speaking today, can you just describe, because I think this audience is going to think this is kind of an important element to know more about. Can you describe the nature of your difference or disability and what it kind of looks like? And you mentioned some things like adjusting a pack or a microphone that might have been challenges.
00:07:42
Speaker
you know, a lot of people who listen to this pod, either they themselves have differences or disabilities or maybe are are trying to help somebody to learn music adaptively. So but what are some things you can speak to? you know, first of all, like, what does it look like? And what were some of those challenges like? And maybe also, what would you have?
00:07:59
Speaker
What kind of help did you receive or what what might have been what you might have appreciated receiving in those situations that maybe you didn't receive? Yeah, that's a really good question. um I really think that, well, first, my disability, it affects my hands. So my hands curve at my joints, and my wrists. So I really don't have a lot of fine motor skills. That's really where I really struggle. Like buttons literally are like an impossibility for me.
00:08:23
Speaker
I like can't fathom that people normally use buttons all the time in zippers. I'm like, this is awful. Like, can we find a different way? I've literally tried every adaptive pant that you can imagine or clothing that you have imagined in the world.
00:08:37
Speaker
And a lot of them will literally just like, like, I mean, it sounds so silly, but like bust open because they're Velcro. And I'm like, no one wants that when they're walking. Like, that's horrible. Yeah. but I kind of have been known with my friends as like Ryan will find a way to do it.
00:08:52
Speaker
And i will say that my biggest thing with my disability that I wish I had help with in music is um I actually was in a program in college where I got to learn to play a little bit of piano.
00:09:04
Speaker
And it was very interesting because in that situation, i didn't know that I even had the ability to form a chord. And I was obviously really behind my classmates due to my disability. And I was really discouraged.
00:09:18
Speaker
And music theory also felt impossible because i couldn't do inversions. I couldn't do these fancy things that people were learning theory that way. They could feel it. And I couldn't feel it. So I had a really great theory teacher who actually like described passing tones to me by like making like pictures of houses and like how they worked because I just knew that it wasn't just my brain working differently.
00:09:39
Speaker
It was the fact that I felt disadvantaged because I couldn't feel the music. That's really where i really struggled. And I was like, this is what I love. I don't want to be completely defeated by this. But I always knew that I was meant to be a singer.
00:09:52
Speaker
And um I would say like as far as like singing, um I'm grateful that like my disability doesn't like my hands do not affect my singing, but I'm also like partially deaf in my right ear due to my disability as well.
Ryan's Unique Hearing Experience and Musical Adaptations
00:10:05
Speaker
So it was really wild because I was offered like these surgeries and things and we'll see if later down the road I'll get them to fix my ear. But I know people heard differently. My whole life, I had no idea.
00:10:16
Speaker
And i just always knew like wild enough, God gave me the gift that I could sing on pitch. I don't know how, but I have just always been someone that's been like, okay, we're going to figure it out. But truthfully, i was scared if I did fix my ear that I wouldn't be able to hear like I do now.
00:10:34
Speaker
But as far as like help, I wish I could receive. I mean, that theory teacher had a really great impact on me because I had to learn differently. And I couldn't quite grasp that. i like I couldn't feel it. I think it was devastating, to be honest. I was like, wow, what do I do? And then I i started understanding. I started connecting the dots. um But as far as help, I mean, I i always find when I'm you know on a team or I'm maybe with a band that I don't know or something like that, there's always someone that's willing to clip my pack somewhere it needs to go in ears are like impossible that's like wildly crazy i haven't done it before and it's funny you mentioned gorilla tape in the beginning because one time they didn't have masking tape for my head mike which is like
00:11:17
Speaker
If anyone listening you know is like an avid Garth Brooks person, we were always like, he's like the founder of the head mic. and backstage, you know i haveve I have long curly hair. they're like, we only have gorilla tape. And it was like a dire moment. And they're taping me in gorilla tape. And was like, I'm about to lose all my hair right now. But the show did go off. Did you have to anything special to get it out after all that? That's sticky. Yeah.
00:11:41
Speaker
yeah yeah i mean like i don't know i think was like olive oil or peanut butter or like the classic stuff that people use to whenever their kids stick gum in their hair and they you know pray for the best so yeah i've been put in some crazy situations for like for for sure just because need that help and like for me having that tape it's i can't i can't say no i have to so if that's what there's back there and we got to go in 10 minutes it's over Now, you mentioned that you have kind of a hearing difference. Do know how much hearing you have that you can still hear in your ear? Or is it like fully deaf? Yeah. Or what is
00:12:19
Speaker
almost Almost fully. um Like if someone's talking really loud next to my ear, I can hear it. But I have a really hard time like deciphering sounds like in a room where people are talking to me multiple, like if you're in a coffee shop or a lot of people like can't, you know, can keep up with a conversation in front of them. For me, I have to really like dial into that person because the background noise or something with like the decimals where it messes with how I'm able to hear the person that's like right of mentioned something else in your, in your,
00:12:47
Speaker
the beginning of what you said before about, um, you know, people coming up to you and wanting, you know, your autograph on, on napkins and, that you were just had this, uh, a little bit of a magnetism that was, was coming to you, from the, the songs you were singing and, and you were, uh,
00:13:03
Speaker
this The spirit that you carry through your life. what One thing that when I first saw you, um i searched I first met you, I think it was at at hand camp in in Florida. And you sang a song. And when I say hand camp, so we were together as as guests at a camp for kids who have hands and arms like like we have.
00:13:24
Speaker
And we had this opportunity to kind of mentor, you know, and another generation of people coming up who want to pursue their own gifts and talents and abilities. And one thing that I really noticed about you is is how much people were so excited ah to to hear you and to be around you.
00:13:44
Speaker
And it it just seemed like you had this this neat community of people who who loved and cared about you and your and your journey. And that's something that that I really witnessed ah firsthand. And what does what does it feel like to you, having had the success that you had on on X Factor and you know being a top five finalist there and social media success and you know having like ah the presence that you have?
00:14:08
Speaker
what is the, your calling or your vision for like how you can encourage the next Ryan Page who's wondering about singing? Like what, what kind of intentional things do you do with your, with your life to, to help, you know, those, those up and coming singers or those up and coming artists who are, are thinking about it for themselves, but not, maybe
Hope, Determination, and Community Advocacy in Music
00:14:28
Speaker
not sure where to begin. Maybe the,
00:14:29
Speaker
Maybe they're they're not sure how they're going to play a piano either, or like, ah that they're not understanding exactly how music flows. Like, where would you encourage people to start? And do you have any like even anecdotes or stories about times that you've encountered people on the road, or at at home who found that encouragement through what you're sharing?
00:14:48
Speaker
Yes. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. That means the world to me. Because that's always what I hope people take away is that they feel like invited into the story. And I know I said in the beginning, like, I love a story. And I am a deep person that really i my husband jokes that I like, barely have like a surface level conversation. He's like, we don't talk about the weather. Yeah, there's not enough time.
00:15:10
Speaker
But it's just because I really think that having a disability is something that is, I always joke that I was dragged against my will into this loving community.
00:15:22
Speaker
And i I think, especially with music, I always say to people, well, first I'll say, i am very active in the disability community where I live um in Nashville. So i actually lead an advocacy group for people with disabilities who have a varying different needs, intellectual, developmental disabilities.
00:15:40
Speaker
And a lot of them, maybe some of them have lived in group homes their entire life, or they um have never had someone tell them that they could do something. And I was in a class one time just sharing about literally hope, just literally hope. um And I think that that is what I bring into my music. But the hope that I was sharing is that you can do whatever you can set your mind to. And I think that that's super connected to my musical journey. But you can set your mind to something and you can do it with a disability.
00:16:08
Speaker
It's going to be difficult. I do not sugarcoat that at all. It's going to be hard because no one no one has done it before in your body. No one has done it before with your set of circumstances. No one has done it before where you are standing right now, but there is so much hope in knowing that like you're exactly where you're meant to be and that there's power in that. So I was sharing to this class about just having hope for themselves, genuine general hope.
00:16:32
Speaker
And the student said, oh my gosh, want to work in the medical profession and I was told I couldn't. And I was like, what in the world? Because last time i was talking to anyone, there are lots of jobs in that that you know maybe don't have to do with literally saving lives. you know There are door holders. There are people who greet people. There are people who you know run coffee places or do whatever. And it and it sounds silly to bring that up you know talking about music, but I think the point is that there are so many people just with a lack of hope to even try.
00:17:01
Speaker
and I was like, wait, I know nothing about the medical profession. I can talk hours about music, but i I knew that if we don't start with people who are just doing these things, normal things, right, like working, then we're not going to ever have people who are chasing things at where there's a lot of eyes on them. I think music provides a space where there's a lot of eyes on you.
00:17:23
Speaker
And then there's these quiet pockets of people going into society where they're not told that they can do the next thing. And of course, you're not going to want to get on stage after that or Pursue something where, you know, people might interview you or talk about you or whatever, because it can be scary.
00:17:38
Speaker
And I'm not saying that every single person has to be a musician in order to make an impact. But I think I'm just saying that there's so much purpose wherever you are, whatever job you have. But if you're not willing to like people aren't even willing to open the door there, it's like they're really not going to open the door in an area where you're like seen all of the time, because that seems really scary.
00:17:57
Speaker
And I think when I'm really intact with the disability community, i kind of see the needs that are there. And I share about them on social media because i know that there are a lot of things that I wish happened that would help me get further with my disability because genuinely making music with me is going to take longer because I can't play whatever to read it, like to tell you what I want in a recording, but we're going to work together. And when I hear it, I'll hear it. And I know it. And you have to like, trust me.
00:18:26
Speaker
But I think telling someone in that classroom that like, they can't be a medical professional or they can't be a firefighter or they can't, whatever. It's sad because that's going to also translate to if people try to pick up an instrument, if people try to pursue their dream job, people try to make an impact in the world. And I really think people with disabilities have the greatest impact because we live and operate in a world that no one else does.
00:18:52
Speaker
And that's because i always say that the difference between disability and like maybe other people groups, although they're still important and they matter, is that like, I'd would have someone help me get dressed to get out of the door to be seen.
00:19:04
Speaker
Not a lot of the other groups do. So it's like it's harder because there might be discrimination or there might be like people having side eye or whatever posting a mean TikTok about you. Like, I don't know.
00:19:15
Speaker
But I have to literally fight to be seen to even have the opportunity to do those things. So I think if you don't have that hope speaking into you, then you're not even going to try.
00:19:26
Speaker
And I hope that that's what I'm able to convey in the rooms that I'm in is that I want them to feel a part of the story because we all have something in us that's different. We all have something in us that we maybe not don't want to talk about.
00:19:39
Speaker
we We are scared. And there's also like the tricky thing of like, I disclose my disability wherever I go. You know, obviously on a podcast, that's a bit different. But when you look at me, I am physically disabled. I don't have a choice to decide if I'm going to tell you or not.
00:19:54
Speaker
So there's like this intimacy that I already have with people when I come into contact with them without even talking to them. So yeah, that's just a bit of my take. I don't know if I've ever heard it described that way, like an intimacy that you already have just because they already know something about your story just from seeing you when you you know walk in a space. yeah that's really That's really insightful. Thanks for sharing that. Thank you. And thank you for sharing how you're you know trying to encourage others through the platforms that you have. Is the group that you described where you're working with people who have differences and disabilities, is that a public group or is that is that something that you can share about or is that sort of a private group that you meet with?
00:20:30
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. If you're like in the state of Tennessee, you can definitely reach out to me. It's just Tennessee at this point, but there are other chapters like across the state. It's called People First.
00:20:41
Speaker
there I mean, across the country, I apologize. So there are really great groups that they have. They actually, in the state of Tennessee, like helped in institutionalization here for people with disabilities.
00:20:53
Speaker
So it's a really beautiful movement. And i feel like if I wasn't connected to that as a songwriter and as an artist, I fight really hard to be a part of those spaces, even though, you know, time is short and life is crazy because if I don't know the need, then I feel like my songs aren't as good or I'm not as connected to like what people need. And I think genuinely, it just shows humanity beyond disability.
00:21:18
Speaker
Like my songs aren't all about disability, but I get to see so much humanity in those groups and be with them in their pain and then watch their wins. And that's like what I'm so for. And that's what I'm so for in music, for sure. I actually have had met children who have my specific disability who, you know, I've invited up on stage with me and been like, okay, sing. And just like their eyes light up, everything lights up. And it's like, I'm not telling them, you know, you have to do this on this scale or you have to be this person exact, make it your own, but there's like space for you.
00:21:54
Speaker
And I think that they're just like, they're parents because it's so hard to know if like their child's going to go to school or like have a normal life. which who wants a normal life, but you know what I'm saying?
00:22:07
Speaker
that They can't even think beyond that. They can't think that their child would work in healthcare care or would like be a musician or would do these jobs because they're so looking right in front of them that I'm like, okay, let's look in the future together because there's so much hope.
00:22:21
Speaker
That's amazing. Yeah, that's amazing that you can do that for for you know younger children and especially also for their parents who are trying to shepherd them, guide them into, the you know grow them into the adults that they'll be someday and having some sort of idea of what they their lives could look like that isn't some sort of grim prognosis of the future. It's like this girl's up there singing her heart out. Look what you can do. Look what it is possible. And you've got this... this ah this voice and this opportunity beyond the notes and the music itself to actually like shed that that light into people's lives as they're as they're growing. Thank you. I appreciate that about you and what you're doing.
00:22:56
Speaker
Thank you. You know, you mentioned before that, you know, the the ways that you're speaking into other people's lives who have differences and disabilities. And um you mentioned the the professor who kind of guided you through like the the music theory learning.
00:23:09
Speaker
Did you have experiences as well from people who maybe didn't? You said your your family was very supportive also of your music, but people who have ah who maybe it did not support what you did or or like obstacles along the way? Of course you did, but would you share maybe like what you what you what you went through and then how you went through it to continue to to like not let that be the thing that stopped you um and you know to this day making music? I'm sure you, I know I'm speaking from my own experience. I've heard those things through um through my life as well. So you would you share that with our with our audience today?
00:23:47
Speaker
How middle school. Yeah, of course. um So I'll take you guys back to middle school first and I'll go to present day. but Here we go. Yes. It's always middle school. We all love middle school. So I went through yes yeah so i went to an art school um where you had to be accepted. it was kind of like a, I guess, like lottery system. They have those a lot of places. And um I was accepted, you know, obviously into voice. And I was really blessed to do that. But you know, these art schools are very like choir, like we are in choir, we are singing quartets, like we are putting on I mean, we did a production of Sweeney Todd, you You know, and I'm in middle school. This is this is a little grim that we all chose Sweeney Todd, but we're here and this is what we're doing.
00:24:29
Speaker
But I had a teacher who was one of my choir teachers and she was just like, you are not like you're not meant to sing, which was i was, you know, very young. Like I you know, you're not blending well.
00:24:42
Speaker
You know, you're, you know, you're off pitch, you know, you know, this is it and everything. And, you know, keep in mind, I've never really sang in a choir before. This is nothing I've ever done. And at this point, I did not know I was deaf in one year. So i was just like, wow, this is crazy because my whole life, you know, I've seen at this karaoke bar. Sounds so funny, but true. And everyone has told me that i have a gift and like this is going to go somewhere. And I believed it with every single ounce of me that I was meant to do exactly what I was going to be doing.
00:25:11
Speaker
And I love seeing that in people with disabilities and people in general. But whenever they have like conviction, I'm like, yeah, no, you're gonna have to go fight for that accommodation. You're gonna go figure it out. But you have fight and they're not gonna say no to you. My mom always said that people would not say no to me when I was in like an IEP meeting, which is like a plan you have in school if you have a disability.
00:25:30
Speaker
She's like, they couldn't tell you no. I was like, I'm getting my equal education. This is crazy. But I felt like whenever I heard that from that teacher, i was like second guessing everything right. Because at that point, that school was everything. I got into it. It was a big deal that I was in the school. I was getting bused to downtown. Like my parents made a lot of sacrifices for me to go there.
00:25:51
Speaker
like, you know, getting up at 5 a.m. and like me getting home late, like all these things. And I was just like, I thought this is what I was supposed to do. But I just learned really quickly that I was meant to like lead people. Like I wasn't a choir singer. And there's nothing wrong with being a choir singer. Like I think, oh, my gosh. I mean, I love to go listen to that. I think it's gorgeous.
00:26:11
Speaker
But I just learned really quickly that that's not who God made me. And that's OK. And that's not where my gifting is. And the good thing about music is it's really broad. So you can pick little areas and you can soar.
00:26:23
Speaker
And I just remember feeling completely defeated. And, you know, we're sightseeing. We're doing all these things. You know, I can't point with my finger in order to trace the paper. I mean, this is like literally a whole bunch of crap. You know, I'm I'm struggling.
00:26:36
Speaker
And I just remember like, i just remember like coming home and crying, like telling my mom, like, I don't know if I'm supposed to do this. I don't know. And she's like, I think this is just a moment in your life.
00:26:49
Speaker
And then it's so funny because then. you know, middle school solos are a big deal, but I would get the solos because I was good at singing lead. So it's just funny. Like, but I always like, I think there's a part of me of humility where I'm like, I hate that I'm that person like you like always me leading like, please like take like let someone else but and that is my heart like always but I was just like, of course, God would give me in this way that would make me really uncomfortable like love that right now.
00:27:17
Speaker
But I would say present day. so I live in Nashville, Tennessee, and Nashville is is really wonderful and really hard.
Collaborative Songwriting and Artistic Vision
00:27:24
Speaker
So there are a lot of people who be like, okay, pay me you know this amount of money and like we'll work through the song and like hopefully it's what you like. And as somebody who cannot cannot really play well to describe what I am thinking out loud. I'm petrified. I've just, you know, you know, rolling over here, you know, musician life, like paying this money to produce this song or whatever. And there's been so many times where I've been like, I'm not going to do it because like I'm bearing my soul to this person. And like, if they don't see that that's important, then I'm not going.
00:27:55
Speaker
It wasn't just the money, obviously. That's like a part of it. You're like, this is a lot of money and I hope I like what I'm getting. like production wise, whenever you record a song, like to go on Spotify or Apple Music or whatever it is.
00:28:07
Speaker
um But then you meet people who like see your soul and aren't just there for the money and believe in it. and you're like, okay, the room has completely shifted. Like the room is different. We are different. We are coming here to create, not just to have a product.
00:28:21
Speaker
And I think I had to just like trust that in the timing God had for me, i would release music in the timing I was supposed to. Because like, because it's been a long road to get there. Because a I mean, recording people listening probably know it's just it's so expensive, it can be so much.
00:28:37
Speaker
But I just kind of told myself and I made a pact with myself if someone is not fully committed to what I'm doing to try to change lives. My mom always said my demographic is anyone with a soul. And I really believe that if they're not willing to like want to touch souls, then I don't want to do it.
00:28:52
Speaker
I mean, obviously respect people like their time, like musicians should get paid all of that. But there's a heart posture that you can tell and you can feel. And as somebody who has to adapt often.
00:29:04
Speaker
I don't want to be around somebody who is not going to adapt. I mean, that's even with friends. That's what people close to me. Yeah. You know, I have plenty of stories in that realm. But I think that that's just really important is that people are willing to create with you for the sake of creating.
00:29:21
Speaker
I really you know so like So tell us, like you you enter a recording session or this you know production session, songwriting session, like what what ways are you communicating?
00:29:33
Speaker
Because you mentioned a few times that you know playing an instrument or you know ah like like what are you doing to communicate your musical ideas? And is it something that you've practiced and gotten better at over time? Or is it something that it remains just something that ah that you...
00:29:48
Speaker
feel, i think you mentioned, feel kind of like challenged by that. um Like, is there a way that you think that you could grow through that as a, as an adaptive artist? Yes, I can always grow. i can always get better. And hopefully I am getting better as I go. But i so the way that I song write, so I've always done this since I was little.
00:30:07
Speaker
um i really started writing songs when I was very young. My mom like found a notebook in my room and thought that I was copying poems and it was my poems. And she had like tracks from this guy at her work and like made beats. This is crazy. This is a way back in the day, guys. CDs.
00:30:21
Speaker
And she'd bring it home and I would write music to the beats. That's like what I would do because, you know, I can't play. And I didn't have anyone in my family either that played. And then I kind of realized after that that I had a really good flow of hearing a melody, hearing maybe words and vowels and syllables of like where they're going to possibly go. so if someone were to play something like when I'm in a writing session, I'll be like, OK, you have anything, you know, I'm kind of thinking this.
00:30:45
Speaker
maybe it's in the style of an artist maybe it's like a key that i'm thinking maybe it's like i want something moody or i want something fun or like those are some of the like words that i'll use to describe and then i'm really able to sing right off the top of my head and we'll see if that goes somewhere we'll kind of keep trying keep trying and kind of hum things out as we go and i have an amazing songwriter like co-writer who writes with me all the time her name is caitlin stark she's incredible And um she has a like all all of her cuts are on like she has a playlist on Spotify. So you guys should go with and it's really cool.
00:31:18
Speaker
But we just kind of like talk about life, talk about what we're trying to say to people. And then we go through and we hum it out. We work with it. And then we kind of get where we're going. And she and I have really had like the best like chemistry as writers.
00:31:33
Speaker
I've done like a lot of co-writing. And i just always am like, I have to write with Kate again. I need to write with Kate again. I have to write with Kate So I kind of think you find your person in a way and you're like, I'm almost like, I'm like, Kate, you get it. i mean, like, I don't have to go, you know, looking for whatever is happening because it's happening.
00:31:52
Speaker
And I think like I prayed for that for a really long time, someone to get the chemistry, someone to understand like what's happening. And it's just been such a gift of what we've been able to create and how understanding she is. And I also like wrote a song recently about like my disability and it's called Boohoo. And it's about how like, do you want to pat on the back or a full tank of gas? Like, what do I owe you like for helping me?
00:32:16
Speaker
And it was so funny because like she gasped like all my family, I seen like my family, my demos and stuff. And they were like, this is this how you feel about me? I'm like, no. No, you're great. like i um But it was just like such a real like song of like, I don't feel bad for you because i am an asset to have around. I'm someone that like supports you in other ways in life. It may not be in the physical, but I'm here.
00:32:43
Speaker
I'm present. And that song was just kind of like also inspired by like my college experience of like of like girls and just like the difficulties that come with that but i would say that i yeah I I am very I hear it right away i don't know like how i just do and then we kind of go from there or I have like a running list on my phone of like song ideas that are always happening and then um I actually wrote a song recently as well called like something out of nothing and it was because like
00:33:15
Speaker
One of our family friends always told me like I could go into Goodwill with $5 and like completely like dress myself in something that looks couture. It was kind of like a joke. And I was like, yeah, I can make something out of nothing. Like just songs happen like that where I'm like, okay.
00:33:28
Speaker
yeah But that's a bit how I do that. Yeah, yeah, that's a bit how I do that. So I hope that's helpful. With that in mind, and you said that Boohoo is ah is ah in its demo phase right now, and you just wrote this other piece. But like, do you have ah a song that we could point people to? You know, this is the Able Voices podcast. We want to hear your voice. Do you have a song that we can highlight today on the pod?
00:33:47
Speaker
Yeah, so actually i am going to be releasing like in January, i believe, like three new songs. So I would be happy to play like a little bit promo if you'd like. yeah for sure. don't know if something you'd like. Okay.
00:34:02
Speaker
Okay, cool. So this song i actually wrote about like having fruit in my life, like investing into people and having their... their like growing fruit, like on their tree and and what it means to them.
00:34:16
Speaker
And that's kind of a lot of what we talked about today like my life mission. So I feel like it's kind of fitting to what what we're doing today, but let me know if you can hear it.
00:34:33
Speaker
When they say you're too much, they'll cut you down. Axes in their hands, so tall and proud. But I want to have strong roots in the ground.
00:34:47
Speaker
Grow into something that makes you proud. Ooh, this world is scary. I don't know where they fell.
00:35:10
Speaker
into something special you can find me at your feet so my heart is a vessel get rid of all the dead leaves cause I don't wanna look like them in the mirror I just wanna wake up and see you clear if there's one thing
00:35:50
Speaker
That's really pretty. That's fruit. Yeah, it kind of has like a little bit of a Billy Joel feel right now. But we are We actually like tracked it on like a rubber bridge like guitar, and it has like a totally different feel than the demo, and it's really cool. like um A lot of my references for that, like I love Holly Humberstone. i don't know if you know who that is, but I love her, and I was like,
00:36:14
Speaker
I was like, oh my gosh, like, cause she has a lot of really cool guitars like on her stuff. And I was like, can we do a rubber bridge? So I'm, I've got some homework to do. Okay. I've got some. woods Yes. nice Okay. Nice. Well, I thought, yeah yeah, that definitely had that kind of like Vienna waits for you, Billy Joel piano, like the vocal is so forward and like intimate in its production style. It sounds like you're, you know, like, like you're just singing to somebody you know,
00:36:38
Speaker
you know in a room you know to a friend or something you know like i really thought that was beautiful and beautiful singing yeah you and who plays piano on that one my husband actually did war yeah yeah so he is he's he's uh he you know can play piano we actually met in a singing competition against each other which is really fun that's fun nice and how long have y'all been married now Almost three years. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know. yeah But um I did beat him. Okay.
00:37:05
Speaker
So you'll be able to say that for the rest of your life, right? I'll never ever say to anyone like, oh, I won that. But like, yeah, that's my one compliment. Never let them forget it.
00:37:17
Speaker
um So i've I had a question that came up while while I was ah listening to to your music yeah and that is um and and kind of also contemplating what you described as your writing process.
00:37:28
Speaker
And i know, you know, there's so many changes happening in not just the music world in the world all around us with tech and advances. and AI and things like that. Have you tried any tools like that to help you with your compositions or you know to express your demos or have you kind of steered away from that and and particularly seek your your human writer friends, you know or are are you kind of exploring any any of that tech world to to help you in your and adaptive music life?
The Future of Music: AI and Accessibility
00:37:59
Speaker
So I made a video about this on Instagram and I had a lot of hate comments. Let's hear it. um But i I was interested in it because i just brought up like, I just don't think that's a topic like people think about a lot that AI could help disabled musicians like at all. I don't think they think about it.
00:38:17
Speaker
And I think like there are a lot of people who like have opinions, obviously, if you put anything on the internet. right But personally, like I haven't like used it. specifically like myself.
00:38:29
Speaker
but I did have a co-write one time where we like finished the song and then he was going to sing the second verse but then like he wasn't able to like in the key that it was in which I get it and then I already left so there's no like adjusting that for the demo and then he like sent back a Suno whatever and I was like this is crazy and scary and awesome like all of it um I'm not like against AI like personally as a person I like I always say to people I don't have the luxury to maybe like care about some things that people have the choice of choosing like different things like
00:39:04
Speaker
I drive a Tesla that's like very controversial, but it really helps me because the accessibility features. But like I always say disabled people like don't have the luxury to they maybe like choose everything that they want, like from the person they want or from a company they want or whatever, because, you know, I'm not a billionaire that can like build my own car or like Simone one over and ever So I think some of that is healthy because, ah you know, it help it gives you independence. But I haven't personally used it fully myself. I mean, I'm really i brought up actually on Instagram. I was like, I think if it was just for tracks or something, you know, as someone who can't play, like i would be like, that makes sense. And then maybe taking that and going to an actual musician after and being like, what do you think about this? And maybe like collaborating from that point. So that way, there's just like a base. Yeah.
00:39:52
Speaker
Which also helps, you know, sessions go easier too when you have something already kind of like in its in its form a little, you know. um But I definitely think it's like a little scary that – but then also people who are like composers, it's like they could use that as a reference vocal. But like as far as like releasing music, like that's crazy. – i um Have you heard about the Christian artists that went one? I have. one yeah i They're starting to come up in other genres too. And I was wondering what you thought about that as well. Like, does that. Oh, that's crazy. I mean, I was.
00:40:27
Speaker
So my husband works in royalties, like songwriting, like royalties and stuff. And um he was like, I'm like, I'm like, Josh, who gets the royalties? Like, how does this work? He's like, whoever puts the chat and into into AI. I'm like, what? Like, you're telling me right now, like, this is someone's business because they typed like a couple words in into chat GPT. Like, that's really scary. Yeah, it's wild. Yeah. I think that's a really important distinction, too, in the in the process of like, we we have always only been able to copyright, you know, your, your,
00:41:01
Speaker
your lyric and your melody. And so like being able to go in and kind of create some sort of demo that you can use as a reference to go rerecord then with human musicians seems like a different use than actually releasing music as a, as an AI, you know, being, and then, yeah that's my opinion money from it you know, like that. Yeah. yeah I'm like, use what you got. Like in my life, I use what I got. Like I use my iPhone. I use like, I have a, it sounds so silly, but My life is so automated. Like I have a two in one washer and dryer, which sounds so silly silly to bring up, but it's like some people could be like, oh, that could break. Why didn't you get one that has, you know, less like stuff going on? I'm like, because I need that. Like if it breaks, then I have to get another one. Like I don't get the choice of like an appliance. I don't get the choice of like using AI. i don't get the choice of a lot of stuff just because I have a disability and those are my supports. So yeah, it's really interesting to think about.
00:41:56
Speaker
That is really interesting. I would love to know where can people find more about you if they want to learn about your your history, your what you're up to now, you know like yeah your songwriting, your speaking. like where can Where can you direct people to so they can know all about Ryan Page?
00:42:13
Speaker
Yes. So I'm on Instagram as O-H Ryan Page, R-I-O-N-P-A-I-G-E. My mom named me after Orion. that's kind of the spin there. And then I'm also just on Facebook as Ryan Page.
00:42:26
Speaker
um And I'm also on TikTok as well as Ryan Page Music. Someone stole my handle, Orion Page. ah ah I was so sad. So if the Orion Page TikTok is out there and would like to give it back, I i would be Forever indebted to you. It is the Wild West on there, isn't it? Yes, it really is. I'm like, did I change my Instagram? But it's been like that forever anyway.
00:42:49
Speaker
but And then also like for booking. So we travel like all across the country and stuff. The email is booking at visionartistagency.com. So yeah, it's been really fun. Yeah, we were just in Colorado and California and all these places. So it's it's a blast. Yeah, what do you got coming up next? ah you know, do you have a big Christmas season here with with your music? And are you looking into 2026 for your your upcoming projects? Yeah, so right now we're really like in in the weeds of recording. So we're kind of spending the next half of like next year really getting all of that stuff dialed in and hopefully we'll have it released soon. But I think we're going to do a couple like singles and then kind of like lead into like a bigger project. So I'm I'm really excited. And I've been writing those songs as well with Kate, Kate Stark, who I mentioned, who I like absolutely love. And then I'm
00:43:38
Speaker
we have an amazing producer working on it as well. So I'm just, I am really stoked. We really have a great team that I've like waited for forever. Like, I feel like I'm in my element and I just feel so blessed. So, I mean, that's an encouragement to anyone out there is like, if something feels off to you in your spirit and you're like, okay, I don't know. And, and all these things, like you, you deserve to, to be here heard. Like you are the artist. Yeah. Like you deserve or if you're the player supporting the artists, like you deserve to be heard and you deserve to, you know, have that helping hand to help you get where you need to go. Like there's no shame in that. And I think me waiting on that, like the music industry may not understand. They're like, oh, you haven't released music in a while or whatever.
00:44:17
Speaker
It's like, yes, but when you know, you know, you know, it's right and you know it's the right thing. And I think that's really like where I am right now. And there's so much peace around that. So it's definitely an encouragement to everyone out there.
00:44:28
Speaker
That's awesome. And that's a great way to wrap today. I really appreciate you taking some time to sit down with me today on the Able Voices pod. It's been great to hear your story and to to connect through this this medium. And I'm wishing you all the very best in the rest of this year and into 2020. can't wait to hear the rest of your music and call you on social media. Thank you for sharing your story.
00:44:48
Speaker
Thank you so much. You too. Thank you. Have a wonderful day.
00:45:00
Speaker
Able Voices is a production of the Berkeley Institute for Accessible Arts Education, led by me, Dr. Rhoda Bernard, the founding managing director. It is produced by Daniel Martinez del Campo.
00:45:12
Speaker
The intro music is by Kai Levin, and our closing song is by Sebastian Batista. Kai and Sebastian are students in the arts education programs at the Berkeley Institute for Accessible Arts Education.
00:45:25
Speaker
If you would like to learn more about our work, find us online at berkeley.edu slash B-I-A-A-E or email us at B-I-A-A-E at berkeley, that's L-E-E dot E-D-U.