Drew Ryn Talks TikTok Fame, Music Inspiration and Writing ‘Old School’
TikTok is a magical platform because it's whatever you want it to be, and singer-songwriter Drew Ryn is proof of that.
While many people use TikTok to dance, lip-sync or make people laugh, with Drew, it's all about showcasing her talents. Whether she's demonstrating her incredible vocals by singing her heart out, or showing her songwriting abilities by writing songs based on random words, she's always flaunting what she can do, and we're obsessed.
It's no surprise, then, that some of Drew's brilliant songs have also become viral hits. Her song "Orchestra" has been viewed more than 11 million times on TikTok, but we're even more in love with her most recent single, Old School." We even got the opportunity to ask Drew all about it in our most recent interview. Keep reading to find out precisely how the track came to be.
(Orchestra via Checked Records)
Sweety High: What was the songwriting process behind "Old School"?
Drew Ryn: I walked into my writing session and immediately saw what would end up inspiring the entire vibe of the song: a talk box. A talk box is a tube connected to an amplifier. When you put it in your mouth and play a note while mouthing words, you get the sound you hear in the chorus under the lyrics "take me back to old school." It's a really dynamic song with a cool vintage vibe. Try putting your phone speaker up to your mouth while having a song playing and you can get a similar effect!
SH: What inspired the song, and why is it meaningful to you?
DR: I think after being in a relationship for a while, you both reminisce about being young and wildly in love together. I wanted to write a song that takes people back to their own priceless moments. At the same time, the chorus is totally relevant to how crazy 2020 has been. I think we're all ready to get back to the "old school" after this year!
SH: What would you say is the most "old school" thing about you?
DR: The fact that I never update my phone because "I like things the way they are, and I don't want anything new and improved." Just kidding—sort of. But maybe my taste in music.
SH: Who are your biggest musical influences?
DR: I'd have to say Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Celine Dion and Prince are my top four.
SH: What has it been like to make such a huge name for yourself on TikTok?
DR: Fun! That's my favorite part about this app, that it's fun. Sometimes you get lost in the "job" of it all, but when TikTok got popular it brought back some of my creativity.
SH: What do you think it is about TikTok that's allowed you to succeed in such an impactful way?
DR: TikTok is built on the discovery aspect. I scroll through the "For You" page more than I've ever looked at discovery or public sections of other apps. There's something about it that makes it exciting to find new people to follow.
SH: Are there any specific TikTok creators you can't stop watching?
DR: Not a specific creator because I'm all about the old people and new people. Let me elaborate—I love to watch babies and the elderly living their best lives!
SH: What do you think sets you apart from the other musical artists out there today?
DR: Um, that I have the cutest dog @little.yachy. Other than that I'm pretty much the same…
@little.yachtyHe makes a good point ???? ##puppy ##dogsoftiktok ##foryou♬ what is 2020 without one of these – Cole & Cider
Kidding! I love to create and I love to challenge myself. I think my work ethic is what will take me as far as I want to go. I'd say I'm most proud of that. I connect with my fans and understand what they want. They mean everything to me and they have supported me across all platforms. My "random word generator" challenges have been played over 30 million times alone on TikTok! And my other recent single,"Orchestra" has been streamed almost 1 million times in a month. I'm excited to continue on this journey and excited to release more music!
If you're like us and love discovering new music, click HERE to discover our favorite music releases of the last week.