Ryan McDermott is G.O.O.D. Music's newest soulful singer, although not much is known about the man himself or how his deal transpired. Ever since it was announced that Ryan was a part of the G.O.O.D. team, he's been putting out music at a steady pace. Today he dropped a music video for "Overflow," as well as an interview which answers some of the questions about his connection with G.O.O.D. Music.
Check out excerpts from Ryan's interview with Bullet below to learn more about the upcoming singer and how he connected with 'Ye in the first place.
How did Kanye first discover your music?
I think my name had been in his ear as far back as 2008 through a designer friend of mine named Tracey Mills who messaged me on Myspace, where at the time I had over a million and a half plays from stuff I had thrown up there. Long story short, years later I get introduced to a guy named Che Pope who had recently been brought on to help run things at GOOD. I played one song for Che (“Paradise”) and a couple days later I was in Paris with Kanye, who offered to sign me on the spot after meeting me and hearing my music.
Describe the first time you met Kanye?
They day after Kanye and I met, he invited me to come check out new stuff he was working on for his fashion line and wanted to take me shopping around Paris. When I get there he’s working out of Marie Antoinette’s room with this incredible view of the square, which was a moment for me. He called me over away from everybody else and said that he had been thinking since the day before about what he wanted to say to me. He said, “I want to tell you the same thing Jay Z told me when I first met him: You’re a real soulful dude.”
What has being signed to GOOD meant for your career?
Autonomy, which can be a blessing and a curse. One of the things Kanye told me in our first meeting is that he understood what I was doing musically, promising me the freedom to do me. With that being said, as much as I have the freedom to do things on my own, I really am doing things on my own, with the help of my team of course. I’m very blessed to be signed to one of the most respected artists and label families in music. That association brings its benefits and it’s really what you make of it.