Ryan Caraveo – Northend Sweetheart

By starrymag | October 5, 2021

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe the music you make? 

A) Nostalgic & deceptively sad. Lyrics are so important to me. I like vocal chops and meditative sounds. I also like 808’s and guitars.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences? 

A) Tycho, Dilated Peoples, Crystal Castles, Young Jeezy, Kid Cudi, Eminem, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park

Q) How did growing up in Seattle play a part in the music you make? 

A) Being underneath gloomy clouds and rain almost year-round definitely affected the way I feel and ultimately how I make music. I was also heavily influenced by the Seattle Hip-Hop scene growing up. If it wasn’t for that scene and the opportunities that it presented, I’m not sure that I would have a career in music now.

Q) Talk about the story behind the song “Superstar.” 

A) I think it’s very easy to feel like an imposter or unworthy, especially an independent artist. I get a lot of DM’s and kids that come up to me at concerts and tell me I’m their hero or their idol and one day I was really doubting myself and questioning how I can be someone’s hero if I’ve done awful things. Or they might have been inspired by one of my music videos, but I know how I truly felt waking up every day this week and there was nothing inspiring about it. I think that If I have those honest conversations with myself, it’s important to record them and put them out. It’s kind of my duty.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to? 

A) I have always been as honest as I can be in my music since day one and that’s why my fans have stuck with me. Even if I ever got caught up romanticizing some BS that I shouldn’t have, I’ll be honest about that too.

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it? 

A) In that video the crew was actually building the set for another music video of mine that we were shooting the next day, so I figured let’s just shoot around this. That was the same white tee and jeans I had already worn three times that week. “I am not next, I am just a mess, who paid for some cameras and threw me on a set,” and the video is exactly that.

Q) “Daisies” is a personal favorite song for me. Talk about the story behind the song “Daisies.”

A) “Daisies” is me reminiscing on high school days. Being on a poor side of town, getting into trouble with my friends, Failing my classes, Only seeing gloomy grey skies and not having a future to look forward to. All while fantasizing about how I am meant to be with the pretty healthy girl at school. A true story of delusion.

Q) What is your songwriting process? 

A) I let anything play from guitar loops, basslines,

Q) Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

A) It’s different every time. Some days I’m inspired by writing over music and other days I’ll just write acapella or record freestyles. Some days a really cool line will come to me while I’m out and about and if that happens eight to twelve times, I’ve got myself a verse. I’ve learned to find comfort in not having a process and that’s why it’s still fun to me.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music? 

A) Usually, I go over to Teal’s house with a whole song written and I record over one sound like a guitar. After that he’ll produce the track around the vocal. I usually have ideas of sounds or moods for the track, but mostly I’m on the couch saying, “Yeah, that one.” And “Ooo! We should add something like this.” Then, the song usually becomes four to five different songs before it’s the one you hear.

Q) What tracks challenged you the most to create? 

A) I would say “Vampire” just because we flipped it so many times and made so many alternate versions before we landed on the one that we love the most.

Q) What songs hold a special significance to you? 

A) Cry Like the Clouds, Stay Warm, Sapphire Skies

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from checking out Northend Sweetheart? 

A) I hope that anyone who listens to Northend Sweetheart listens to themselves more. I hope they pay attention to which songs make them feel nostalgic and that they focus on why that nostalgic place brings them peace. I hope that they then spend time creating that nostalgic place in their present life.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Young Jeezy. Someone please help me make this happen.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) Lately I’ve just been replaying my Young Jeezy CD’s from when I was a kid.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans? 

A) I think it’s the only way to personally connect with my fans aside from touring. I remember what a gigantic deal it was to me when my favorite artists wrote back to me so I try to respond to as many messages and comments as I can every day.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work? 

A) I would just like to say that it is truly an impossibly special feeling to connect with people all over the world from inside this little room where I write these songs. I can’t say thank you enough to the fans who have stuck with me over the years. I promise to forever stay honest and thoughtful when I make these songs. I’m so proud of Northend Sweetheart and I hope you guys love it as much as I do. Love you guys.