Musician inspires with song
Rylan Colwell, whose stage name is Sledge, performs. Photos submitted
By Tom Victoria
Rylan Colwell uses music to inspire others.
The musician, whose moniker is Sledge, explained his style.
“It's motivational,” he said. “It's introspective and really tries to focus on bringing positive positivity out of bad circumstances.”
Sledge, 28, of Tennessee is inspired by real-life events.
“It's all personal reflection,” he said.
Sledge has been making music for more than half his life.
“I wrote my first song when I was 11 years old, so about 15 years,” he said.
Sledge, who works as a fabricator, seeks opportunities to perform live.
“I've been reaching out to local venues for the past year or two,” he said. “I've only done probably three performances. People have asked me to hop on their show.”
Sledge, who thinks of a song’s lyrics first, focuses mainly on first-hand experiences.
“I would say 90 percent of it is actually from my life,” he said.
Dating Sledge may lead to becoming the subject of a tune.
“Quite possibly, yeah,” he said. “I wouldn't go out there to specifically name anybody, but they know.”
Sledge finds it easier to write melancholy songs.
“It's harder to write cheery songs most definitely,” he said. “I also find it easier to dive into the depths of the darker places. And when I try to write something happy, it always feels a little shallow. It's not very broad. It's kind of topical.”
Sledge wants to be remembered for helping others with his music.
“Giving people hope,” he said. “Making the day a little bit easier knowing that somebody can relate to you.”
Sledge’s latest release is Can’t Rewind.
“It’s about a struggle with a partner, walking on eggshells,” he said. “Battling to improve myself to make her happy, but the past keeps getting brought up.”
Sledge’s previous release was Electrode.
“It's more of an upbeat song about trying to keep your head cool in a situation where you're surrounded by fake people and try not to stoop to their level,” he said. “But still admitting that you are mad about it.”
Prior to that song, Sledge debuted These Days.
“It’s about life blending together, feeling like you're not really getting anything done,” he said. “Losing motivation, but keep going.”
Sledge said it’s better to revisit a song rather than force the writing process.
“I'll start getting stressed out and trying to force something in there as opposed to letting it come to me and let it be genuine,” he said. “So I always like to take a little break or just move on to something else.”
A famous blues and rock performer was the first musician to impact Sledge as a child.
“Stevie Ray Vaughan,” he said. “Me and my mom would be jamming out in the living room.”
Sledge is inspired by various contemporary artists.
“Definitely Frank Ocean, Joji, Post Malone. Tyler, The Creator,” he said. “Mac Miller is definitely in there.”
Sledge enjoys artists expanding their horizons, such as Post Malone doing country music.
“A lot of people don't like this country thing that he's doing,” he said. “I can't lie, it got me listening to country music.”
Sledge values producing music spurred by creativity versus commercial value.
“That's the difference of being a commodity versus being an artist,” he said. “An artist is going to make their craft. They're not dependent on what they create by just thinking somebody's going to like it.”
Sledge would take his music to the top if the opportunity arose.
“All the way,” he said.
Sledge isn’t daunted by the issues that come with fame, such as lack of privacy.
“I wouldn't say no,” he said.
Sledge is utilizing social media to find his target audience.
“I've been running ads on Instagram trying to figure it out,” he said. “I've had a lot of good ones. Each one you do, you can learn off of, so you can make the next one better.”
Sledge wants his followers to find him relatable.
“I want them to feel a connection with me as a person first and then be able to see my craft in different forms,” he said. “I do all my own video editing as well. So just be able to know me as a person before and then fall in love with the art, hopefully.”
Sledge wouldn’t let his status as a musician dictate how he looks, such as whether or not to get tattoos or piercings.
“I don't think I would let that define me,” he said. “If I feel compelled to do it, I'd still do it.”
Sledge said that includes apparel selections.
“I've been dressing a little bit out there ever since I was a little kid, putting on a tank top over a T-shirt and saying this is my style now,” he said. “I don't think I'd dress any different if I wasn't doing this.”
Sledge stays busy when not working as a fabricator or making music.
“I go to the gym,” he said. “I like to go shopping. I like to go to estate sales.”
Sledge also plays video games and explores nature.
“Gotta get out in nature every now and then,” he said. “Detach from all the sensory overloads.”
Sledge would work out even if he wasn’t a musician.
“I feel like that's just being the inner man, getting to throw some weight around and dopamine release,” he said.
Sledge appreciates the boosted strength when at work.
“I'm moving heavy metal,” he said. “I've put on probably 20, 30 pounds of muscle in the past year or two. I think back to when I was like, man, that would have hurt my back lifting this or trying to lift this.”
Sledge works on music even if he’s not feeling like doing work.
“Sometimes you just gotta sit down and fiddle around,” he said. “Even if you're not feeling it, just fiddle around. And if you don't make anything good, oh, well, you're staying in the groove. You're closer to making something good.”
Sledge dispensed advice to those wanting to make music.
“Just do it,” he said about a first attempt. “Nobody has to hear it.”
Sledge recommended using the resources out there.
“Definitely find somebody to mix it if you have the luxury of excess money,” he said. “But I would go to CD Baby or TuneCore and go through them to get on Spotify and Apple Music. And then you can sync it up to Instagram and play it over your pictures.”
Sledge’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sledgeof97/
Sledge’s website: https://sledge.bandzoogle.com/