We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Mannix and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ryan, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is the name of the game when it comes to improvisation. The music we love to make live features lots of risk-taking and experimentation. Sometimes you fall on your face, but that’s ok in the pursuit of something special. I think that has helped us build an audience, because they know every show is going to be different and we are going to test out new material, different covers, jams or whatever ideas come to us. It keeps both us and the crowd on their toes, so I think taking risks is one of the single most important aspects of Lunar Ticks.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Well, Lunar Ticks is my passion project. I wanted to start a band that could be a chameleon and do really anything I could think of. We have now played 200 shows with hours of unique improvisations. We have a country/western album. We have a garage rock/punk album. We try to blend a lot of elements of progressive/psychedelic rock within the context of 90’s/2000’s indie/alt rock format. I think we are starting to do a pretty good job. There are some people who have seen us 25+ times and have said they come back because they know that we will do something different every time. We get a lot of crossover with people that say ” I don’t like jam bands, but I like you guys”. I think that has to do with the songwriting and craft, too- which I’m constantly working at. so all that makes me happy.
We’ve gotten to this point, by just showing up really. We play live all the time, keep putting out new material, studio, live, videos, different kinds of concert experiences, which I think keeps us relevant. It definitely isn’t easy- sometimes I feel like I’m banging my head against the wall. But, I have a great band, both as people and players, who do a lot. We have a really supportive team that helps us make it happen. Delegating and just listening to other people is probably the best lesson I have learned. When I was younger I thought I was always right. it’s a lot better to get and value others perspectives.
I would love for the world to know what we are up to. We have all these unique concert experiences, a lot of new music coming out, too. We have a little homegrown festival now. Come out to a show and I guarantee you we will try and make something unique and different. Who knows if we will succeed, but we’ll at least try!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to shoutout my family. They were coming to see me play even back when I was not very good. Special shoutout to my parents who have gone above and beyond for me.
Website: lunartickspresents@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunartickspresents/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lunarticksmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lunarticksmusic
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKlQ5WN_cmY
Image Credits
Kayla Mitchell/ Ducky Shoots