Life & Work with Ryan Allen Gray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Allen Gray.

Hi Ryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve been singing and playing the Piano since around 5 years of age. I always had a passionate love for the arts. I was even directing musicals for the local high school while I was still in middle school. Music was always a source of safety for me. I was able to immerse myself in this world as a distraction from dealing with my sexuality and all the trauma that comes with being “different” in a small town in the south. And what a beautiful distraction it was.

I went on to Major in Musical Theatre and Professional Acting at East Carolina University. I learned so much about myself in those years and met so many wonderful people that would help shift and shape me into the person and performer that I am today.

I moved to NYC in the summer of 2012, and the adventure really began. I came to NYC with 200$, a Suitcase, and a Dream. I won’t lie, those first couple years in the City were extremely tough, but I wouldn’t trade the lessons I learned for the world. A year into being in NYC, I met someone named Sam Brady. He overheard me singing and harmonizing to some Rihanna song in a bar and approached me and offered me a position in a project he was working on called “Shirley House”. Little did I know at the time, I was about to jump on a roller coaster that would change my life forever.

Shirley House went on to hold residencies at venues all over America including, Sleep No More, The Peppermint Club, Mercury Lounge, and Pianos to name a few. I felt so lucky to be part of something that was original, exciting, and different. We really pushed the boundaries of what a “band” could be, as well as what a Live show could look like. I’m incredibly lucky to have been part of such a precious and amazing experience.

Since Shirley House, I’ve been working on original music and trying to find my own “Voice”. I was displaced back home to North Carolina when Covid hit and I really spent a lot of time healing, reflecting, and writing my story. I started experimenting with different genres and sounds focusing on narrowing in what Ryan sounds like and how his story (Stories) should be told.

I came to Nashville to finish working on my debut original album as well as to Co-Executive produce an event with a dear friend of mine, Alie Stewart. It’s called “Gay Church”. It’s a place where Queer people can gather safely in the south. We are launching as a platform on social media, with Commentary, Memes, Cultural Content, etc. This will pave way to an Epic Event in Nashville, TN. The event is a community that we’ve gathered in a Church format. It is neither Pro nor Anti-Church. It is a Sexy Sanctuary, to gather, to gay, and most importantly, to celebrate ourselves and each other. Find us on Instagram: @gay__church

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth is not a word I would use to describe the road I’ve traveled. I’ve experienced lots of challenges, many of my own making. Being 21 years old in NYC from a small town in the south with big dreams and little experiences in the real world can be a recipe for disaster. I dealt with a lot of the normal problems that everyone faces in NYC, money struggles, one too many late nights, experimenting with different unhealthy vices, relationships, love, and loss, etc. But my biggest obstacles were the ones within myself. Years of trauma not yet healed, as well as my own ego and attitude. I was humbled many times throughout the years there and I don’t regret any of tough experiences I had. They made me a stronger, more empathetic, and loving human being.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m very proud to be in Nashville, TN finishing my debut original album that I’ve been writing for the better part of 3 years. I can’t wait to finally share it with the world. I have a love for gospel music, as it’s in the bedrock of my existence. I don’t consider myself religious, but when I sit down at the piano to write, that little boy who used to sing in church starts playing again. I love the idea of merging genres that wouldn’t usually be conventionally paired. You can be prepared to hear a mix of Pop, Rock, Gospel, Musical Theatre, and Love. I’ve never been the type to be very vulnerable in the public eye, but I’ve found healing in telling my stories of loss and heartache as well as joy and hope. I’ve given up the idea that I have to be perfect, or better than, I just have to be me. And I hope that my stories can be healing for other people, especially all the little queer kids who feel like they don’t belong.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Check your ego at the door. Be aware of Knee-Jerk reactions. Don’t compare yourself to others. Set Boundaries with LOVE. Don’t take anything too personal. Always be a student. Most of all in everything you do, lead with love.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Amy Miller