Meet Jeff Ryan | Composer, Sound Designer, and Video Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Ryan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in Mundelein, a suburb northwest of Chicago, where I spent my entire childhood and teenage years. That environment deeply influenced my decision to pursue the arts. My mom and grandma were both great at drawing, and my dad was the one who really pushed my love for music. He showed me all kinds of genres when I was little and even got me my first drum set when I was seven. I was also lucky to have a group of friends who were all into creative stuff too—we learned how to skateboard, play multiple instruments, and found different ways to express ourselves together. That collective energy and creativity shaped me into the person I am today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
A lot of my passion for music and film comes from my upbringing. Being surrounded by other creative people really pushed me to grow. I’ve always believed that if you surround yourself with people who are just as driven as you, it helps you progress so much faster. That said, the path wasn’t easy. I always knew I wanted to be involved in music, so I constantly looked for ways to be around it. In high school, I learned how to record and produce from my mentor, Greg Henkin, who also gave me my first job as a front-of-house mixer at a small local venue.

When I got to DePaul University, I carried those lessons into every internship, studio session, and film set I could get involved with. There were plenty of long nights and years where I wasn’t getting paid. I remember paying to park in downtown Chicago, working 8–10 hours at an unpaid internship, and then heading straight to my restaurant job afterward. But I told myself that if I could learn even one new thing each day, it would be worth it. Even when I had doubts about the future, I held onto the idea that as long as I kept moving toward the goal, I’d eventually reach it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend where to visit LA I would immediately take them to The Comedy Store. Comedy has such an impact on me and there is nowhere else in the world where you get to see the funniest comedians work a new set each night.

If we were back in Chicago, I would take them to the Art Institute of Chicago. This has to be my favorite museum I have ever visited. There is so much inspiration waiting to be drawn out (pun intended) and you can’t see it all in one day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to my family and friends. They have always supported me through my crazy creative ventures, and believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8137048/?ref_=fn_all_nme_3

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whoisjeffryan/