Platinum pop star Ryan Cabrera sings at Stage West in Scranton on Oct. 24
From a press release:
It was announced last night that platinum-selling pop rock singer/songwriter Ryan Cabrera will bring his current summer tour to Stage West in Scranton on Thursday, Oct. 24.
Doors at Stage West (301 N. Main Ave., Scranton) open at 6 p.m., and the all-ages concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets, which are $17 in advance, are on sale now and can be purchased via Prekindle.
Ryan Cabrera, 37, is the singer and songwriter behind ubiquitous smashes such as “On the Way Down,” “True,” and “Shine On,” as well as albums including 2004’s “Take It All Away,” which hit No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200; 2005’s “You Stand Watching;” and 2008’s “The Moon Underwater.” Stardom aside, he feels it’s never ever been about image, media, or pomp and circumstance. It’s always come down to one thing – the music. It’s where everything starts.
In 2009, he began writing songs for what would eventually become record number five. However, the inspiration didn’t quite click right off the bat, so he continued cataloging his thoughts and emotions over the next few years. He immersed himself in other artistic pursuits such as painting, actually decking out his home with all original work and enjoying his own personal renaissance.
He also spent meaningful time at hospitals around the country, brightening up days for countless sick children and young adults. Inspired from this, Cabrera also took the opportunity to launch a live music series entitled “Live from Ryan’s Living Room,” broadcasting live performances from his home, and all proceeds for “online tickets” benefit different charities. Everybody from Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw to Billy Ray Cyrus and We the Kings has joined him in the living room for unique live jams.
Amidst this creative upswing, 2013 ushered in something of a new awakening for Cabrera. After penning “I See Love” in Nashville with Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift), he experienced a revelation. “That sparked the mindset of the new album,” he affirms. “It was about writing songs that are real and honest. It was, ‘Write what you love and are passionate about.’ That ignited the entire record.”
He went back to Los Angeles reinvigorated and locked himself in the studio with producer Justin Gray (Mariah Carey, John Legend, Amy Winehouse). Together, the duo wrote and performed the bulk of the album, playing all of the instruments themselves.
“It’s organic pop music,” Cabrera declares. “Justin and I hit it off immediately. We were in a room together, jamming on everything. We weren’t trying to be anything or fit any kind of mold. It was just music we dug. I started writing all of these fun, positive, and uplifting songs. My whole perception had changed. Every song tells its own story.”
“House on Fire” shimmies from a percussive tribal intro into an incendiary refrain. He smiles, “It’s about burning everything down and being crazy while you can. You’re living in the moment and enjoying everything you do. A lot of people are afraid to let themselves go, be passionate, and express their feelings. You’ve got to burn it all down – even if just for one night. Let loose and go nutty! It feels great.”
“Everest” begins with a pronounced bounce punctuated by swooning synths, a propulsive beat, and lithe harmonies. Cabrera carries a simultaneously invigorating and inspiring hook to the summit confidently. “It’s about waking up, loving life, and reaching the highest spot,” he explains. “You start your day, and you’re trying to reach the utmost point you can in everything you do. You’re doing your best no matter what.”
At the same time, Cabrera still knows how to write a touching love song. “All We Have” captures a distinct moment that’s both heartbreaking and hypnotic. “That’s one of the love songs,” he sighs. “It’s about that relationship that got away. Maybe you made a mistake. Now you’re making your plea about why you should be together. You admit you’re wrong, but you still want to be together.”
Ultimately, this is the real Ryan Cabrera. He doesn’t hold anything back, and he’s created his most uplifting and powerful music to date.
“I want the music to speak for itself,” he leaves off. “My career has been about a lot of things from the outside. The focus unfortunately shifted to what my hair was like or who I was dating. That’s not why I started playing music. It’s always been about the music. That’s it. It’s not about being a pop singer. It’s about being an artist. I want people to think of the songs before they think of me. It starts now. This is going to be a fun ride.”
In 2016, he became part of the highly successful My2K Tour alongside 98 Degrees, O-Town, and Dream. The 38-date amphitheater tour covered the entirety of North America. Cabrera received rave reviews, playing all the hits as well as his 2016 single “Whatever Whenever.” Most recently, he has been writing for and with numerous other artists and amassing a catalog of new songs which feature collaborations with Nash Overstreet, TyDi, and more.
