A Dirty Dozen with RYNO from KEY FLIGHT CAPTIANS – March 2023

According to a recent press release: “Key Flight Captains was founded in 2014 by frontman, Ryan with the addition of Corey. Together with Travis, Key Flight is a 3 piece band. Key Flight Captains is an alternative rock band located in Houston, Texas. The band draws inspiration from many notable acts such as, Incubus, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Police, and several others. The band gave their first radio performance on 91.1 The Boss in May 2019 where they performed an acoustic set live on air. Recently, KF won Hometown for the Holidays by 94.5 The Buzz to be 1 of 11 bands to have their song played twice a day on the radio station. Currently, after playing the Lucky’s Pub St. Pat day festival for 94.5 The Buzz, Key Flight Captains was in the running for 2022 best local band in the Houston Chronicle. The band recently has released their new single “Heart Strings” and will follow up with a new EP soon.” We get Ryno to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release is our song “Heartstrings.” “Heartstrings” is about being in a toxic relationship with someone you love but knowing it has to end. We all reach a breaking point and enough is enough eventually. This song takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. There is a happy moment in the song when the guy leaves the girl and finds himself again. We hope that listeners grab out phrases that are typical to say and common phrases to ask yourself when you’re in a toxic relationship like that. No hidden nuggets in this one haha, but we will have to do that soon. We have a lot of new songs in the mix.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My dad got me into music. My father is a musician himself. I knew I wanted to be a musician probably around when I was 14. The movie School Of Rock made me want to start a band. My best friend and I at the time thought it was the greatest idea to start our own band.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Oh for sure, Kings X. I saw them live and it was an eye-opening experience. Van Halen also made me want to get out there and do all of this. Van Halen was my first rock and roll band I heard, and it made me even more geared up about music and playing rock music. There really wasn’t one set thing, song, or person that led me to this point really it just happened gradually. One giant build up to me being who I am today.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I would have to call in Dave Grohl. He is one of my heroes. It would be a dream come true to be able to share our music together. Dave and his band the Foo Fighters have definitely inspired my music.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I like to hang out with my girlfriend and my daughter Halie. I like to unwind by playing GTA but usually I just pick up my acoustic guitar and play around with cords and tunes. I enjoy spending life with my family outside of music but they’re also a huge part of my music as well. Nothing beats going to the park with my family on a sunny day and longboard while I watch my girlfriend and daughter play. I also love working on cars, preferably my broken pickup truck.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I would ask if they like 90’s-2000’s alt rock and grunge. My band is reminiscent of those times and more guitar oriented. I want to make listening to guitar fun and exciting again. I would want them to take away from us as a band and our music and be like “wow that isn’t corny” and see that the guitar work itself was written for a reason. That’s a good question haha, I guess I am stunned because we never really had something I disagreed with or didn’t care for. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if they don’t like my music then that’s okay. I don’t know, that’s a hard one. We pour out a lot of positivity, which our fans and friends give back.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I always am the first to whip out the ol’ acoustic. Corey loves to BBQ and smoke meats. Travis is the first to get a good conversation going. We all grab a beer at the same time really. If we aren’t at the studio, then we are getting tacos and driving around in the band van- which we named Big Chungus.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

In May of 2022, my girlfriend took me to see Incubus in the pit, so we were right there. It was honestly so surreal, and I couldn’t believe it. I always get my vocals compared to Brandon Boyd, which is always crazy to me. I mean he has one of the best voices in this genre. It was also nice getting to hear and see him live perform my girlfriend and I’s song together which is “Stellar.” Therefore, Brandon Boyd was the last I saw that starstruck me. It is now in my top list for the best show I’ve been to. Green Day is on that list too. We also saw them live in the pit before Incubus!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part is being an entertainer and seeing people have a positive reaction to our music. The cherry on top would be uplifting and helping people with our music. Getting people to dance to your songs or sing-along is the best feeling ever. Outside of music, I would want to own my own performance shop for cars. Running my own YouTube channel to talk about car related stuff. I have had cars I fixed up and swapped stuff in and out of. Outside of music, cars would be my second passion.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

No one ever asks us what song was most difficult to write or conjure up. To that, I would answer “Heartstrings.” I mean we did a 360 and changed the lyrics completely around multiple times. It was also hard to write since it was a song stowed away, and when we decided to release it to the world it was really emotional. It was honestly quite hard for me to revisit those memories and those feelings to what this song is about. It’s hard to force yourself back into that spot when you can’t relate to it anymore and don’t want to get hurt again. I guess a question I am tired of being asked and answering would be, “What is the meaning behind the name Key Flight Captains?”

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

This question hits home. One, I wouldn’t trust any company you have to pay out of pocket for before we have any success or our success was proven. The source wasn’t credible, and we got into a crap situation. Two, without any proven success it doesn’t make sense for a big-name producer. I sometimes feel what we did with Jim Wirt didn’t go as I wanted and if I could have a do-over, I would do things a lot differently and show up way more prepared. Lastly, I wish I didn’t forget a mic at a show one time. The sound company took it, and I never got it back.

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Category: Interviews