Essential 8: Rhyan Sinclair

​After receiving critical acclaim for her 2018 album, Barnstormer, Rhyan Sinclair returns with a joyful holiday album of classics and originals.  Released on November 2nd, Marshmallow World  touches on Sinclair's varied musical influences with originals that are both timeless and timely, fun, and poignant.  "Santa How You Gettin’ in My House?" is a playful country romp that would be at home on an old Dolly Parton album, while "Let the Light in (In the Name of Christmas)" touches on the hope that the holiday season can bring us together. Here, Sinclair answers her Essential 8 and talks about the album, shares some of her favorite concerts (Cyndi Lauper, Steve Earle) as well as her must have albums for the road, and much more!

How did you choose the standards you put on the Christmas album?
I had a long list that I narrowed down. It was hard to choose, but it really came down to which songs I had the clearest, most fresh vision for, sonically and arrangement wise. I was kind of changing it up until the last minute, until the selection of songs felt right.

Can you please share the story behind "Let The Light In" which is timely and hopeful?
I wrote "Let the Light In" about the divisive times we're living in now. I think the song kind of pleads with everyone to show empathy and find peace, amongst turmoil and disagreement. To let the time of year heal and center us, bring us closer and let us re-evaluate.

Have you met any of your musical heroes and how did it go?
One of the first songs I learned with my first band, All the Little Pieces, was "Soap, Soup and Salvation" by Lone Justice. We posted a live video of the song on YouTube and we sent it to a Maria McKee fan page, not realizing it was actually her, and got a super nice note back from Maria herself. We kept in touch and when I went to California for my sweet sixteen, we got to walk around L.A with Maria and her pug on my birthday. Best day ever! Also, my family and I are huge Steve Earle fans. We've met him a couple of times after his shows and he's really great. One time, we saw him at a library in Cincinnati. He played a few songs and read from his book. It was a super cool, intimate event and we got to have a great conversation with him afterwards and he shared some of his wisdom. It was awesome.

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Do you have a favorite concert you have attended?
I feel like there are three concerts that have really been life changing for me. When I saw Steve Earle headline the Ryman for the first time, I swear there was magic in that room. It was so raw and real and his band is amazing. The Ryman is just that kind of place where you can almost feel the spirit of every legend who has played there and I think the musicians on stage channel that energy. It always makes for such special, almost otherworldly performances. I just left feeling so inspired and I'll never forget it. Secondly, Jason Isbell at the Louisville Palace was incredible. You can feel every word that he's singing and every note that he's playing. He absolutely gave that performance everything. Plus, The 400 Unit is wicked good. There was a powerful, unifying feeling in the room that night, with the stars shining on the ceiling and the whole crowd singing along. Lastly, Cyndi Lauper's Memphis Blues tour was amazing. Her voice is incredible and she completely performs her heart out. I was 10 at the time. My younger cousin and I got escorted to the front row and Cyndi gave us guitar picks. She started playing "True Colors" and my little cousin and I started sobbing. We continued to sob after the concert was over. It just touched our souls so much!

Who would you love to collaborate with?
Collaborating with musicians whose work has impacted me is my number one goal. To me, working with artists that I love, being able to watch their process and learn from them, is the greatest success I could achieve. The list is so long, but to mention a few, Emmylou, Dolly, Steve Earle, Chris Isaak, Jason Isbell, Pokey LaFarge...this one may be a little unexpected, but I grew up listening to The Killers, so I'd love to collaborate with Brandon Flowers. His voice is one of my all time favorites.

What do you love most about being on the road?
I really feel a sense of home on the road. I do a lot of writing while we're traveling from place to place. Mostly just single lines that I piece together later, but the in-between time is special to me...and of course, I love playing the shows and meeting new people along the way.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
It varies somewhat. I've written some story songs, but mostly out of personal experience. I tend to write in slight exaggeration of what I'm feeling at the moment I sit down to write. I put my feelings under a microscope when I'm writing. I love experimenting though and ultimately, I write what resonates with me.

What are your "must have" albums for the road?
During the holiday season, the "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector" album and The Dean Martin Christmas Album are two of my very favorites. It just truly feels like Christmas when those records are playing. I also love all of The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, Emmylou Harris' "Light of the Stable" and most recently, Kelly Clarkson's "Wrapped in Red".

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