INTERVIEW WITH

MIKE RYAN

Title

Let’s start with you introducing yourself and giving us a little info on who you are and what you do.

My name is Mike Ryan and I'm the singer and lyricist for Missing Link, as well as a business owner, weightlifter, husband, father, brother, friend, and authority on all things cool.

You're from Auburn, NY - can you describe what it was like growing up there, what your friend group was like, going to shows and how it shaped you to be who you are today?

I semi-jokingly describe growing up in Auburn a lot like the show Letterkenny. It's a small, pretty grimy city with a lot of history.  My parents are factory workers to this day.  Like most townie cities, there's not a lot going on, but a lot of pride.  I grew up close enough to the prison to be able to see inside the first wall from my grandmother's attic window.

My friend group from Auburn was and is to this day the closest people to me.  We were low level criminals, from broken homes that I believe found solace in each other and just doing bad shit out of boredom. Sneaking out, stealing, fighting... normal shit I think.

Shows there were violent, and culturally we were much different than the other cities' scenes around us like Syracuse for instance during the mid to late 2000's.  I don't think we were exactly popular in most places...haha.
Title

"My natural inclination has always been "fuck you" to anyone telling me I couldn't do what I wanted when I wanted. "

Title

You’ve been through a lot, fully lived life and are a person who lives life how you want to. Can you talk about what made you this way? What made you want to live a life that isn’t so traditional?

I think that Hardcore really influenced the way I thought at a young age.  My natural inclination has always been "fuck you" to anyone telling me I couldn't do what I wanted when I wanted.  Hardcore made that mindset acceptable, and as I got older I was lucky enough that the stubbornness mixed with motivation to not be broke.  I actually really enjoy some aspects of traditional life: a comfortable home, family, etc.  But I find thrive more within chaos to an extent. I believe I learned to do it well. 

Missing Link is a heavier band but is different from others. You can sense style, substance, depth and emotion in the songs. Can you talk about what inspires Link lyrics, record covers, style and imagery?

Missing Link lyrically is really a glimpse into my brain.  I am heavily influenced by music of all genres in the biggest way and I think once I gained the confidence to let the collective of those things be my style is when I really started to shine and be thought of as an "artist" (still kind of funny to me).

A lot of the lyrics are about my life or parts of it, sort of steeped in Roman Catholic and other religious imagery/symbolism, and I try to mix some of that with my influences and how they might relate to telling a story of the common street person.  I believe style is what sets us apart. And you motherfuckers out there can't fake it...so give it up.

When we were doing the shoot for this drop you talked about your Dad. Can you tell us about him, what he did, what he listened to, how he dressed and what influence he had on you?

Yeah man, my dad is like one of these effortlessly cool people.  He's a lifelong factory worker, but so much more than that.  He was the first sneaker head I ever knew and I have pictures of him wearing some awesome shit.  When I was kid he drove cool cars, wore cool clothes, and smoked marb reds... I mean come on.  I think his indifference to what people thought was inherited from my grandfather, and I inherited it from him.
Title

"I am heavily influenced by music of all genres in the biggest way and I think once I gained the confidence to let the collective of those things be my style is when I really started to shine and be thought of as an "artist" (still kind of funny to me)."

Title

What would you say is one of the most important things he’s ever taught you?

Man...my dad is very stoic.  He says more with the way he carries himself than anything else.  He is truly an old school street type of person.

I think the most important lessons he taught me were just about how to carry myself and how to navigate the world. My grandfather was the same way. I always say they taught me the value of laughter even when things are bad, and I cling to that tightly.

In an interview you talked about a story where you were sleeping and thought someone was breaking into your house twice in one night.  You talk about this in “New York Minute” & also mentioned that this is a recurring dream.  What do you think this recurring dream means? 

I think I'm just a person with a lot of paranoia and anxiety without getting too into the weeds on mental health shit.  I've had a very violent life and I think that affects a person.  I've suffered from night terrors for a very long time now.  I think maybe the dreams are just things we can't suppress.  I know people maybe view NY Minute as a little tongue in cheek, but it's not. That crippling fear and the violent reaction to it is real for me at times. 
Title

“I always describe my clothing style as "White Trash Chic" haha.  I think you see a lot of people try and have some sort of similar style with it but you know...I'm multigenerational with the shit.  “

Title

How would you describe your clothing style? I’m sure you don’t think too much about getting dressed but what do you focus on when putting together an outfit and how do you want to feel?

I always describe my clothing style as "White Trash Chic" haha.  I think you see a lot of people try and have some sort of similar style with it but you know...I'm multigenerational with the shit. They'll see in some of these pictures of the old man.
Title

“ I want to wear shit that inspires me.  I want to be places that inspire me, eat food, drink coffee, etc etc.“

Title

When we were designing these denim shorts you chose a lighter blue denim wash with pink thread. What made you go with that?

As I've gotten a bit older I got bored of the mundane all black or gray and whatever.  I want to wear shit that inspires me.  I want to be places that inspire me, eat food, drink coffee, etc etc.  What's got more flavor: some boring ass black jorts or some lightwashed blue with baby pink thread?  Come on.. Like I said before... I'm the authority on all things cool...

If money/obligations weren’t a thing, what would you consider the perfect day? What would you do, what would you eat, where would you be, etc.?

I think a “perfect day” idea changes but ideally spent in the sun smiling with friends and family, drinking some fancy coffee and with a cool breeze, just chopping it up. As Paul would say, “There’s nothing better than just chopping it up with the boys.” And it’s the damn truth. 

FIND MIKE/MISSING LINK:

@newyorkstateofmike

@missinglinkhc

Missing Link Spotify
Title

INTERVIEW WITH

MIKE RYAN

Title

Let’s start with you introducing yourself and giving us a little info on who you are and what you do.

My name is Mike Ryan and I'm the singer and lyricist for Missing Link, as well as a business owner, weightlifter, husband, father, brother, friend, and authority on all things cool.

Title

"My natural inclination has always been "fuck you" to anyone telling me I couldn't do what I wanted when I wanted. "

Title

You're from Auburn, NY - can you describe what it was like growing up there, what your friend group was like, going to shows and how it shaped you to be who you are today?

I semi-jokingly describe growing up in Auburn a lot like the show Letterkenny. It's a small, pretty grimy city with a lot of history.  My parents are factory workers to this day.  Like most townie cities, there's not a lot going on, but a lot of pride.  I grew up close enough to the prison to be able to see inside the first wall from my grandmother's attic window.

My friend group from Auburn was and is to this day the closest people to me.  We were low level criminals, from broken homes that I believe found solace in each other and just doing bad shit out of boredom. Sneaking out, stealing, fighting... normal shit I think.

Shows there were violent, and culturally we were much different than the other cities' scenes around us like Syracuse for instance during the mid to late 2000's.  I don't think we were exactly popular in most places...haha.

You’ve been through a lot, fully lived life and are a person who lives life how you want to. Can you talk about what made you this way? What made you want to live a life that isn’t so traditional?

I think that Hardcore really influenced the way I thought at a young age.  My natural inclination has always been "fuck you" to anyone telling me I couldn't do what I wanted when I wanted.  Hardcore made that mindset acceptable, and as I got older I was lucky enough that the stubbornness mixed with motivation to not be broke.  I actually really enjoy some aspects of traditional life: a comfortable home, family, etc.  But I find thrive more within chaos to an extent. I believe I learned to do it well. 

Title

"I am heavily influenced by music of all genres in the biggest way and I think once I gained the confidence to let the collective of those things be my style is when I really started to shine and be thought of as an "artist" (still kind of funny to me)."

Title

Missing Link is a heavier band but is different from others. You can sense style, substance, depth and emotion in the songs. Can you talk about what inspires Link lyrics, record covers, style and imagery?

Missing Link lyrically is really a glimpse into my brain.  I am heavily influenced by music of all genres in the biggest way and I think once I gained the confidence to let the collective of those things be my style is when I really started to shine and be thought of as an "artist" (still kind of funny to me).

A lot of the lyrics are about my life or parts of it, sort of steeped in Roman Catholic and other religious imagery/symbolism, and I try to mix some of that with my influences and how they might relate to telling a story of the common street person.  I believe style is what sets us apart. And you motherfuckers out there can't fake it...so give it up.

When we were doing the shoot for this drop you talked about your Dad. Can you tell us about him, what he did, what he listened to, how he dressed and what influence he had on you?

Yeah man, my dad is like one of these effortlessly cool people.  He's a lifelong factory worker, but so much more than that.  He was the first sneaker head I ever knew and I have pictures of him wearing some awesome shit.  When I was kid he drove cool cars, wore cool clothes, and smoked marb reds... I mean come on.  I think his indifference to what people thought was inherited from my grandfather, and I inherited it from him.

What would you say is one of the most important things he’s ever taught you?

Man...my dad is very stoic.  He says more with the way he carries himself than anything else.  He is truly an old school street type of person.

I think the most important lessons he taught me were just about how to carry myself and how to navigate the world. My grandfather was the same way. I always say they taught me the value of laughter even when things are bad, and I cling to that tightly.

In an interview you talked about a story where you were sleeping and thought someone was breaking into your house twice in one night.  You talk about this in “New York Minute” & also mentioned that this is a recurring dream.  What do you think this recurring dream means? 

I think I'm just a person with a lot of paranoia and anxiety without getting too into the weeds on mental health shit.  I've had a very violent life and I think that affects a person.  I've suffered from night terrors for a very long time now.  I think maybe the dreams are just things we can't suppress.  I know people maybe view NY Minute as a little tongue in cheek, but it's not. That crippling fear and the violent reaction to it is real for me at times. 

Title

“I always describe my clothing style as "White Trash Chic" haha.  I think you see a lot of people try and have some sort of similar style with it but you know...I'm multigenerational with the shit.  “

Title

How would you describe your clothing style? I’m sure you don’t think too much about getting dressed but what do you focus on when putting together an outfit and how do you want to feel?

I always describe my clothing style as "White Trash Chic" haha.  I think you see a lot of people try and have some sort of similar style with it but you know...I'm multigenerational with the shit. They'll see in some of these pictures of the old man.

When we were designing these denim shorts you chose a lighter blue denim wash with pink thread. What made you go with that?

As I've gotten a bit older I got bored of the mundane all black or gray and whatever.  I want to wear shit that inspires me.  I want to be places that inspire me, eat food, drink coffee, etc etc.  What's got more flavor: some boring ass black jorts or some lightwashed blue with baby pink thread?  Come on.. Like I said before... I'm the authority on all things cool...

Title

“ I want to wear shit that inspires me.  I want to be places that inspire me, eat food, drink coffee, etc etc.“

Title

If money/obligations weren’t a thing, what would you consider the perfect day? What would you do, what would you eat, where would you be, etc.?

I think a “perfect day” idea changes but ideally spent in the sun smiling with friends and family, drinking some fancy coffee and with a cool breeze, just chopping it up. As Paul would say, “There’s nothing better than just chopping it up with the boys.” And it’s the damn truth. 

FIND MIKE/MISSING LINK

@newyorkstateofmike

@missinglink

Spotify
Title