Ryan Lewis

Ryan Lewis

Lewis performing with Macklemore in February 2013
Background information
Also known as Ryan Lewis
Born (1988-03-25) March 25, 1988
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Origin Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • musician
  • record producer
  • videographer
  • photographer
  • graphic designer
  • music video director
  • rapper
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active 2006–present
Labels Macklemore LLC
Associated acts
Website macklemore.com

Ryan Lewis (born March 25, 1988) is an American DJ, musician, record producer, videographer, photographer, graphic designer, music video director and hip hop recording artist. Along with producing his own album titled Instrumentals, Lewis produced the albums The VS. EP (2009), The Heist (2012) & This Unruly Mess I've Made (2016). In 2006, Lewis befriended rapper Macklemore on Myspace and soon after became the behind-the-scenes partner of a successful duo, producing, recording, engineering and mixing all of the duo's music, as well as directing the music videos for "Same Love", "Thrift Shop", "And We Danced", "Otherside (Remix)", "Can't Hold Us", "Irish Celebration", "My Oh My", "Victory Lap", "Downtown" "Brad Pitt's Cousin" and "White Walls" and designing promotional graphics.

Early life

Ryan Lewis was born on March 25, 1988 to Julie and Scott Lewis. Lewis has two sisters, Teresa and Laura, four years and two years older than he is, respectively.[1] At an early age, he played guitar in rock bands, and nursed a growing interest in music production around the age of 15. He attended Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle. He graduated from the University of Washington majoring in Comparative History of Ideas.[2][3]

Career

2006–08: Career beginnings

Lewis became a professional photographer and videographer. In 2008 he released his debut extended play, Instrumentals, with four alternative hip hop songs.[4][5] In the same year, Lewis collaborated with Rhode Island-based emcee Symmetry in a self-titled work, released as an LP.[6][7]

2009–present: Career with Macklemore

Lewis first met Macklemore in 2006,[8] but only in 2009 they formalized the collaboration with Macklemore as the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and released the EP The VS. EP.[9] In October 2010, he produced the VS. Redux EP and, in December, their debut single, "My Oh My".[10][11] "Wings" was released on January 21, 2011, followed by "Can't Hold Us" featuring Ray Dalton on August 16, 2011. Their album The Heist was released in October 2012. Previously released singles "My Oh My", "Wings", and "Can't Hold Us" were announced to be included on the album – as was the song "Make the Money". "Can't Hold Us" was used as soundtrack for a Miller beer ad in UK and Ireland in June 2012. "Same Love" was released on July 18, 2012, and songs "White Walls" featuring Schoolboy Q and "Jimmy Iovine" featuring Ab-Soul were confirmed to be included on the album. The Heist debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 2.

On October 30, 2012 Lewis appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show performing their single "Same Love" and then again on January 18, 2013, performing their single "Thrift Shop", which they had sung previously on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on December 11, 2012. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, giving them their first number 1 hit in the US. The Heist World Tour began in August 2012 to promote The Heist.[12] On January 26, 2014, Macklemore performed "Same Love" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, where Queen Latifah read marriage vows for 33 couples who lined the aisles, including Lewis's sister, Laura, and her now husband.[13] In January 2015, Lewis announced via Twitter that his third studio album will be released sometime in the second half of the year.[14] On August 5, 2015, Macklemore released a song for free download titled "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)," which features Ed Sheeran.[15] On August 27, 2015, the duo released a new song, "Downtown," featuring Eric Nally, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, and Grandmaster Caz; it was performed at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30.[16] "Downtown" is part of their new album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, which was released on February 26, 2016. On January 22, 2016, the duo released "White Privilege II", the second single on This Unruly Mess I've Made.[17]

Discography

For the discography with his duo, see Macklemore & Ryan Lewis discography.

Studio albums

Title Album details
Symmetry and Ryan Lewis[3]
(with Symmetry)

Extended plays

Title Album details
Instrumentals[4]
  • Released: 2008[4]
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Independent

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sommerfeld, Seth (February 26, 2013). "A Different Beat". The Pacific Northwest Inlander. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ Varga, George (November 29, 2013). "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: The stars align". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Symmetry And Ryan Lewis (Free Download)". Symmetry Music. October 10, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ryan Lewis producing his own album titled Instrumentals". Wantickts. October 10, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Ryan Lewis 'Instrumentals'". Jeremy Timothy Brown. October 10, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Symmetry & Ryan Lewis LP". Audio Mack. October 10, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Real Sick Quality Rap NEW FREE ALBUM – Ryan Lewis & Symmetry – LP". This is Song Sick. October 10, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  8. ↑ Jabari Presents: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Documentary). YouTube. Retrieved on December 30, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Macklemore – "Irish Celebration"". thatsthatish.com. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Seattle rapper Macklemore records Niehaus tribute | Seattle Mariners blog - seattlepi.com". Blog.seattlepi.com. December 23, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  11. ↑ Baker, Geoff (December 23, 2010). "New song about Dave Niehaus by Seattle rapper Macklemore". The Seattle Times.
  12. ↑ Ryon, Sean (October 6, 2012). "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "The Heist" Album Stream". HipHop DX. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  13. ↑ Dan Avery. "Macklemore, Madonna, Queen Latifah Host Gay Weddings". newnownext.com. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  14. ↑ Jason Lipshutz (January 2, 2015). "Macklemore Promises New Album Coming in 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  15. ↑ Reed, Ryan (August 5, 2015). "Macklemore Returns to Celebrate Daughter's Birth With Joyous New Track". Rolling Stone.
  16. ↑ Nolan Feeney (August 27, 2015). "Macklemore and Ryan Lewis 'Downtown' – New Song". TIME.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  17. ↑ Stuart, Tessa (2016-01-22). "Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Drop New Track 'White Privilege II'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
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