Ryan King is the youngest musician to date that Last Sigh has interviewed and reviewed who is creating some great music. I met him over a year ago online and found him to be a very intelligent and creative person as well as an aspiring musician and composer. He currently lives in the Eastern United States, Connecticut. Here is a brief of what Ryan has been doing with his music, and what he is up to with future releases and projects.

Copyright Ryan King 2000

Ryan: I turned 15 on May 1st, 2000. In January-April of 1999, I started making remixes of black metal & industrial samples and enhance them with basslines and beats and whatever, then my music starting forming after 5 months or so. I don't have anything planned for my music, I just enjoy making it and listening to it. I use [three] different keyboards, and computer software. I use the computer for editing sounds, making beats, and composing\sequencing.

Last Sigh: What is your musical background? Any formal training in your life? Do you have plans to further your music career in college perhaps? What are your goals for your projects?

Ryan: I started playing the piano at age 10, bass at age 14, drums at age 13. I never took any lessons, I learned from books. I want to take some sort of course for music made over the computer. My goal is to be signed on a record label.

Last Sigh: Do you have any opinions on the Napster or MP3.com issues? Do you feel these type of resources for musicians are a benefit to the artists?

Ryan: I use Napster a lot for getting people to listen to my stuff. I saved my whole CD in a folder that has names of groups I like, and sound I like, for example "Aphex Twin, Skinny Puppy, Orbital, KMFDM", therefore, when people search for either of those they get results on my stuff also. I think it is a benefit for the artists, but some of the major record label groups are stupid about it, and for them to take legal action shows they are all about the money, which I didn't doubt anyway.

Last Sigh: What inspired you to start your own music projects? What bands influence you if any? Is your family and your friends supportive of your music?

Ryan: When I was in Australia, all I was doing was listening to music and I thought about what would make some music better and I thought of how fun it would be to create my own with my computer and keyboards, and I tried it when I got back home. I like Aphex Twin a lot, some of my songs are impersonating some of his songs. Skinny Puppy influences me to make a weirder sound other then just keys and drums. My family supports me with money but aren't involved that much in the music (not including my brother). My friends are more supportive musically -- some will give me ideas, some will tell me how cool a song sounds or how funny it is, and some will tell me what should go next in a song.

Last Sigh: What advice would you give to an aspiring musician just starting out?

Ryan: Save your money, find ways to get people to listen to your music, and find ways to make it better.

Last Sigh: Where can we locate you on the web? What's your current release situation?

Ryan: http://www.VirusX.com/ is my domain so I put some downloadable music up there I finished "Electronic Apocalypse" in April (2000) which was the 5th CD I have done... every CD is independent.

Last Sigh: If there was one musician you could work with live or in studio, who would that be and why?

Ryan: Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) because his music inspired me to make my own and he does some funny songs too, which shows he has a sense of humor, which I like.

Last Sigh: Thanks for taking time to do this interview with us. Do you have any further comments?

Ryan: Mp3s are currently available at http://www.VirusX.com/