Ryan Stevenson is a Boise, Idaho based artist who grew up in rural
Oregon. While at Northwest Christian
College in Eugene, Oregon, his friends included Shawn McDonald and Paul Wright,
both names familiar to Christian music fans.
Ryan’s career took off when he won the Idaho State Fair’s ‘Christian
Battle of the Bands’. He is a husband
and father of two boys, and a worship leader at Vertical Church Boise. He thanks his wife Kim “for walking with me
and holding onto our family even through the loneliest, hopeless, uncertain
times”. Ryan’s new release is the four
song ep HOLDING NOTHING BACK (2013, Gotee Records). The first three songs were produced by Jamie
Moore and mixed by Christopher Stevens.
First up is Ryan’s terrific debut single, the title track. The writers are Ryan, Jamie Moore, and Toby
McKeehan. It has adult contemporary
written all over it. Ryan says: “It’s
one of the most personal, vulnerable songs I have written”. The lyrics essentially find Ryan pouring out
his heart to God: “I’ve got a list that goes on and on/It’s overflowing with
memories of everything that I’ve been doing wrong/I’ll be the first to say/I’ve
chased after so many foolish things/Looking for a way to kill the pain/Oh, I’m
holding nothing back from You/It doesn’t really matter what I lose/I got a
heart that’s open/I’m broken and I want You to know/Jesus, I don’t want
anything coming in between You and me/Jesus, doesn’t matter what I have to go
through/I’m holding nothing back, nothing back from You”. Next up is ‘The Human Side’. Of it, Ryan says: “This song gives me comfort
in knowing that Jesus isn’t shocked by my failures or surprised when I fumble
around. We are human and yet we are
loved in spite of all our failures”.
This song has a heavy, percussive beat that drives it. Like track one, it again finds Ryan
conversing with God: “I’m so thankful I can tell You/How I’m feeling, what I’m
going through/I’m so thankful You can handle all of my chaos, all of my
chaos/Oh, I don’t have the words to say/Oh, You’re the only hope I have
today/Your, Your love keeps showing me/You understand, You understand.”
‘Lead the Way’ penned by Ryan and Jamie Moore, is a fast-paced, cheery
sounding pop number. Those believers who
struggle with mental illness will be able to relate to these lyrics: “Every now
and then I feel my heart becoming restless/Anxiety trying to get a hold of
me/Every now and then I feel the tension taking over/I’m so distracted by
everything/But You say/It’s gonna be ok/You are with me every step of the way/I
don’t need to know where I’m gonna go/Just as long as You lead the way”. The last track is a great acoustic version of
‘Speak Life’. This song was composed by
Toby McKeehan, Ryan, and Jamie Moore.
TobyMac included it on his Grammy winning album EYE ON IT. The song deals with the power of the tongue,
which is a Scriptural concept: “And it’s crazy to imagine/Words from our lips
as the arms of compassion/Mountains crumble with every syllable/Hope can live
or die…/Lift your head a little higher/Spread the love like fire/Hope will fall
like rain/When you speak life with the words you say/Raise your thoughts a
little higher/Use your words to inspire/Joy will fall like rain when you speak
life/With the things you say”.
HOLDING NOTHING BACK is a short, wonderful teaser of what is to come
from this very talented CCM newcomer.
His vocals are smooth and his musical stylings very entertaining. You are sure to hear much more from Ryan
Stevenson on daytime Christian radio in the future. Ryan’s favorite movie is ‘Dumb and
Dumber’. His favorite book is William P.
Young’s ‘The Shack’ (2007). Currently on
his ipod is Unspoken’s ‘Lift My Life Up’.
I’m rating HOLDING NOTHING BACK 90%.
Fans of Matthew West will enjoy it.
For more info visit: www.ryanstevensonmusic.com and www.gotee.com