Ryan Beaver Offers ‘RX’ For Songs That ‘Connect with the Heart’

May 6 is a day that Ryan Beaver has had circled around his calendar for quite some time. That’s the day that the Texan releases his third album, RX. He says he’s waited for the release for a while. “This has been a work in progress for a long time – a lot of people have worked hard to make this come together and lent their talent to it,” he admitted to Sounds Like Nashville. “I’m thrilled to get the album out, and see where it holds up, as well as the peoples’ response. So far, what we’ve put out there has gotten really good feedback.”

Already in his young career, Beaver has made an impact on fans – both in the audience and on stage. He’s opened shows for acts such as Lee Ann Womack and Ashley Monroe, both of whom have given him high praise. It’s something he’s aware of, but he says he tries to put it in the back of his mind. “It’s a little bit overwhelming, to the point that you really can’t think too much about it. I’ve got so much respect for the people that I’ve gone out on tour with, and when you have as much passion about music as I do, and you’re with people that feel the same way about music, I think there’s an attraction there. It’s like its’ own language. People like that see that in other people as well. It’s been really great. To be honest, it’s something I try not to think about too much.”

One of the highlights from RX is “Kristofferson,” a tribute to the songwriter who stands as one of his biggest influences. “What a renaissance man. He’s one of those guys that is sort of like an onion, and when you pull back the layers, you feel like you know a little more about the guy. He’s done so many things, and has written so many songs that have stood the test of time. I thought about what it would have been like to have moved to town, and we wrote a song called ‘Kristofferson’ for the record, which is my tribute to any musician that chases his dream, but also to him, as well.”

Just like Kristofferson, Beaver sings and writes about a life that’s not always flowery or pretty, but he likes the ability to be true to himself. “That’s very important to me, and always has been the main focus. One thing I can say is I never would want to make a project that I wouldn’t want to go buy myself. I feel like if I stick to that game plan throughout my career, I’ll be alright. I wanted to make a project that is something I would want to hear.”

One such performance from RX that fits that vein is “Rum and Roses,” of which he says “It’s one of my favorites, a three chord country song, when you sit down with an acoustic guitar and you play it. The lyrics are very honest – about giving into temptation when you know exactly what the repercussions are. It’s something we’re all guilty of at times.”

He also conjures up the spirit and sound of the late Roy Orbison on the stunning “Still Yours.” The song marked a first in his career. “’Still Yours’ was a song that I had no part in writing, and this was the first project that I ever thought about recording something I didn’t write. I heard it, and I thought ‘This is one I wish I had written,’ but I knew there was no way that I would have ever written that. I was interested to see if anyone if would cut, and nobody did. The fact that I had a chance to take a stab at recording it meant a lot to me. The moment I first heard it, I was drawn to it.”

One track that Beaver is particularly proud of is the title song, which kind of serves as sort of a motto for the album’s purpose. “We’re in an interesting time where we love a quick and easy fix to things, and try to patch it together. I was talking to a friend who was struggling with addiction. I listened, but I never really stepped in and tried to help, because I thought they were ok. As it turned out, they ended up going straight and turning it all around. But, that chorus really hit hard with me about the way we all deal with things. I felt like there was also a positivity to it, because making this album was also very cathartic for me. All of these songs got me excited about life and music again. I felt a real purpose for this project, and thought it would be cool if these songs served as a prescription to the listener in some way. You put these songs out and you hope it connects with someone at the very right time – and maybe they go out and get help with something. In a time where we are so consumed with putting out music that connects with the wallet in terms of what is selling, I really miss those songs that connect with the heart, and that’s what this project was. It was for me. So, it’s my hope that it does the same thing for the listener. That’s where the title came from.”