Rising Stars: Meet Ryan Lindberg

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Lindberg.

Hi Ryan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my musical journey when I was about 12 years old playing the guitar. After noodling around for several years, I started to take it much more seriously during my freshman year of college. Jamming with friends suddenly turned into something I wanted to consume my life. After getting started in Garage Band recording guitar loops, I started using a much more advanced software called Ableton live to fuse my guitar with electronic elements. At the same time, I was starting a music business program that would provide a strong foundation and friend group to navigate the sea of the musical world.

Through that time, there were several internships, many musical experiments, and an overall quest to learn all the in’s and out’s of the recording process. After a few years of making songs, I settled on the name Koresma, which is a derivative of the Greek word for saturated called “koresmena”. I found the name when my mom and brother were visiting me in college right around the release of my first EP. The name stuck and it payed tribute to my heritage, my mom being born in Athens, Greece and speaking it fluently. After gaining some traction and notoriety on several releases, I graduated college and moved to be closer to my dad who was suffering from health problems in Asheville, North Carolina. Having always loved the town and its rich music culture, the move proved to be beneficial for many reasons. During this time, I was able to work for Moog Music selling synthesizers in the storefront headquarters while pursuing my music on the side. There is no doubt the influence and wonder of the Moog factory impacted my inspiration and led me to create a few songs that got me where I am today.

In 2018, I left my job at the Moog Store and decided to jump into my project Koresma full time. It was scary but the first year on my own provided a tour through Colorado, my first song on vinyl, and several EP’s. After having a successful first year on my own, I took a leap in the summer of 2019 with three friends from the east coast and moved to Los Angeles. I’d always loved the city and its surrounding nature (the beach, mountains, and desert) as well as the strong level of creativity and professionalism. I remember going to LA in the past working on several projects and I always felt like everyone was working so much harder than me. Being around that type of energy is one of the main reasons I wanted to be in LA. Fast forward to now in March of 2021, I’d never thought we would experience a global pandemic that shut down this epic city for over a year. It’s been a trying time but like all of us, I’ve found was to adapt and there’s been many blessings that came through the tough times.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has been a forward progression in many ways but as for many people trying to get their work out there, there were definite struggles. I remember living in Asheville and renting a one bedroom apartment only making just more than my rent. I choose not to use my degree because I wanted to work in music, so I worked a local music store making $8.25 an hour plus commissions. Somehow I landed the apartment and maintained a budget eating a steady diet of kale, ramen noodles, and chicken for my first year living there. That apartment proved to be integral as I wrote one of my most popular songs, “Bridges”, in that space. The biggest struggle musically was getting people to listen and give you a chance at first. There were many a “do this opportunity for exposure” type gigs. Through many no’s and unread emails, I was able to land a few relationships that helped open doors.

One being Stereofox, the blog and know label was one of the first to write about my music and gave me inspiration to keep sending my work to more outlets. Releasing independently also was a struggle having no real guidance other than a few friends who were on the same journey. There has definitely been money missed and a stressful times trying to learn the music business, but all that experience has given me a complete knowledge of what needs to be done for the music without sacrificing large percentages to labels, managers, etc. One day those might be needed and for many, I’m sure they provide value, but learning the business for myself has steered me out of many bad situations and given me a better understanding of what I need.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create music as Koresma and I’m best known for my chilled beats that feature strong melodic guitar lines. I find a lot of inspiration in nature, so most of my songs are a sonic landscape of places I’ve been or want to go. Technically speaking, I use Ableton Live and that software has allowed me to do what I do. Without it I joke that I would just be a mediocre guitarist. Using the power of Ableton, sound design, and songwriting elements I can craft a sound that is uniquely my own. My studio has grown over the years and there are many other things that provide inspiration such as analog synthesizers, drum machines, and vinyl record samples. Blending all this together into something that draws on a special feeling within is what sets my music apart from others.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future start with finishing the album project I’ve been working on for the last few years. This album is under the working title “Compass” and it has been released one EP at a time. Each EP has been themed after a direction on the compass rose. The album started with East, next was West, then North, and now I’m working on South. My goal is to have the South EP out this Fall and then vinyl shortly after. My whole vision for the project has been seeing this as Double LP with each EP being one side of a vinyl. There are some cool audio-visual collaborations in the works for this as well. As for most musicians, the pandemic of 2020 brought all touring and shows to a screeching halt. My goals in 2020 were to do much more in the live music space, so I hope I can get back on track with that and tour/play shows again.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.koresmamusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koresmamusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koresmamusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/koresmamusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbFp1Mr2jHgF-HRcTDdZm1g
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/koresma
• Other: https://koresma.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits:
Quinn Hiaasen Adam Orfale Nic Vasquez Jorgen Jensen Sarah Hooker