On the edge of the stage, under the spotlight, and behind a microphone, singer and songwriter Ryland James thrives. In this space, the artist’s voice rings out with a bold balance of passion, panache, and power, coursing through a fusion of gospel roots, gritty soul, and anthemic pop straight from the heart.That voice already carried him a long way from his hometown of Deseronto, Ontario.Additionally, he joined a personal hero—Alessia Cara—on a spring tour throughout Canada. Returning from the road, he kicked off his biggest and boldest chapter with the 2019 single “In My Head.” Co-written amidst trips toStockholm and London (which yielded nearly 100 original compositions), the track highlights Ryland’s poetic songcraft and expansive vocal range. The vocals reverberate with a combination of urgent immediacy and palpable emotion. Ultimately, Ryland makes aconnection every time he picks up a microphone in the studio or on stage.