The Need to be Heard

The Need To Be Heard is a book for and about DIY (“Do It Yourself”) musicians- those artists who do not have big support teams that consist of labels, managers, and lawyers. It is the story of a variety of artists, both known and unknown, all united by a burning desire to be heard. Through interviews with dozens of artists and people in the music industry, and through her own story, Ryan reveals that our experiences in this business are collective in our triumphs and struggles.

Audrey Ryan is a New Englander (originally from Maine, lives in Boston) who has performed all around the world, mostly as a “one man-band” multi instrumentalist, using electric guitar, accordion, ukulele, banjo, vibraphone, glockenspeil, drums, and a loop station. She decided to write about her experiences in the music business while she was touring Europe and the US. What seemed like journal entries soon turned into a book once broadened her interest and started interviewing other musicians and music industry professions about their thoughts and revelations about the "music biz." Audrey gives an honest account of the story and struggles of a DIY artist in "the Need to be Heard." It's a must read for both aspiring artists and ones in the thick of it. The Need To Be Heard is a book for and about DIY (“Do It Yourself”) musicians- those artists who do not have big support teams that consist of labels, managers, and lawyers. It is the story of a variety of artists, both known and unknown, all united by a burning desire to be heard. Through interviews with dozens of artists and people in the music industry, and through her own story, Ryan reveals that our experiences in this business are collective in our triumphs and struggles. The Need To Be Heard features exclusive interviews with: Ian MacKaye of Fugazi / Dischord Records Dana Colley of Morphine Stephen Brodsky of Cave In Nat Baldwin of Dirty Projectors Mark Richardson of Pitchfork Lowell Brams of Asthmatic Kitty Records Dave Godowsky of Rounder Records Bruce Flohr of ATO Records Jim Powers of Minty Fresh Records Derek Sivers of CD Baby Jeff Goodman of Sonicbids Tom Windish of The Windish Agency Stephen Judge of Redeye Distribution and many others…

Audrey Ryan is a New Englander (originally from Maine, lives in Boston) who has performed all around the world, mostly as a “one man-band” multi instrumentalist, using electric guitar, accordion, ukulele, banjo, vibraphone, glockenspeil, drums, and a loop station. She decided to write about her experiences in the music business while she was touring Europe and the US. What seemed like journal entries soon turned into a book once broadened her interest and started interviewing other musicians and music industry professions about their thoughts and revelations about the "music biz." Audrey gives an honest account of the story and struggles of a DIY artist in "the Need to be Heard." It's a must read for both aspiring artists and ones in the thick of it.