RYAN INNES

Ryan Innes: A Voice Born of Soul, Shaped by Experience

Listening to the soulful voice of Ryan Innes, it's easy to assume the bearded crooner was destined from the start to be an artist and performer. But the former fan-favorite contestant on NBC’s The Voice almost never pursued music at all.

Raised in the small town of Thatcher, Arizona, Ryan grew up in a traditional musical environment—classically trained on piano, a member of the Phoenix Boys Choir, and active in local church music groups. While these experiences shaped his foundation, it wasn’t until he discovered R&B that music truly came alive for him.

“The first thing that really caught my attention was a Boyz II Men album my friend gave me,” Ryan recalls. “It was like nothing I’d experienced before—people really expressing their emotions through their voices. It opened my eyes to music’s power to truly speak to the listener.”

Despite this emotional connection, music remained a hobby—until life had other plans. In 2003, at 23, fresh off a pre-med degree and recovering from a broken engagement, Ryan found himself at a crossroads. Music, once just a background passion, became his emotional outlet and a guiding force in redefining his future.

Determined to pursue music professionally, Ryan applied to the Media Music program at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah—a city known for spawning breakout talent like Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, and Lindsey Stirling. While at BYU, he found his voice—literally and figuratively—singing as a featured soloist with the university’s celebrated a cappella group Vocal Point.

Influenced by vocal-driven artists like Ray Charles, Amos Lee, and Ray LaMontagne, Ryan began writing original songs rooted in authenticity and emotional depth. That raw honesty became the hallmark of his sound.

In 2010, he released his self-titled debut EP with R Legacy Entertainment, featuring powerful covers of Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind” and Amos Lee’s “Colors.” While recording in Nashville, he sharpened his songwriting skills before returning to Utah to build a following through intimate solo performances and a residency at The Montage in Park City. That gig allowed him to quit his day job and deepen his artistry, learning from the timeless power of well-crafted songs.

In 2013, Ryan’s national breakthrough came with his appearance on The Voice, where his soulful rendition of John Mayer’s “Gravity” earned a rare four-chair turn. Choosing Usher as his coach, and working with mentors like Pharrell Williams, he delivered a memorable performance of “Ain’t No Sunshine” during the battle rounds, solidifying his status as a crowd favorite.

Following The Voice, Ryan returned to songwriting with renewed purpose, collaborating with top-tier talent including Michael Pollack (Maroon 5, LAUV, Jonas Brothers), Timothy Bloom (Ne-Yo, Chris Brown), McKay Stevens, and Nate Pyfer (co-writer of Kaskade’s Grammy-nominated “Atmosphere”).

In April 2018, Ryan released his debut full-length album, The Inbetween—a deeply personal record exploring the emotional highs and lows of life. While the production evolved, his core message remained unchanged: the song is king. Every lyric, every note, must serve the heart of the message.

In 2020, Ryan returned to national television on NBC’s Songland, pitching his original track “Long Way Home”—co-written with Dustin Christensen—to country superstars Lady A. Though the band didn’t record it, the song was later picked up by The Voice Season 18 winner, Todd Tilghman, reaching #1 on iTunes and marking another milestone in Ryan’s journey.

Over the years, Ryan has developed a distinct artistic voice—one that can be heartbreakingly intimate in one moment and soaringly epic the next. His music has been featured on shows like Netflix’s The Punisher, Dude Perfect, and across nearly every major TV network. Most recently, his song “My City” was featured during Super Bowl LIX and the 2025 NFL Draft, a powerful testament to his growing impact in the world of music licensing and sync.

Now a respected voice in both performance and songwriting, Ryan continues to record and release music for himself and for film, television, and advertising. You can find his tracks on top Spotify Editorial Playlists like All Funked Up, Retro Pop, Nu-Blue, Blues Roots, and Slow Down.

Whether he’s performing on global stages or writing quietly behind the scenes, Ryan Innes remains dedicated to one goal: creating music that speaks—to the heart, to the soul, and to the listener’s own lived experience.