Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan “Big T” Tamez.
Ryan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been involved in music as far back as I can remember. From elementary school choir through the honors band in middle school and high school (trombone), the consistency of music and live performance in my life had become an inseparable part of me. There was one summer, in particular, that was pivotal in my musical journey, and it changed everything from the way I expressed myself musically to how communicated with the world around me. It was the summer before my freshman year at Garland High School. More importantly, in the summer, I decided that I was going to buy an electric guitar.
My mom and dad always had an incredibly strong work ethic and made an effort to instill that in both myself and my younger brother. So when I asked my dad if I could get an electric guitar, he replied, “Do you have money for that?”. He then went on to tell me if I want anything in this world, I have to earn it. Of course, I had heard this my whole life from my parents, so it went in one ear and out the other. This time, however, he said if I am willing to mow yards and save up, he’ll help me get my first client. It was a family friend named Woodrow Kitchens, and he is a character. Now that there was a source of “income”, my dad took me to Larry Morgan’s music and I tried nearly every type of guitar you could imagine but none seemed right. Then, the guy at the shop told me to hold on and he would grab something from the back. He returned with a guitar in his hands that would change my life; it was a Gibson SG Special in faded cherry finish. That guitar, along with a Fender Blues Junior and a few minor accessories, was put on layaway. For the term of that summer, I would go every week or two and pay down the cost, but summer’s end was fast approaching and I still had a significant remaining balance. By the time my birthday rolled around, there wasn’t a ton left to pay but quite a bit more than just a few payments. My parents surprised me with it on my birthday that year for all the hard work I put in.
That guitar became the only thing necessary to me outside of football and school. A new chapter had begun in my life, and I didn’t know where it would take me. For the remainder of high school, I was addicted to learning how to play that electric twanger. Mainly through wearing out my CD’s on repeat and learning my favorite riffs note by note while applying what I knew from playing trombone in honors band, I gradually improved. This eventually led to jamming with friends and filling in with bands or at churches who needed a guitar player. I graduated with honors and made my first attempt at college, pursuing mathematics. After a few short semesters, I realized I was just wasting my hard-earned money because my heart wasn’t in it. So, I left school working at a few different places, all the while still filling in for bands and at churches. and even started a Band of my own Sons Of David.
We began recording an album in a studio owned by Chuck Frizzell (a very good friend’s Dad, Amazing guitar player and one of my Musical Mentors). I had spent many late nights watching him in the studio with Josh (my Friend) and other bands during recording sessions throughout high school. Chuck has a knack for explaining things clearly and breaking down the process as he made each move or adjustment. Fast forward to SOD in the studio, I was completely enamored by the whole process and the fact that this was my band’s original music getting tracked.
Sadly, the band split shortly and I just worked different jobs for a few years. I got sick of punching in and out on a clock so I decided to go back to school for music. Mainly for recording/audio engineering, but I had to have an instrument to be my main focus while I was there. The guitar was it. And, after what seemed like forever, I had a music degree with a bunch of audio classes under my belt. Now, what was I going to do with it? I decided to start my recording studio from home. I began acquiring all the little pieces to have a basic setup for getting started. After recording some personal projects and some for friends, I developed an efficient workflow that seemed it could be profitable. I started cultivating my studio’s brand and worked on a logo, and eventually settled on my Football number 64. Then I decided to look for work from anyone willing to throw me some cash because I promised myself I wouldn’t punch a clock again. Little did I know that I would be making way more sacrifices and spending more time and money working for myself.
Six-4 Studios opened up quite a few opportunities for me down the road, though. I began posting on my social media accounts everything I was doing and adding a few live streams here and there of myself improvising solos over backing tracks I found on YouTube. I posted photos and videos of behind the scenes stuff that most folks never get to see. For instance, miking up a drum kit, which artist I was working with that day, or little videos of what I was mixing at the time. My content was being shared around and I was eventually asked to be the lead guitarist for Muddy Groove Band shortly after and played many shows throughout DFW for about a year and a half. Toward the end of 2019, I was facing some tough decisions, not just financially but in my personal life as well. Ultimately I decided to Get back to what I love, which was recording, mixing, and playing live shows with original music. So, I left the MG Band and got to work. I contacted the vocalist for my band Sons Of David from way back. So we talked for a while and decided it was the right move to bring back the band and record everything in house at Six-4 Studios.
I am still wide open for recording and working with certain Artists/Clients nowadays, but I am more dedicated to working with the right people at the right price than just taking every job that comes my way. This has allowed me to continue building SOD side by side. The Band members are Jonathan Smith on vocals, myself on guitar, Tyler Davis on guitar, Raheem Smith on drums, and we haven’t settled on a bassist yet. We are still open at this point to find the right person. I grew up listening to hip hop and R&B. I didn’t get into Blues, Rock, Jazz, Country, or Metal until I started playing guitar. SOD is a Hip hop/ Rock band and we draw our inspiration from many styles and genres. The main reason for bringing the band back, even though I am already running a studio, is to do something different and somewhat necessary in Dallas. We want to make music that sounds dope and brings people together regardless of what their main taste in music is. We have tunes for everyone and each song has a message for the audience. Strength, Faith, Dedication and Determination are what we strive to inspire in the people of Dallas. We have alot planned for the band and studio like music videos, lyric videos, and adding more gear to the studio’s toolbox. I cannot wait to release the album and get back to gigging throughout DFW.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life always brings it’s challenges, and I don’t believe anyone’s path could be described a smooth. Some folks have different starting places than others, but it’s not where you start that matters. It’s about how far you have come and those you helped along the way. My parents sacrificed a ton for my younger brother and I growing up. The attitude and drive they imparted on us is a no-quit no excuses mentality. Their example helped me get through a lot over the years. Whether it be fighting through the Texas summer heat mowing yards for cash, getting over a failed engagement to someone I loved, or not giving up on a dream of a music career when things fell apart early on, God blessed me by shining a light through them. There were times when I asked myself, is it even worth all the time and effort just to barely make a few dollars here and there? Am I wasting my time or should I get back to punching a clock at a 9 to 5 somewhere? But I believe Wholeheartedly God has a purpose for everyone, and to pursue that through the avenue of music is not easy. I could go on about being broke for the long periods or things not working out the way I expected, but I don’t make any excuses. I will, however, credit my family for their example and my faith for keeping me going all this time.
Please tell us about your work.
Six-4 Studios is mainly focused on the recording and mixing side of things. I am the recording and mixing engineer, as well as the owner. Hip hop and Rock being my favorite two umbrellas to work under allows me a variety of ways to record and mix without getting bored or overwhelmed. One of the things I am truly most proud of is the fact that nearly every client/artist I have worked with tells me they were happily surprised with the result.
They are surprised by the sound and quality that are achieved with the overall gear and simplistic setup I use. I don’t like to complicate my process, nor over-saturate the amount of gear I apply for a session. I can track a full drum kit, isolated vocals, mic up the guitar and bass cabs as well as record direct. I just don’t do it in the same way some folks would expect in a larger, more commercial studio. When I am finished with the mixes and send them to the client, they are more than happy. If they aren’t or wanted something different, I am always willing to make some adjustments. Knowing I did a good job and finally getting a little recognition for all the work put into it is a great feeling. I am also getting paid in full and that ain’t half bad either.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
That’s a thinker. I probably would stay the course with Sons of David way back and kept pushing the band. I wouldn’t have wasted my first few semesters or the money by going to college straight out of high school. After really getting the band out there, I would use the money I had saved to start the studio and build the brand on top of the foundation I laid with the band so that I wouldn’t have had to start from scratch. I don’t regret anything, though because that is what brought me here today.
Contact Info:
- Email: rtamez64@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/tamezryan
- Facebook: facebook.com/Six4Studios
- Other: instagram.com/sodmusicofficial
Image Credit:
Thomas from TIVR (photo of myself with the logo)
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