Biography
As John the Blind, the singer, songwriter, and producer John Ryan crafts soulful electronic pop that merges understated atmospheres with invigorating rhythms. Long before issuing his debut EP, John the Blind, in 2019, he had already built a reputation writing and producing for acts including One Direction, Jason Derulo, and Rita Ora, with credits spanning the final four One Direction albums.
John Henry Ryan II was born in Pittsford, New York, outside Rochester, and completed his studies at McQuaid Jesuit High School in 2006, after which he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Several demos he created while there reached Family Affair Productions, a Los Angeles-based songwriting and production firm whose roster included Berklee alumni. Upon finishing his degree in 2010, Ryan signed on with the company and soon co-wrote One Direction tracks such as “Best Song Ever” and “Story of My Life,” which secured him a publishing agreement with Big Deal Music/BMG Chrysalis US in 2013.
Alongside his growing catalog of hits, Ryan supplied lead vocals on Pitbull’s 2014 single “Fireball,” a track he also helped write and produce. In the ensuing years he contributed songs to Maroon 5 (“Don’t Wanna Know” featuring Kendrick Lamar), John Legend (“Love Me Now”), Walk the Moon, and Nick Jonas, while continuing to supply material to One Direction. Following the group’s 2016 hiatus, he worked on solo projects by Niall Horan and Harry Styles. His 2018 writing and production work encompassed Rita Ora’s Phoenix, Clean Bandit’s What Is Love?, Jess Glynne’s Always in Between, and additional releases.
Early in 2019 Ryan launched his performing career as John the Blind with the self-written and self-produced single “Two Months.” That May he issued his first EP, John the Blind, through Atlantic Records. During the same period three songs he co-wrote for country-pop artist Maren Morris appeared on her 2019 album Girl. A follow-up solo EP, John the Blind II, arrived in July 2020 and featured the track “TDD.”
John Henry Ryan II was born in Pittsford, New York, outside Rochester, and completed his studies at McQuaid Jesuit High School in 2006, after which he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Several demos he created while there reached Family Affair Productions, a Los Angeles-based songwriting and production firm whose roster included Berklee alumni. Upon finishing his degree in 2010, Ryan signed on with the company and soon co-wrote One Direction tracks such as “Best Song Ever” and “Story of My Life,” which secured him a publishing agreement with Big Deal Music/BMG Chrysalis US in 2013.
Alongside his growing catalog of hits, Ryan supplied lead vocals on Pitbull’s 2014 single “Fireball,” a track he also helped write and produce. In the ensuing years he contributed songs to Maroon 5 (“Don’t Wanna Know” featuring Kendrick Lamar), John Legend (“Love Me Now”), Walk the Moon, and Nick Jonas, while continuing to supply material to One Direction. Following the group’s 2016 hiatus, he worked on solo projects by Niall Horan and Harry Styles. His 2018 writing and production work encompassed Rita Ora’s Phoenix, Clean Bandit’s What Is Love?, Jess Glynne’s Always in Between, and additional releases.
Early in 2019 Ryan launched his performing career as John the Blind with the self-written and self-produced single “Two Months.” That May he issued his first EP, John the Blind, through Atlantic Records. During the same period three songs he co-wrote for country-pop artist Maren Morris appeared on her 2019 album Girl. A follow-up solo EP, John the Blind II, arrived in July 2020 and featured the track “TDD.”
Albums
Singles
