Songwriter Spotlight: Ryan Tedder — The Architect Behind Modern Pop

From global chart-toppers to genre-defying hits, Ryan Tedder has quietly shaped the sound of a generation, one song at a time.

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano

Photo credit Jeremy Cowart

Not only is Ryan Tedder the lead singer of one of the most internationally well-known bands out there, but he is a brilliant songwriter too. The massive hits he’s written range from Beyonce’s “Halo”, Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love," and Adele’s “Rumour Has It”. His band OneRepublic is widely known for songs such as “Apologize”, “Counting Stars," and “Secrets," all of which were written by Ryan Tedder himself. He is a magnet for success; the way he blends genres to create his songs gives rise to the most enticing music for all. Because Tedder pours years of knowledge into every track, he can easily create pure pop bliss or a hard-hitting rock track.

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Early Immersion: A Life Surrounded by Music

Ryan was raised in an environment where he was consistently surrounded by music because his father was a musician. Tedder learned to play piano at 3 years old and sing very early on, at around 7. He took the initiative and spent many hours singing at such a young age. He worked a regular job while focused on his path to the music industry. Quitting his job at Pottery Barn to participate in a music contest shows how focused he was on his goals. It seems to be a pattern amongst some of the most successful entertainers: they move forward with ambition. The contest he quit his job for led to many opportunities, including national exposure. While trying to develop himself as an artist, Ryan would produce and write demos for various other artists. The continuous outpouring of his talent led him to be one of the biggest songwriters in the world.

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Inside the Process: Writing From the Subconscious

What is his process for writing? Well, he is generally open about the way he has created songs in the past. For a lot of the tracks, Tedder has spoken about digging into his subconscious in order to decipher what works and what doesn’t for each song. His process seems to take into account who the song is for, the mood, the intent, the genre, and the wording. It may seem confusing to some, but the way he effortlessly speaks through the steps and teaches his process correlates with his vast history as a musician.

More Than a Songwriter: Producer, Performer, Visionary

Although Ryan Tedder has written many hits, his name can also be seen in the credits as a producer for a lot of them. He is a songwriter, producer, and vocalist of OneRepublic. There’s not much musically he can't do - he also plays at least 4 instruments! A well-rounded talent like his was bound to make his way to the mainstream world of music.

Ryan Tedder was named The Undercover King of Pop by Billboard in 2014. There’s not much else to be said; he undoubtedly has left his mark on the music industry and continues to do so to this day. Songwriters use words and melodies to communicate in a way no one else can. Through music, people are united, they fight, they cry, they celebrate, but more than anything, they feel universally. It is because of Ryan Tedder’s work as a songwriter that many artists’ careers were launched or reborn. Having started learning about music so young, he is a true example of when preparation meets opportunity.