A huge lyrical theme of our new record, The World Awaits, is honesty. “This is who I am… better or worse.” We’re hoping that comes across in songs like “Nothing But the Real Thing,” “Okay,” and “Mature.” It’s a kind of vulnerability, founded on the notion that, when you show me the cracks in your armor, I will be inspired to show you mine. And in the telling, we end up closer to each other than before.

It’s something we try to do a lot when we’re onstage. And in the spirit of Ryanhood community, we want to throw it back to you.

Here’s the challenge:

Think of someone you might want to connect with. Could be a brother or sister, your BFF, a parent, a girlfriend or boyfriend, your pet turtle Raphael, if indeed it speaks. Ideally, choose someone with whom you can share music.

THEN… pick a song from The World Awaits that you connect with in a personal way. (Hopefully there is such a song on our CD!) and send your person an mp3 of that song… pass it to them… Tell them what it moves in you. (Hopefully not your lunch!)

What part of you responds to it? Something you hope for? Something you’re afraid of? Something you want to say to them? Or perhaps, there’s some part of you that comes out when you hear this song, that they may not have seen before. Share that.

We’re challenging you, our faithful friends, to use our songs as a new method of connecting with people that you love. So they can know you better. And maybe you will get to know them better too. Let’s see what happens!

We’d love to hear any comments from anyone who tries this. Tell us if it is fun, or dumb, or really cool.