By Bob Makin
originally published: 08/09/2024
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “The Devil Loved Again” from Ryan Gregg’s new six-song EP, “Hustling in Place.” ARTWORK BY KYLE KILLEEN / PHOTO BY CHRIS SPIEGEL
Some of the greatest magic humans are capable of is the ability to turn anger into empathy, singer-songwriter-keyboardist Ryan Gregg said.
That is the central message of “The Devil Loved Again,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week and one of several singles from Ryan’s new six-song solo EP, “Hustling in Place.”
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “The Devil Loved Again” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Aug. 9, on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
“‘The Devil Loved Again’ isn’t a love song, but it is about someone I love very much,” Ryan said. “She had a sweetness forged in fire, tender eyes that seen the pain. Looked the Devil in the eyes, knew all he needed was a cry. So she hugged that Devil so hard that the tears came down like rain. Her experiences allowed her to even connect with ‘the devil,’ who most people would immediately dismiss or be fearful of. Instead, she walks toward that fear, because she sees that behind the rage and anger, there is pain in those eyes. She hugs him, and the devil starts to cry.
“Some people are born sweet, and some people earn it,” he continued. “When you’ve been through it, it’s easier to connect with people who’ve also been through it too. That empathy is one of the things I love most about my person … She was able to turn around her negative experiences and not only find peace herself but help others find that peace, including myself.
My anger, toward myself and toward others, was tempered by this mentality. The ‘antagonists’ in my life were no longer a personal enemy, just some people who were going through it who made some bad decisions, and I was a casualty of that, no different than a storm that came and went.”
Winner of the 2023 Makin Waves Best Keyboardist Award, Ryan co-produced “Hustling in Place” with fellow Asbury Park singer-songwriter Arlan Feiles. Steve Jankowski mixed and mastered at Jankland Recording studio in Belmar.
Five of the six tracks feature videos that were shot, mixed and mastered by Derril Sellers at Cako Studios in Eastern PA.
In addition to solo gigs, Ryan plays in a variety of bands and duos, including his own Shady Street Show Band. Find out more about him at www.ryangreggmusic.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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Albert Music Hall's "Back to Our Roots" Benefit on Sunday to Support Preservation of Pinelands Music History
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Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Heather Maloney & Hayley Reardon on Sunday
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Middletown Arts Center presents Reina Williams + The Remedy
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