Anyone with even a passing interest in the progressive house genre will either know of Ricky Ryan, or should make a point of getting on board pronto. Ricky’s profile has grown substantially over the past two years, gaining attention being mentored by the likes of Sasha and John Digweed. Last year his Proton Radio show broke the record for the number of listeners online at once for the station, and his promotional mixes are munched down at express speed on download sites. He has also been played a pivotal leadership role in the rise of South American talent via Feedback Bookings, and now his awesome label, Sick Watona.

Ricky’s sound is distinguished by a broad variety of music styles, from beautiful warm house, to big pumping dance floor anthems. His rocks band background influences also carry through, such as when he included the track ‘To the Music’ by French alternative act Colder in one of his ’06 Proton sets. Aside from the music, Ricky’s genuinely likable and approachable personality is a breath of fresh air. His passion and enthusiasm has helped him forge some terrific friendships, and this network is a key reason why he can tap into an abundance of exclusive goodies. Under his Can Costa moniker, Ricky is also a prolific producer and remixer is his own right. The stage is set, and Ricky is quickly becoming one of the World’s leading underground music acts. I caught his gig in Melbourne last week and can vouch for his quality. Following is a small insight into his current Aussie tour, new labels, and plans for the future.

What has your Australian tour been like so far? Is it what you expected?

I am loving it way too much. The gigs have been really amazing so far in Melbourne and Brisbane. I’m finding Australians to be very nice and passionate people, and really committed to underground music. When I travel to places where I never been before I am always excited. Plus I already had great thoughts and respect for the Australian scene for several reasons. There are wicked DJs and producers here, like Jaytech and Matt Rowan, cultural and massive sites like inthemix and Resident Advisor, upfront top class labels and mix compilations like EQ Grey/ Balance.

How would you describe the style you’re playing? Are you varying from city to city?

Well I always try hard to work out every crowd. I need feedback from them to feel joy while playing. It is my challenge to get as many people as possible in a venue, to appreciate what I’ve got in my CD wallet. I love every single tune I carry, so what I’ve gotta do is improvise and try to figure out which sound will fit better in that room. Usually, when I visit new places for first time is when I need to play very effectively, like the biggest tracjs I got. Yet all are underground music and so I don’t consider any of these bigger tracks obvious. I like to always share fresh sounds. If I am expecting to surprise and entertain the audience, then at the same time I must first be able to entertain myself while blending and building a flow according to the city or club where I’m playing – with tracks most probably edited minutes before at hotel room hehe. This is exactly why I always improvise and enjoy that challenge.

What exclusive new tracks have you got with you? I see you’ve done a Planet Funk remix and I’m sure there was another mash-up or two in your Melbourne gig?

Yeah, I’ve got this new mash-up I’ve done to a wicked unreleased EP, that hopefully I will sign on my new record label called Avangardia Recordings. This is my favorite track nowadays. This new label was born as a consequence from all the music I compiled for my next Proton Music mix compilation called Feedback02 – the title of my Feedback radio show at Proton Radio and from our Feedback Bookings agency. This release will feature 21 exclusive tracks to be released on Avangardia and Proton. And live I’ll be playing tons of unreleased tracks to be released in the near and further future, either in Avangardia or Sick Watona, the label I am running along with Gamma Rox.

Are you taking any time out for a holiday and to see some of Australia?

Well usually when I am touring it is very hard to take some holidays while hotels are kindly supplying us with internet service. This way, when I’m traveling, I always do a similar work to the duties I do when I’m at home. Downloading promos in my mailbox, file transferring, chatting online, and also working on new music, promo mixes or edits with my laptop. This time I did walk around and must mention that what I’ve seen of Australia so far is beautiful… loved the weather and landscapes, and the people!

Your label, Sick Watona, how is that going? Every DJ and producer seems to set up their own label these days. Why did you feel it was important to do your own?

Sick Watona has earned in few months a lot of worldwide recognition… thank god! Our first three releases have already received support from Sasha, Digweed, Cattaneo, Seaman, Sander K, Roger Sanchez, Eric Morillo, Desyn Masiello. We’ve got tracks from the label licensed to Global Underground, Armada, Luke Fair’s Balance, Steve Porter’s Porterhouse. We’ve also licensed our future “anthem” release called ‘Holyland’, from rising Israeli star producer Ossie, on Sander Kleinenberg’s next mix compilation. It has been my dream for ages to run a label. It is great to build a project where the most important and pleasant thing you’re doing is promoting worldwide the music you love and are dying to play. It’s very inspiring and exciting. It also gives you the chance to access amazing exclusive tracks, which makes me feel super fortunate and grateful for carrying such hidden treasure trunk, at least in my opinion. Hooj Choons was the legendary label that always inspired me to dream about running own, and I think it was Red Jerry who was the main man behind this legend. And what an outstanding producer he is too!

Big picture question, where would you like to take your career from here?

Well, I promote myself now. When I first started I remember having really bad experiences with agents. This is when I realised that I had to sort my own destiny if I wanted to do this for a living and make things happen. Since then, I’ve always spent lots of time in promoting and supporting the DJ’ whom I love and admire worldwide. This has involved organising tons of parties in Buenos Aires where I live, and then also promoting these to the world through our Feedback Bookings and Club On South America agencies. Many times I have felt like quitting promotion because it can be really stressful to juggle so many things at the same time, while I could be spending every second on my own career like almost every artist does or should do. But I just can’t. I always feel like building the scene everywhere I can, spreading the word and making sure that what I consider talent and great people, are playing in every club I’ve already played at. It takes time to sort such things but now I am delegating this work to a crew of people whom I can trust, and these are our agencies. Nowadays, I am finding much more time to focus in making my own music and remixes together with my talented studio partner and DJ Max Cagliero. I’m also working on promo mixes every month where I am blending all my fave tracks and put them together so I can share these with the world online. I’ve always been a big fan of working very hard on my own mix compilations, inspired by old fave, the Global Underground series, and now the fresh new Balance series. And of course, I keep seeking for new sounds to sign in own record labels, and play these out while touring around the world, hopefully checking out lots of new destinations.

If you had to pinpoint a particular artist or album that’s inspired you most and influenced you taking up this career, who would it be? Tough question, I know.

This is an easy one to answer. Sasha’s ‘GU San Francisco’ was the artist and album that made me feel something I’ve never felt before while listening to electronic music, and this was even before I was a DJ. And this “something” was way too brilliant, amazing and special in that time where electronic music was my very favorite genre. And if this mix compilation was the intro for a new chapter, then Sasha’s ‘GU Ibiza’ has been the holy bible for me. This was the ABC to my mixing lessons book. Plenty enough inspiration for taking it as main reference. Sasha & Diggers, have been my mentors. Almost everybody’s mentors if they’ve ever digged soulful progressive house. Then I could mention many more wicked compilations from lots of artists back in those days that I really enjoyed. From recent times, my fave compilations are Danny Howells’ ‘GU Miami’, and Desyn Masiello and Luke Fair’s Balance releases.

What’s your mate Lucas Abadi up to? His profile seems to be growing very quickly.

Lucas will always be one of my favorite DJs… his talent, skills and original sound makes him a very special artist for who great success I can easily predict. You watch, his profile won’t stop growing, wanna bet?!

Silly question… Diego Maradona is very popular at home, but do people think he’s also a little bit silly? I mean, I saw his TV show a while back and it looked crazy!

Haha, Diego Maradona silly? He is as smart as Leonardo Da Vinci, but he is too lazy to write a book and wont share his secret formulas with us. We all love him because he is one of the most humble and sincere men on earth… whatever he feels, he will speak out loud but will always try hard not to harm anybody. I could answer to your question in a different way… who is wearing a pumpkin and has spread milk all over his face? Maradona or Michael Jackson? Obviously one of them has dealt much better with the celebrity issue. Besides that both are magically talented in their own ways!

Ricky Ryan winds up his Australia tour this weekend in Sydney, playing the Habit Autumn Ball at Candy’s Apartment. If you’d like to get a taste of Ricky’s style, check out the mix currently streaming in ITM-FM HERE.