Ron Artis II - A Musical Portrait
May 5, 2021
One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to meet interesting people and having a glimpse into their world. One such person is my friend and musician extraordinaire with a boat load (yes, that's a lot!) of talent, Ron Artis II. Ron exudes pure stoke - whether in his calm and cool vibe, though his music or his overall energy sent out to the world. We were able to catch up recently here in Portland to spend an afternoon shooting photos and talking shop. You can hear and see more of his work as well as commission him via his Instagram and web site https://www.ronartisii.com.
Ty: How do you describe your sound?
Ron: Soul music with an emphasis on living with Faith.
Ty: What has this past year represented for you creatively?
Ron: Last year really put a spotlight on where I get my inspiration. People. Without being around many people or having conversations in person I found it harder to express new songs. There were moments last year where the music was flowing, but I could really feel a difference.
Ty: Hendrix or Van Halen?
Ron: Hendrix.
Ty: Is there something, an emotion or feeling, that is better conveyed through sound than the other four senses?
Ron: This is a hard one. I think that I express most of my life through sound. I feel like it's the fastest way to transfer emotion. In one breathe you can tell me how you're feeling. With one note you can tell me a story. Touch is amazing too, but you can't always reach someone. But sound, sound can cover the distance.
Ty: Where are you headed next and what are you excited about?
Ron: Recording our next album. We've finally set a date and we're doing it! I'm both excited and terrified!