Ryan Cassata Will Forever Speak and Sing His Truth

With trans voices being silenced all over the world, Ryan Cassata is making sure his is even louder.

The 28-year-old, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, actor, activist, and motivational speaker has already left a footprint big enough to last a lifetime. Born in Long Island, New York, Cassata came out publicly at 13 and went on to share his story via high-profile TV appearances, including Larry King Live and The Tyra Banks Show. At a time when trans youth were almost never heard in the media, Cassata was opening doors and paving paths.

In addition to his activism, Cassata has received international recognition for his music. With more than 600 performances and seven original and critically acclaimed albums, he has proven to be a true force in the industry. What makes Cassata most appealing is the command of his artistry, which he uses to create social awareness.

Committed to educating the global community through music, film, print, TV, and in-person speeches, Cassata enjoys shedding his optimism, light, positivity, and experience of being a proud transgender man while highlighting the adversity he has faced throughout his journey. He will never stop sharing his inspiring message of hope and acceptance.

OFM caught up with the superstar to talk more about his art, activism, and current tour.

Hi, Ryan! You have been touring the country with your You Belong Tour. How has that been going, and what’s the story behind this production?

The tour has been amazing! This is my first tour since the pandemic, so it’s been really nice to be back on the road. I was inspired to go back on tour and combine the tour with my activism work and speaking engagements because there is so much anti-trans legislation around the country right now. All of that transphobic legislation inspired me to write the song “Hold On, You Belong (People Like Us),” which came out earlier this summer.

That song is my heart and soul and really what I’m feeling right now. As a trans person who came out really young, I understand what it’s like to be a trans youth and have all this legislation attacking you. So, I wanted to do whatever I could about it. That’s why I wrote the song; I made t-shirts, and I’ve been on tour. Like I said, it’s been amazing, and I’ve gotten to connect with people all over the county, especially a lot of trans and queer youth. These kids, the way they’re hugging me, you can tell they’re struggling.

What can one always expect from a Ryan Cassata performance?

I would say each performance is definitely different. Some of them, I’ll do a speech and a Q&A, but I always try to get one-on-one time with the audience. I like to interact and make connections. For me, it’s about building community, so if I don’t leave there doing that, I don’t feel like my goal was achieved. People can expect my authentic self and my original songs that are expressions of who I truly am.

Have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?

Yes, ever since I was a very little kid. I used to make my family sit down on the couch and I would perform for them. It was a regular thing. I was always doing it. Then by the time I was 6, I was like, “I need to play guitar,” and I was really adamant about it. I kept asking my parents, and they were eventually like, “OK, we’ll get you lessons.”

Ultimately, what do you hope audiences take away from your music?

I hope that audiences find something they relate to, find something that brings them hope, and find something that empowers them to be their authentic selves. These are universal topics. I write about being trans, but I also write songs that anyone can relate to, whether they’re trans and queer or not. I write a lot of love songs, heartbreak songs, and songs about growing up.

We all go through those things, and they’re all topics that anyone can relate to. So, I just hope that people see the humaneness and see that whatever you’re going through right now, you’re not alone in this struggle. Other people are going through it too. I went through it. None of us are alone in anything we go through.

Your latest album, Magic Miracle Mile, really struck a chord for people, and you even said this project has helped you heal. What made you decide to be this open and vulnerable with yourself?

I’ve always been doing that with my music, but this record was different because it was the first album that I self-produced. A lot of it was made in my home studio. I made all the beats and played at least 90% of the instrumentation. I had some of my friends on some of the tracks, but the majority of everything is me. There are full songs where every instrument is played. Drums, bass, guitar, keyboard—That’s all me.

While I was making this album, making these beats, and writing, there were songs where I was like, man, I’m never going to put this out because it’s just too personal. But when you spend dozens of hours working on one song, you’re like, “I’m not going to spend 30 hours on this and not put it out.” (Laughs.) So, again, these are real feelings. We all go through this stuff, and that’s OK. Putting it out there, it’s just another thing that people can relate to. You are not alone.

How cathartic did you find the experience of making music out of what happened in your life?

Making music about what’s going on in my life is pretty much all I do, and it’s very therapeutic for me. It’s healing for me, and it’s the best way I process things. Sometimes, I don’t even know things about myself until I hear my lyrics about it. That’s just how it’s always been for me. Songwriting for me, I don’t know if I’ll write a song tomorrow or next week. I don’t get to decide when I write a song for me. It just happens, and it’s magical when it does.

Do you have any upcoming music projects that you can talk about right now?

More music is definitely coming! I’ve been recording a lot with my band, so you can expect more of that, and then the tour, I just hope people come out to the shows. I believe there will be a date in Colorado in October, so stay tuned for that, but I am always creating music. It’s what I do, and I want to release as much of it as I possibly can.

Do you believe there’s still a lack of visibility for trans men in the music industry?

Absolutely. Being a trans guy, I sometimes still feel very invisible. A lot of the super, super famous trans guys in the industry, they got famous before they transitioned, and I think that says a lot about society and the industry. We need to do better, and we need to make space for trans people. Trans guys specifically because we are left out a lot.

As an activist who has been working toward inclusion and representation since you were 13, how will you continue to have your voice heard and bring attention to LGBTQ issues?

I am just willing to share my story whenever people need it. I will continue going across the country and doing these shows, doing these speeches, and going into dangerous areas and risking my life because this community, our freedom, and our equality matters more to me than my own safety, to be honest. I am seriously willing to die for this movement. I will go to any lengths to do what I can for my community.

I love that you make appearances and speeches at countless middle schools, high schools, and universities nationwide teaching students about the dangers of bullying. Was that a huge problem for you growing up?

Yes. Growing up, that was definitely one of the biggest things I struggled with, and it wasn’t just bullying from students and bullying online. It was from teachers at my school as well. A lot of them were bullying me, and I had to make a lot of changes in my school just to be able to exist and attend class.

You have also dabbled in acting. Is this an area you would like to explore more?

For sure! I love acting, and I especially love when it fuses together with my music. For the film Two Eyes, I got to play music live as my character, so it was really cool for me to have both of those things combined. I love theater for that reason as well, so yeah, I would love to do more acting in the future.

What are some other future goals you hope to accomplish with your career and platform?

I just want to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully have it grow as much as it possibly can. I want to help more people. It’s about the impact, building community, and coming together. That’s what it’s all about for me.

Stay up-to-date and connect with Cassata by following him on Twitter @rocassatamusic, Instagram YouTube, and TikTok @ryancassata, or visit his official website, ryancassata.com.

Photos courtesy of Asher Phoenix and Maxine Bowen