About Me.
Hi there, my name’s Ryan West. Here's a little bit about me so you can get to know me and my business a bit better.
I won't take you back to the complete start as it'll take far too long. If you don't want to read the whole thing, I can give you a quote that sums it up nicely.
“It won’t be like that for me,” Kaladin said. “You told me it would get worse.” “It will,” Wit said, “but then it will get better. Then it will get worse again. Then better. This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth. I promise you, Kaladin: You will be warm again.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Rhythm of War.
But if you'd like more details I'll start with graduating from Leeds College of Music with a BA (Hons) in Jazz Saxophone back in 2013.
After graduating and being thrust into the real world with no clue how to start a music career, I needed a job. So I started waitering for a few years while growing my student base and honing my craft as a saxophonist. It was during this time that I met my partner. My music career started to pick up when I began playing for a rock and roll band called Mojo Hand around Leicestershire. I went on to perform with the Magic of Motown show and a big band called Jazz Colossus along do other weddings and events. All was going well, and I eventually quit my job and went full-time as a self-employed musician.
Life decided at this point to check in. Whilst on stage in Leicester completely out of the blue I lost the muscle control in my mouth and could no longer play my sax and had to sit out for the whole gig. Double vision came next and after few drs appointments and an MRI I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I lost all my work and found myself waitering again not knowing if I'd ever be able to play again.
After a few months of recovery, I was back to full health. Like it never even happened. Probably just a virus or something. I'm fine. So I managed to build up my connections again and somehow ended up playing for Tom Grennan for a few years. It was a surreal experience—going from playing festivals in front of thousands of people on the weekends to wiping mashed potato off an old lady's shoe during the week (I didn’t have to, but she would have definitely slipped over).
As time went on, I joined a band that I am still part of today called The King Brassards. (If you've never heard of us, do check us out!) Things were looking up as I went full-time as a self-employed musician again. Finally able to start saving for a house with my partner, we decided to start a family. In 2019, I became a proud father to a beautiful little girl—to this this day and for the rest of my life, my proudest achievement.
Then, lockdown happened. This for me turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I got to be there for the first two years of my daughter’s life. I didn't miss a thing. Every word, every nappy change, her first crawl, her first steps. A few years of sunshine.
It was during this time that the idea for MemRe was born. I was looking for a unique birthday gift for my partner and decided to record a silly song, thinking it would make her laugh. My then 3-year-old daughter overheard, found it hilarious, and wanted to join in. When listening back and hearing her laughter in the recordings I decided to rewrite the song, turning it into something more sentimental. So I had her record a little message and put it all together. The gift was a success.
Lockdown lifted, and I came out swinging with lots of work. Things were looking good again for a while but the universe had more to teach me it appeared. Cue my second relapse. This time it came in the form of numbness down the right side of my body and loss of motor skills in my right arm. I was however still able to gig... kind of. Seeing that my left hand still worked, I just had to change how I played and skip a few notes. I had a family to try and support and we were about to buy our first home. Nows not the time for fun and games.
6 weeks later, it was like it never even happened. Fully recovered but of course a complete mental break down followed. 'What if it happens again?', 'What if I don't recover?', 'What if it's my whole body next time?'. 'Have I chosen the wrong career?'. I needed to come up with a way that I could support my family but still using all my skills I worked so hard to get.
Therefore, MemRe was born. I decided to start this business so I can use everything I've learned to create something meaningful and still be able to do it even if I do have another relapse. Through MemRe, I get to bring a little bit of joy into people’s lives by creating personalized audio messages, combining my music with other peoples heartfelt messages.
What's nice about it for me is that when making one for someone, I get to hear their message and knowing how it feels when I hear my daughters one, I know that whoever its for, is going to like it.
And now you know my story. At least, you know the major contributing factors into why I started this business. Starting this business has been both exciting and terrifying, but I finally feel that I'm in control of things and I am looking forward to growing this business!
