R&B artist Kennedy Ryon joined Nyla Symone on the latest episode of We Need to Talk, where she spoke candidly about her personal history, her creative process, and the role music has played in her healing.
Ryon, who grew up primarily in Maryland as part of a military family, began her artistic journey through dance before transitioning to music in sixth grade. Self-taught in both piano and vocals, she credits YouTube as a major learning tool and cites artists like Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston as early influences. Prior to pursuing music full-time, Ryon worked in hospital care.
During the interview, she opened up about spending seven years in an abusive relationship, where she was not permitted to engage with music. A turning point came in February 2020, when she left the relationship and began channeling her experiences into songwriting and recording. Her music, she explained, became a form of therapy and a way to process long-held trauma.
Ryon discussed the meaning behind her songs “Ego” and “Baby Mama Drama,” both of which stem from real-life experiences during that time. “Ego” explores the dissonance between someone’s potential and reality, while “Baby Mama Drama” reflects on her own past decisions, rather than promoting any specific behavior.
Now touring with sold-out shows, Ryon described the experience of seeing fans connect with her work and respond in real time as both powerful and unexpected. She emphasized that while she is working on new material, her current focus remains on building a strong foundation before releasing a full-length project. She also mentioned plans to tour internationally by the end of 2025.
