One thing I’ve noticed about lifers — artists who stay in the game past the shiny early years — is that they tend to carry this quiet steadiness. Northeat based singer-songwriter and band leader Ryan Montbleau is one of those people. He’s been making music professionally for over two decades, without a label, without a gimmick, and without (as he puts it) a real “backup plan.” Just the work, the gig, the voice.

We taped this conversation in the back studio at Ranch Vovo, and to be honest it felt less like an interview and more like a hang between two people who’ve made a lot of questionable decisions in service of something that still feels worth it. We talked about what it means to be an artist when your twenties are far behind you, when you’re still chasing something real but with less ego and more gratitude. Ryan talked about teaching at his old high school by day and playing bar gigs at night — how even though the money was trash and the schedule was brutal, something was happening. He was getting better.

Spotify and streaming has been overwhelmingly positive for me and my career and my life — game-changing level of like I don’t have to tour my face off forever. Part of it is I own my records. Part of it is I’ve built up a grassroots following of listeners over 25 years of doing it. And also, yeah, some luck — I got on some playlists. But Spotify was pretty good at giving people what they want to hear.— Ryan Montbleau

There’s a line in the episode where he says, “The gig is the goal.” That stuck with me. Not the press, not the playlist, not the viral moment. The gig. The thing itself. That’s the part I always come back to — the reason we make this podcast, and the reason I think you listen: to stay connected to the part of you that creates, that supports, that believes in art as an ordinary act of faith.

Stick around till the end of the episode, because Ryan plays a gorgeous acoustic version of his song “Bright Side.” It’s tender and grounded and exactly the kind of reminder I needed this week. You can also watch the performance as a standalone video if you want to share it with someone who needs it.

P.S. we’re finally making MORSE CODE — the short film that started all of this — available to the public! Join us for the official premiere this Sunday at 4pm central. Click the embed below 👇 and watch the 1 minute trailer. and while you’re there click the the bell and you’ll get a reminder when it drops. I’ll be in the chat. You can of course, watch it whenever you want after Sunday, I just won’t be there.

Still so proud of this film we all made and — now that I’m a dad in real life — the story feels more relevant than ever. See you Sunday.

~ Korby

Get full access to The Morse Code with Korby Lenker at korby.substack.com/subscribe