In an era prioritizing algorithms and social media, incorporating AI, artists who are authentic and more human in their approach are becoming more important to recognize. Such an artist is Minute After Midnight, a band from the tradition-rich state of Tennessee.
Since their debut almost a decade ago, the word that best describes Minute After Midnight is intention. From songwriting to visual identities, it is deliberate and thoughtful, meaningful and rich, which is appropriate for subject matter that examines and expresses the human condition without glamorization.
Minute After Midnight encapsulates that idea in their new single ‘Unleash The Beast,’ which, according to Derrick Ryan, “represents a shedding of limitation” and is an acknowledgment of “the parts of ourselves we fear and the ones we eventually become.”
We got the opportunity to chat with Minute After Midnight’s frontman and creator, Derrick Ryan, about his introduction to music, ‘Unleash The Beast’ and Fearless Records, and what is coming up!
About Minute After Midnight
Can you describe your musical journey for us? How did you get involved with it? How did you know you wanted to do this for a living?
Music wasn’t really something that ran in my family. There weren’t a lot of musicians around me growing up, so finding it felt like discovering my own path. Everything started when I got my first guitar at 14 years old.
Around that same time, I was heavily involved in skateboarding, and the local skate scene introduced me to an entirely different world. Through skating, I started meeting people who were into heavier music, and before long, I was going to local hardcore shows around Knoxville. There was a sense of community, passion, and authenticity that immediately pulled me in.
The moment that really changed everything came when I saw As I Lay Dying at The Valarium in Knoxville. I still remember standing there and being completely blown away. The energy in the room, the connection between the band and the crowd, the feeling that everyone was experiencing something bigger than themselves, it hit me all at once. I walked out of that show knowing, without a doubt, that this was what I wanted to do with my life.
From that point on, music became an obsession. I spent every spare second I could writing songs, practicing guitar, starting bands, playing shows, and trying to get better. There were plenty of setbacks along the way, moments where things didn’t work out the way I hoped, but I never really had a backup plan because this was always the dream.
Now, almost two decades later, it’s surreal to look back on that kid carrying a guitar around after skate sessions and realize he’s still chasing the same thing. The difference is that now I’ve had the opportunity to build something real with Minute After Midnight and share these songs with people all over the world. It’s taken years of persistence, belief, and sacrifice, but I think that’s what makes the journey so meaningful. Every milestone means a little more when you’ve spent nearly twenty years fighting for it.
What is the meaning behind Minute After Midnight? Has that changed since your debut in 2016?
Minute After Midnight has always represented a moment of transition. Midnight is often seen as the end of one day and the beginning of another, and the minute after midnight is that exact point where everything changes. It’s the space between what was and what could be.
When I started the project back in 2016, the name reflected a lot of what I was going through personally. Like a lot of people in their early twenties, I was trying to figure out who I was, where I belonged, and what kind of life I wanted to build. The name carried a sense of uncertainty, hope, and possibility. It felt like standing on the edge of something unknown.
Over the years, the meaning has definitely evolved. The core idea is still the same—a new beginning—but now I see it through a much broader lens. Life is constantly asking us to reinvent ourselves. We all go through moments where something ends: a relationship, a chapter, a belief, a version of ourselves. The minute after midnight is what comes next. It’s the decision to keep moving forward despite not knowing exactly where the road leads.
That theme has become deeply woven into the world of Minute After Midnight. A lot of our imagery revolves around clocks, the moon, the night, dreams, and the space between worlds. The night can be a place of fear, uncertainty, and isolation, but it can also be a place of transformation. Some of the biggest revelations in life happen in the dark before the sun comes up.
Looking back, I think the name has grown alongside me. What started as a symbol of personal change has become a reminder that no matter how dark things get, there’s always another chapter waiting on the other side of midnight. That’s really the heart of what Minute After Midnight represents.
You mentioned that ‘All Over Again’ represented Minute After Midnight’s sound. What is that sound, in your words?
I’ve always had a hard time putting Minute After Midnight into a single box because the project has evolved so much over the years. At its core, though, it’s emotional rock music with a cinematic edge. I’ve always been drawn to music that feels larger than life — something that can be both intimate and massive at the same time.
When I think about the Minute After Midnight sound, I think about contrast. Heavy and melodic. Dark and hopeful. Aggressive and vulnerable. I grew up on everything from post-hardcore and metalcore to alternative rock and pop, so those influences naturally find their way into the music. You’ll hear huge guitars, atmospheric production, catchy melodies, and lyrics that are rooted in real experiences and emotions.
‘All Over Again’ felt like a defining song because it captured that balance. It was also the track that brought back Minute After Midnight after I had kinda given up. I’d say now ‘GHOST’ is more of our sound but back then ‘All Over Again’ had the emotional honesty that has always been at the center of Minute After Midnight, but it also had the energy, hook, and scale that I wanted the project to be known for. It felt familiar while still pointing toward where we were headed.
The best way I can describe the sound is emotional, cinematic, and unapologetically big. Music for late-night drives, life-changing moments, and everything that happens in between.
If you had to summarize Minute After Midnight’s discography with three songs, which ones would you choose?
‘GHOST,’ ‘ONE NIGHT,’ ‘Unleash The Beast’
You are from the birthplace of country music. Would you say that influenced your approach to music and growth as an artist?
Looking back, I think being from Bristol gave me the best of both worlds. I grew up surrounded by a culture that values authentic songwriting, but I also had to carve out my own lane creatively. That combination helped shape the artist I am today.
I recorded my first EP and started my first band here. I’ll never forget getting the first group of guys together and just trying to find a place we could go practice. Once we completely tried to clean out an asbestos-filled basement with the world’s largest spiders just to rehearse. Even in a small country town I was still able to find my people.
Whether it’s a country song or a rock song, great music is great music. At the end of the day, people connect with honesty, and that’s something I definitely learned growing up where I did.
‘Unleash The Beast’ And Beyond
Congratulations on signing with Fearless Records last year! How has that experience been? Can we expect any collaborations with your labelmates?
Signing with Fearless Records has truly been one of the biggest achievements of my life. Music has been my dream since I was a kid, and to see something I’ve worked toward for nearly two decades finally become a reality is incredibly rewarding.
The journey to get here wasn’t always easy. Pursuing a career in music requires a tremendous amount of faith, especially during the years when there are no guarantees and you’re simply betting on yourself and your vision. There were plenty of moments of uncertainty along the way, which makes reaching this milestone that much more meaningful.
As for collaborations, Fearless is still home to some of my favorite bands, and it’s been surreal to now be part of that family. There’s nothing officially in the works at the moment, but it’s definitely something I’d be open to. As Minute After Midnight continues to grow, I could absolutely see a collaboration with one of our labelmates happening somewhere down the road.
‘Unleash The Beast’ is an explosive and cathartic listen. What was the creative process like? Did you feel pressure to replicate the success of ‘GHOST’ and ‘Masochist?’
The song wasn’t planned. I went into the writing session with no intention of making something that heavy, and I certainly didn’t expect to be laying down screams. Up until that point, Minute After Midnight had been primarily a clean-singing project, but the song seemed to take on a life of its own. The energy of the track was so intense and primal that screaming felt like the only honest way to deliver it.
Creatively, it was one of those rare moments where everything happened naturally. The title, the riffs, the melodies, the aggression — it all came together in a way that felt almost instinctual. The production itself felt ceremonial and apocalyptic, like the song was demanding to become what it wanted to be rather than us trying to force it into a particular shape.
As for pressure, I think every artist feels some level of expectation after a song connects with people the way ‘GHOST’ and ‘Masochist’ did. But I’ve learned that chasing previous successes is usually a losing battle. The songs that resonate the most are often the ones that come from a genuine place.
On the topic of ‘Unleash The Beast,’ how do you prepare for performances? Is there anything you need to do before going on stage?
A lot of people don’t realize that being a vocalist is much closer to being an athlete than most people think. The better I’ve gotten as a singer, the more I’ve understood that what happens on stage is really a reflection of how well you’ve prepared long before you ever step under the lights.
Before a show, I’m usually running on a healthy amount of caffeine and going through a thorough vocal warm-up routine. But the preparation really starts months in advance. Right now, I’m already preparing for shows that are still a long way out by focusing on my overall health and conditioning.
When you’re performing songs like ‘Unleash The Beast,’ you’re asking a lot from your body. It’s not just about hitting the notes, it’s about delivering the energy, emotion, and intensity that the songs demand night after night. The goal is to make it look effortless, but there’s a lot of work happening behind the scenes to make that possible.
What movie, TV show, or video game can you imagine Minute After Midnight soundtracking?
Put me in the new Fast & Furious, outro credits for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, or what would even be more of a dream is to write something for Kingdom Hearts. Definitely my favorite game of all time.
What can we expect from Minute After Midnight coming up?
The deeper you go, the more it all starts to connect. We’re only at the entrance of the rabbit hole. More music is on the way.
Thank you for chatting with us, Derrick!
Be sure to stream to ‘Unleash The Beast.’ 😉
Are you prepared to enter the rabbit hole with us? Let us know in the comments or over on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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