This weekend, I lost one of my closest friends — Ryan Olson — in a tragic car accident. His passing has left a deep emptiness in my heart and in the hearts of everyone who loved him. I’ve known Ryan for nearly 30 years — three decades filled with music, laughter, adventure, and creativity. We learned from each other, challenged each other, and grew together, both as artists and as people. Our friendship wasn’t just built on shared experiences, but on a mutual respect for the way we each saw the world.

Ryan had an incredible gift for making music that touched people. He was a phenomenal songwriter and an absolute shredder on guitar. Every time he sent me a new riff or lyric, I couldn’t wait to hear where his mind had gone next. His creativity seemed endless. The song featured in the video I made for him is one he wrote — a song we had just started recording together, finally planning to make the album we’d dreamed about for years. Ryan’s music was a reflection of who he was — soulful, honest, and full of emotion.

There’s a line in that song where he asks, “Am I becoming what I wanted? So proud to show you where I got it.” Those words meant a lot to him. We talked about them often — about growth, purpose, and how we never stop becoming who we’re meant to be. Ryan always gave credit to his parents, whom he loved deeply. He spoke about them with such admiration and gratitude, always making sure they knew how much they meant to him.

Ryan’s death has left so many of us speechless. I don’t know if any of us ever truly become who we hope to be in life, but I do know this: Ryan never stopped striving. He was intentional, thoughtful, and always pushing himself creatively and personally. His journey was one of growth — of learning, giving, and becoming more than he was the day before.

Beyond his music, Ryan was a wonderful friend — loyal, kind, and irreplaceable. He had a way of making people feel seen and valued. His laughter was contagious, his energy magnetic. Those who knew him will remember not just his talent, but the warmth he brought into every room he entered.

There will never be enough words to describe what Ryan meant to me. Maybe I’ll never have the right ones. But these are the ones I have today. Rest in peace, brother. I love you, and I’ll carry you with me forever.