Ryan's gentle, smart, poetic lyrics draw inspiration from Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Donovan, Woody Guthrie, Dylan Thomas, Percy Shelley, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Eagles, The Beatles, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne and Roy Orbison. His musical influences include Bob Dylan, Donovan, Elvis Costello, Eagles, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger, Don McLean, Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, The Beatles, The Band, Neil Young, The Seekers, The Byrds, Noel Gallagher, ELO, John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne and the Nashville TV series.