Taking the stage as the second act of the day on the Forest Stage at Fork Fest 2025, Ryan Call gave the audience more than just a performance—he gave them a moment. Opening with a new, unreleased track titled Close Encounter With Real Angels, Ryan invited the crowd into a space that felt both intimate and expansive. From there, he continued with Speaking In Tongues and Everything, delivering a set filled with layered emotion and poetic depth. One of the clear crowd favorites, P.S., turned the entire space into a communal echo chamber of lyrics, before he closed the set with Breathing—a song that felt like a final exhale, letting the audience sit in the quiet comfort of connection.

After his set, I had a chance to chat with Ryan in a quiet moment offstage. When asked what his younger self would think of the artist he’s become, he laughed and said, “I wouldn’t believe it. I always knew I had some musical talent through choir and musicals, but I never expected to be where I am now.” His first performance was Mr. Moon back in 2022 at Java Junkie—a song fans still love today. These days, his favorite to perform is Breathing, which he says feels like an “out-of-body experience” every time. For Ryan, performing isn’t just about singing—it’s about memory, healing, and showing up with intention. When I asked what fans should bring to his show, he answered thoughtfully: “Physically, bring someone you love. And if you can’t, bring your inner child and all your past selves. Because that’s how I show up.”