When his friend offered him a cup of tea, Ryan O'Connor, a 20-year-old multi-musician, was lost in thought, gazing out the window. Without much hesitation, naturally, he accepted the offer. As the tea was being prepared, his eyes returned to the window that beamed with sunlight. On the sill, the golden bottle of honey stood still, the light perfectly making it sparkle. After he was handed tea and offered honey, it was hard to escape his pondering mind. "RAWHONEY!" He shouted. That was the moment O'Connor was set on his band name. RAWHONEY was just the beginning of his iconic journey and has been since 2023. 

Growing up, it was no secret that Ryan was gifted to the world. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, right outside Washington, D.C., Ryan had a lot of time to pursue his genuine love for his artistry, especially drumming, and his dream to go on tour eventually. When Ryan started getting more serious about his academic choices and career, Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, called him by name. This is where he decided to pursue a degree in commercial percussion; however, his direction and dreams changed while meeting various artists. He fell in love with Nashville's talent and what Music City had to offer. This is when Ryan took a deeper look into his career and realized what he wanted to chase was his artistry. It's been a little more than two years since Ryan O'Connor has been producing, writing, and recording for RAWHONEY. 

With artists such as Chase Atlantic, Chelsea Cutler, Wage War, and many more punk-alternative bands and artists, O'Connor and his band drew from their imagination and inspirations to make the next big thing in punk indie rock. "I am so all over the place with my taste in music when it comes to genres," Ryan proudly stated in an interview. "I love all kinds of pop, rock, and especially metalcore." With three singles and one EP, RAWHONEY has been experiencing more than ever. While the band is currently finishing up their sophomore EP, "Insane From Exposure," RAWHONEY, especially Ryan, made it very clear that he wanted to take all modern elements within his inspirations and craft a new and unique sound that truly captures and embodies the production, songwriting and especially the performances that will come with this new body of work.

While researching and continuing to ask Ryan about the brilliance behind his band and art, I wanted to know how he viewed RAWHONEY. "I think RAWHONEY is an anomaly when it comes to bands you can directly compare us to." I have to agree. While listening to their tracks, there were bands and artists I kept trying to pinpoint what and who they reminded me of, and honestly, it was tough to put my mind down on one specific band. To stand out in the industry is crucial, and RAWHONEY is making its mark to beat industry standards. With attire resembling a festival, such as cutoffs and jeans, RAWHONEY perfectly fits the metalcore theme and gives audiences the laid-back summer feeling we all love. Nothing is better than a drink in hand, jamming to music that reminds you of Blink-182! 

Since the start of Ryan O'Connor's career, RAWHONEY has had the opportunity to perform multiple gigs, such as Battle of the Bands, at Belmont University in 2024. This was when RAWHONEY made its mark amongst the many talented Nashville musicians who attend Belmont! As Ryan pursues his dreams, RAWHONEY has inspiring plans ahead. Playing at The End in Nashville on March 6, Their EP drop follows: releasing March 28 with a new sound and energy! It was an absolute honor to have chatted!