Ryan De La Cruz

Itsan Rayan Indanda Paul (born 20 October 1996), known mononymously as Ryan De La Cruz, is a Congolese-British singer, actor, songwriter, model, writer, director and music producer from London. A prominent figure amongst the new generation of UK superstars and a pioneer in todays UK Congolese Music scene. Cruz is regarded as one of the most innovative, influential Afro-Brit artists of all time with his versatility, creative visuals and prolific live performances. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative project with the (Rascals) - Lil Rascals, a group in the early 2000s grime music era. In 2015, Ryan signed a deal with Plan B after playing a major lead role of Jake in critically acclaimed film ill Manors. 
In 2017 his song 'Know About Me' directed by Bouha Kazmi won Vevo Track Of The Week and acclaimed best video of the year by BBC's Mistajam, DJ Semtex & DJ Target. He has appeared on tracks produced by Jae5, Troyboi, Vladimir Cauchemar, Crazy Cousins and Mikey J. He has collaborated with Ghetts, Jaja Soze, Tion Wayne, NSG, and many others.
He first emerged as a rapper releasing his debut mixtape, Pagans with Mikey J, co-founder of dance collective Boy Blue, in early 2016 with songs like 'Bando' 'Gotham' 'Jimmys Story'. Each song had accompanied a music video that gave him a strong entry into the UK music scene as a audio/visual artist.
2019 he released his first studio album 'Syko' with most of the production, mixing completely done by himself. This album was the introduction to Ryan's vocal & production abilities on a wider scale. He then released his second album '23' in 2021 after the passing of his father showcasing his R&B/Soul side, touching on subjects regarding Abortion, Discrimination, Racism & Police Brutality.
==Early Life==
Born from a Congolese decent in Cricklewood, North West London, De La Cruz taught himself how to sing and dance at the tender age of 7. His father Rev. Dave Indanda was a Reverend and one of the early founders of the Congolese political nationalist movement 'Combattants'. His mother, Marie-Claire Tumbe was into modelling & tailoring. Ryan recalls growing up that the cutlery's was always missing at home because he constantly took them to play drums in his bedroom. One night his father did an experiment and taught him and his two sisters how to sing in harmony and this is where Ryan's singing and talent journey had started. 
With 5 siblings, he attended church regularly and eventually began to sing in the choir with his father and fellow church members. on Saturdays his father would take him to drum lessons and eventually playing drums in the church. 
Early 2000's Ryan moved to east London Forest Gate which he didn’t know was in fact one of the most beneficial things that would happen to him in his career. He would watch and help his older sister Julia do lines for her drama class. One day his older sister decided to take him to her school to watch her practise for a drama show, at this early moment Ryan had met young Nick Sagar who he'd end up working alongside on the iLL Manors film. 
==Music Career==
After moving to East London, he began networking and showcasing his talent at school talent shows, he sparked a relationship with a friend at the time who's father managed the Lil Rascals who were very popular on the UK Grime network Channel AKA. At 9 years old, Ryan was already thinking about making it big in the music business and pressures his best friend for his dad to meet his mother and the rest is history.
The Hundreds described Ryan sound as a mixture of R&B, Trap, Afro & World Music, an artist truly breaking boundaries and genreless. 
Clash Magazine polarised Ryan as the new voice of the African diaspora, noting his influences from Grime & R&B foundation gave him a distinctive sound. "a mix of the ancient decade of UK subgenres – the smoky-voiced singer amalgamates elements of R&B , Grime and Afro to create something infectious and authenticity."
Ryan struck a friendship with Plan B during the filming of iLL Manors. Both heavily influenced and mentored his development credits Plan B with teaching him the art of song writing and producing music. Ryan still spends every waking hour he can working on music – producing and song writing.
He pursued his singing career and was offered a dealbreaker development deal with Plan B’s recording imprint on Sony Music in 2013. After this great leap in his career, he humbly continued his music and acting career featuring in various short films, and on various EPs and mixtapes from the UK’s new generation.
===Influences===
Musicians: Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Frank Ocean, D’Angelo, Koffi Olomide, Wizkid, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Aaliyah, Brandy, 
Beats/Producers : Timbaland, Pharell Williams, Missy Elliot, Kanye West,Darkchild
Rappers: J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Ghetts, Giggs, Skepta, Dizzee Rascal
Fashion: Kate Moss, Asap Rocky, Tyler the Creator, Dennis Rodman
August 2017, Cruz signed a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment & his own record company VoidUK. Following his viral breakthrough hit 'Know About Me' it quickly surpassed 1 Million Views in under 6 months, entering on the BBC Radio 1 B list chart for several weeks. Noting this was the first time the UK had heard a song with bilingual congolese dialect within a song mixing English & his home language of Lingala on british airwaves. He went on an did a spectacular 5 week residency of back to back shows selling out Koko Camden.
Fast forward 2022, Ryan releases a hit after changing his sound and direction whilst keeping tones of UK nuances and R&B melodies, the Afrobeats Classic 'Loketu' surpassed 2 million streams in less than a year across DSP's. A song which mixes Congolese culture and UK all in one, bridging the gap between Francophone & Anglophone dialect marking him a pioneer in the UK and one of the best Congolese British artists of all time. 
==Acting==
After grabbing the attention of Ben Drew (primarily known as Plan B), Ryan was auditioned in school to play a lead role in a film that Plan B both wrote and self directed Ill Manors. Rotten Tomatoes wrote "young De La Cruz impresses when he switches from macho swagger to scared child in a heartbeat."
This gave Ryan depth in terms of experience and allowed him to grow in a way he thought he never would. After he received the role of Jake, Ryan didn’t stop there.. He went on and landed a role 'Shawn' in British-African sitcom Meet the Adebanjos Series 2: Episode 14: Rude Boy Friend on Netflix alongside Wale Ojo, Daniel Davids, Yetunde Oduwole which he co directed and it later on became an ultimate fan favourite. 
Furthering his career on TV, Ryan was featured for the MTV show Judge Geordie Season 1, expressing the problems and altercations he faced with his best mates. The episode featuring his friends Waffle King & Xvr Blck was initially a prank pulled by the bunch but Vicky Pattison was totally unaware. 
==Discography==
EP / Mixtapes
 Know About Me EP 
 Belly EP 
 Pagans EP
Studio Albums 
 Syko [2019]
 23 [2021]
Category:1996 births
Category:Singers
Category:Actors
Category:Songwriters
Category:Models