Taiwan-born recording and playback engineer Ryan Yang (Lei-En Yang) is steadily building a reputation in music production circles. With two Grammy nominations already associated with projects he contributed to, and a growing list of credits alongside recognized names in gospel and live music, Ryan’s skills behind the scenes have positioned him as a respected collaborator in today’s industry.

Ryan brings precision, focus, and a genuine love for music that artists often notice immediately. His resume includes work with notable performers, but he’s not the kind of person who seeks to highlight it. For him, it’s always about doing the job right and ensuring the artist sounds their strongest and most authentic, plain and simple.

Ryan didn’t follow a flashy or traditional path into the music world. He started out in Taiwan, developing a deep interest in sound and how music is built behind the scenes. It wasn’t long before that passion evolved into a full-time career. Today, he’s recognized for his ability to balance technical expertise with an ear for musicality, a combination that is valued by many artists and producers.

As a recording and mixing engineer, he is known for capturing clean, high-quality audio, even in challenging environments. As a playback engineer, he supports artists in delivering polished and professional live performances, managing all the behind-the-scenes audio elements that audiences enjoy without being aware. This ability to adapt quickly, stay composed, and troubleshoot effectively has made him a sought-after figure among performers and production teams.

The start of 2025 marked a significant milestone for Ryan. He earned Grammy nominations through his contributions to two albums in the Best Gospel Album category: Melvin Crispell III’s Covered Vol. 1 and Ricky Dillard’s Choirmaster II. Both projects were honored for their overall production quality and vocal arrangements, highlighting the caliber of teams involved.

Ryan’s involvement in these albums reflects his growing presence in the gospel music community. While he appreciates the recognition, he remains grounded in his commitment to the music itself. To him, being part of nominated projects is less about individual acclaim and more about supporting meaningful artistry and ensuring the music resonates with listeners.

Gospel is not just a genre for Ryan; it’s a passion. He notes that it is among his favorite styles to work on because of the emotion and energy infused in every performance. It is also technically demanding, with intricate vocal layering, complex backing tracks, and vibrant live instruments to manage.

One particular challenge he has encountered? Artists often underplay their delivery during mic checks, only to unleash their full energy once the performance begins. Ryan has learned to anticipate this by maintaining lower input levels to accommodate unexpected surges. Additionally, when working with songs that feature dozens of similarly textured layers, he must make careful decisions to preserve clarity and emotion without overwhelming the listener.

While gospel remains close to Ryan’s heart, his engineering skills cross genre boundaries. His work as a playback engineer has taken him into live setups supporting artists like Adam Blackstone, and he contributed to the 2024 production of A John Legend Christmas, where he handled the show’s opener. In 2025, he is scheduled to join Orion Sun on U.S. tours, ensuring smooth audio operations that are crucial to the concert experience.

Ryan consistently maintains focus on the broader musical vision, whether backstage at live events or in the studio finalizing mixes. He prioritizes making the sound feel natural and powerful. This commitment to quality, combined with his approachable demeanor, has fostered trust among artists and collaborators, especially in high-pressure environments.

Though Ryan’s name is appearing more frequently in credits, he remains future-focused. Some of his aspirational collaborations include working with gospel icons like Tye Tribbett, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, and Fred Hammond. Whether in studio sessions or live gospel recordings, teaming up with these influential figures would represent an important step in his career journey.

With a discography that already features projects like Jason Nelson’s You Belong (Live) and SINACH’s Victory Sounds, Ryan’s trajectory continues to move forward in exciting ways. And if 2025 is any indication, there is a strong possibility we’ll be hearing even more from him in the years to come.

Published by Anne C.