Ryan McCartan didn’t like Dove Cameron when they first met face to face on the set of Disney sitcom Liv & Maddie in 2013. He thought she was “arrogant and self-righteous.”
But Ryan and Dove not only recently announced their engagement , according to Us Magazine , they are two halves of a pop group called The Girl and the Dreamcatcher.
The couple has just released a new video for their original song “Someone You Like.”
In this two-part interview, this writer caught up with Dove and Ryan to talk about The Girl and the Dreamcatcher and what it’s like to musically collaborate with your fiancee, making them your partner in every sense.
NB: “Someone You Like” has a mellow, little different, sound from your other material. In fact, it reminds me of the movie soundtrack from a sweet romantic comedy. Was this song inspired by your ?show business background and what sort of collaboration brought it together?
Dove and Ryan: “We definitely agree this is a different sound for us.”
“A lot about what this band represents is telling the story of our relationship.
“Sometimes the story sounds like Glowing in the Dark or Written in the Stars because ‘us’ together is rambunctious and loud. However, sometimes those stories sound like this: Soft, cute and honest.
“Just like humans have different emotions, we as musicians like to delve into different sounds to illustrate our experiences. The song, like all of our songs, is influenced by us.”
NB: What is the hardest thing about forming a band with someone you are in a relationship with?
Dove and Ryan: “So far, all it’s done is made things easier for us. And that’s the honest truth.”
NB: How did you both first meet? And what were your first impressions? Would you call it love at first sight?
Ryan: “I met her at the final audition for my role, Diggie.”
“My first impression was that she was arrogant and self-righteous. It was definitely NOT love at first sight.
“To set the record straight, I don’t think I’ve ever been more wrong about a person. Once I got to know her, I learned her depth of character, how sweet and emotionally raw she is.
“She’s a genius, and I was unstoppably attracted to that.
“First impressions certainly aren’t everything, and I thank my version of whatever God or Goddess you believe in EVERY DAY that mine was wrong.”
NB: Ryan, you have a large fan base of teens and tweens. What is your responsibility as a role model?
Ryan: “While I am very grateful for the role social media plays in my ability to interact so personally with my fans, I also see time and time again how it negatively affects social relationships of the younger generation.”
“Firing insults anonymously behind the keys of a message board, slandering other people’s beliefs or opinions, this happens on a daily basis in my comment section or on my feed. Cyber-bullying, and further, online social ignorance is a very real problem, typically without any real consequence.
“I do everything in my power to promote positivity however and whenever I can; and, constructively and softly, try to encourage tweens and teens that if they want to be part of a dialogue on my social platforms, there is an expectation that they do so with poise and respect.”
NB: How does a former high-school (award-winning) thespian from Minnetonka, Minnesota, end up on the Disney Channel?
Ryan: “A lot of hard work, and a lot of luck.”
“I had submitted many tapes to Disney Channel over the years through Minneapolis’ casting networks, and when I was 18 I was fortunate enough to be tapped to fly out and audition in person for a pilot Disney was workshopping. While I didn’t book the part, the experience was so positive that I decided to move to Los Angeles full time.
“I kept auditioning and auditioning for Disney, as I always wanted to work for them. Eventually, Liv and Maddie came along, and the character was a great fit!”
NB: I am thinking Ryan probably sang on stage in high school, is that right?
Ryan: “Yes!”
“I was in every play and musical my high school had to offer, while also balancing professional work in the charming market of Minneapolis theater.
“I was fortunate enough to play at the Guthrie and the Tony Award winning Minneapolis Children’s Theater Company many times, all nurturing my love for the arts and dedication to story-telling through song.”
NB: What has been the most difficult thing about transitioning from acting to vocal recording artists? (For both of you?) And which do you prefer?
Ryan: “I’ve been acting since I was eight and singing since I was three.”
“I don’t think of bouncing between acting and singing as a transition, but rather as an expansion. I love both crafts so deeply, I feel my heart and soul have no choice but to explore both. I could never choose between the two of them, I am passionate about both, for equal yet different reasons.”
For Dove Cameron’s take on The Girl and the Dreamcatcher , see Part 2 .
[Image via Helga Esteb/Shutterstock]