Pop Star

Dallas-born pop star Ryan Cabrera returns to studio with new Dynamite Music label

Ryan Cabrera has lots of music coming out in 2014.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Caberera

Pop singer Ryan Cabrera is in the studio, working on new music to be released this fall on Dynamite Music. This will mark the first release from a new boutique label that falls under Caroline, the independent division of Capitol Music Group/Universal Music Group.

"All at Caroline are thrilled to welcome Dynamite Music and Ryan Cabrera to the family," said Caroline president Dominic Pandiscia in a release.

Known for hits such as "On The Way Down," "True" and "Shine On," Cabrera will release a single this summer, followed by an EP in the fall and full-length album later in 2014. It's the first new music from Cabrera since the release of his single "I See Love" in May 2013.

Cabrera will release a single this summer, followed by an EP in the fall and full-length album later in 2014.

Cabrera is working with a collection of producers and songwriters such as Justin Gray (Mariah Carey, Joss Stone, John Legend, Amy Winehouse, Luis Fonsi); DJ White Shadow, aka Paul Blair (Lady Gaga); Shelly Peiken (Christina Aguilera, Ed Sheeran, Celine Dion); Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat); Andrew Fromm (Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Selena Gomez); and mixer Tony Maserati (Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Pink, Lady Gaga, Jason Mraz). Cabrera is also collaborating with fellow musicians and friends Evan Ross and Travis Clark from We The Kings.

"I have learned so much working with Justin Gray and writing with so many talented people like Nathan Chapman, Andrew Fromm, Shelly Peiken and tons more," Cabrera said. "Also, finally getting to do a song with longtime friend Paul Blair was awesome."

The Dallas native signed a record deal with Atlantic Records in 2001 and teamed up with Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls to co-produce his first major label debut album Take It All Away, which was released in 2004. That album spawned the hits "On The Way Down," which reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "True," which hit No. 8 on the Billboard pop chart.

Take it All Away sold more than 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone and reached No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200 charts, selling more than 67,000 copies in the first week. It was eventually certified double platinum.

He followed that up in 2005 with the album You Stand Watching and a deal with MTV and his own TV show, Score. His single "I Will Remember You" was used as the closing montage for the entire series of Will and Grace, as well as numerous other TV placements. His 2013 single "I See Love" was featured on the highest-viewed season finale of the ABC Family show The Vineyard.

In 2013, Cabrera co-headlined a tour with Tyler Hilton and Teddy Geiger, then joined YouTube sensations Boyce Avenue for a sold-out tour in the U.K. and Ireland.

He currently curates a live music series called Live from Ryan’s Living Room. Every two months he assembles a lineup of artists to perform at his house and streams the show online to fans worldwide via Stageit.com. Past performers include We the Kings, Colbie Caillat, Lance Bass, Gavin DeGraw, Josh Kelley, Billy Ray Cyrus, Keaton Simmons, Blake Lewis, Elliot Yamin and many more.

Proceeds go to charity, and Cabrera chooses a different cause every time. He's raised more than $17,000 toward various charitable endeavors.

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Blending cultures

Dallas Matcha Club brings community together over trendy green tea

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Matcha

Members of a unique Dallas social club are bonding over the world's trendiest drink: matcha. The Dallas Matcha Club (DMC) aims to foster a community through a shared love of matcha, while supporting local businesses and making new friends.

Matcha is rapidly growing in popularity worldwide, with the global market projected to reach $6.35 billion by 2029. The tea has its origins in China, but it was developed and refined in Japan; tea leaves are ground into the green powder that's used for matcha lattes and smoothies, whose appeal has skyrocketed in recent years — especially among Gen-Z.

DMC Founder Aaliyah Iwamoto created the social club in October 2024 after moving to Texas from Hawaii.

“Since I'd just moved, I wanted to get to explore the city,” Iwamoto says. “I figured trying new cafes was the perfect way to do it ... I was hoping to meet new people."

Iwamoto, who is of Japanese heritage, says matcha had been a part of her life long before it became buzzy. Whenever she visits Japan, she brings back matcha tins from Nishio — and on a previous trip, even toured a matcha farm.

“When I first started [DMC], I didn't know that [matcha] was going to get as big as it did and have such a global impact,” Iwamoto says.

Now she is parlaying her love of matcha into a social experience with dozens of other matcha enthusiasts in North Texas.

On "matcha meetups," club members visit local coffee shops and matcha hot spots together, from downtown Dallas to Fort Worth to McKinney.

The group also hosts events at which members can gain new skills and hobbies. Matcha-specific activities have included classes where they've made chawans, or “matcha bowls,” as well as matcha-whisking workshops. They've also hosted more general-interest events such as paint and sips, Pilates classes, bracelet making, picnics, yoga sessions, and more.

Their most recent event was a Matcha Winter Market with La Maison Bleue Cafe, which included a Christmas toy drive for Children’s Health Plano.

The Dallas Matcha Club on one of their meetups.Photo courtesy of Dallas Matcha Club

While some events have drawn as many as 150 attendees, most see about 30 to 50 people. Members are a diverse group of primarily 20- and 30-somethings at various stages of life — from parents who come with their kids to college students.

“I feel like there's a good mix of people from all different places, too, not just Texas," Iwamoto says.

What makes matcha such a community connector is its ties to a culture, she says.

“'It’s not just a drink. There's a whole process that goes into making the matcha, and a whole process into making your latte at home,” Iwatmoto says. “People are learning about the different tools that you use to make matcha, which are all Japanese ... people are learning through enjoying matcha."

The club’s Instagram page, which has nearly 5,500 followers, proclaims, "Whether you’re an avid matcha lover or matcha newbie, the Dallas Matcha Club is the community for you!"

Iwamoto underscores that DMC is a welcoming group for anyone.

“Most of the people that attend like matcha, but there are some people who are new to it," she says. "There's also some people who just tag along with their friends and they're more of a coffee person. Anyone's welcome."

Anyone interested in joining the Dallas Matcha Club can follow their Instagram @dallasmatcha and fill out the membership form, which is linked in their Instagram bio. There is no fee to become a member of the DMC.

club matcha tea coffee