Even as they recorded "RyanDan," their upcoming album release, at London's State-of-the-Ark studios -- singing into the same microphone Frank Sinatra once used - their journey from cute "pop boy" act to seriously acclaimed soundsters was not lost on them. Not for a minute.

"We didn't want to be stuck in a machine," says Ryan. "Some record companies wanted to shape us this way and that at first. That's why we signed with Universal. They gave us the chance to do what is important to us."

Of course, the boys formerly known as B4-4 did achieve multi-platinum sales in Canada and Germany as well as a Juno nomination. In fact, it was their naïve belief in their musical dream that launched their boy band career.

Walking into Sony's offices in Toronto at 18 with nothing more than a demo tape, the pair fortuitously bumped into the company's vice president and head of A&R. Singing on the spot, they landed their first recording deal.

"We were so naïve. We certainly wouldn't have done that if we knew anything about the music business. But we got lucky," says Ryan.

Yet their early success quickly took on a sour note. "We travelled the world and did very well. But it got to be frustrating," says Ryan. "The focus was all on image -- our hair, our clothing. We weren't enjoying going on stage any more. We weren't proud of what we were singing."

"We had to go back to our roots," says brother Dan. "That image stuff? That didn't mean anything to us. It's about the music and singing with as much emotion as we can."

Newfound fame

That seminal shift that produced RyanDan came when the twins' mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2004. Returning from Germany to be with her, they headed into a Toronto studio and recorded a surprise for their mother: the hit tune "The Prayer."

"We got into our car, went to her house and brought her down at two in the morning to play it for her. She was bawling and we talked for hours," says Ryan. "That's when she told us 'This is the kind of music you guys should be doing.'"

"It was the changing moment for us," says Dan.

Newly emerged as RyanDan, their early album track "The Face" out-performed songs by Britney Spears, Duran Duran and Fall Out Boy in artist battles featured on Toronto's CHUM-FM radio station.

"I think fans responded to us because our sound was different. It was something they couldn't quite define," says Ryan. "Just give us a microphone. That's what it really comes down to. We'll keep it raw, pure and in your face."

Sound of charity

Along with Josh Groban, Bryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan and Jann Arden, RyanDan appeared at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on February 28 for "One Night Live," a benefit concert supporting Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre's Women & Babies Program.

"Anytime we have the chance to help children we'll do it," says Ryan. "Our four-year-old niece passed away late last year from a malignant brain tumour. No one should have to go through chemotherapy, especially at that age. It was a disaster for her and the rest of the family to watch. We're all still dealing with it."

As Ryan says, "So many people want fame today for all the wrong reasons and use it badly. But with everything that happened to our niece and to our mom "One Night Live" hit home with us. It's for a really good cause and at the end of the day giving back really is what it's all about."

Source: www.ctv.ca