GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham recently participated in an installment of the GRAMMY Museum's The Drop series. Before an intimate audience at the Museum's Clive Davis Theater, Bingham discussed the isolated setting in which he wrote songs for his new studio album, Fear And Saturday Night, and why he considers songwriting to be therapeutic, among other topics. He also performed a brief acoustic set, including his single "Broken Heart Tattoos."

"I've never been great at sitting down with a pen and paper and crafting out a song," said Bingham. "It has to be something that I've been through and really experienced. It just seems [when] I really get by myself and get lonely, [I] start soul-searching and think about what [I] really want to write about."  

Born in Hobbs, N.M., and raised in Texas, Bingham released his major label debut, Mescalito, in 2007. Produced by former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford, the album garnered Bingham favorable comparisons to GRAMMY winners such as Steve Earle and Tom Waits. Bingham followed up with 2009's Roadhouse Sun, which peaked at No. 17 on Billboard's Country Albums chart. That same year, Bingham scored his career breakthrough in teaming with GRAMMY winner T Bone Burnett to write "The Weary Kind" for the film Crazy Heart. The song netted Bingham his first career GRAMMY for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media for 2010 as well as an Oscar for Original Song.

Produced by Burnett, 2010's Junky Star earned Bingham his first Top 20 album, peaking at No. 19 on the Billboard 200. His 2012 follow-up, Tomorrowland, was the first release on his independent label, Axster Bingham Records.

Released in January, Fear And Saturday Night features 12 tracks penned by Bingham, including "Broken Heart Tattoos," "Nobody Knows My Trouble" and "Snow Falls In June." The album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. Bingham's upcoming tour itinerary includes select U.S. dates through August and international dates beginning in October.

Upcoming GRAMMY Museum events include Great Guitars — A Conversation With Steve Vai (April 6), Reel To Reel: All Things Must Pass (April 16) and The Drop: Kenny Lattimore (April 20).