Career
Reel Big Fish first met Steen at an Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands when he was playing with his Nebraska-born band Square. Reel Big Fish was judging the competition and gave him and his band a perfect score. Reel Big Fish stayed in touch with him and later brought him on as their drummer after the Departure of Justin Ferriera, with Steen having previously played percussion on the Cheer Up! recording of the song "Good Thing".
He was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska and moved to California at age 19.
Ryland has toured and/or recorded with Kris Allen, Maroon 5, The Summer Obsession, The Elected, Start Trouble, Phantom Planet, Free Moral Agents, Suburban Legends, Audiovent, Mountain. Egypt, TEA, and Orange County cult legends Square.
Steen played his first night with the band America (Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley) at the California State Fair on July 20, 2014, where Beckley introduced him toward the end of the set as playing with the band, "for 90 minutes.".