Fountain Hills resident Ryan Tree’s aim in life is to make a difference.

He is quick with a smile, considers what he is going to say before he says it, and then speaks quickly and confidently with his answers.

Tree is 29 years old. He sees the world as a creative person, noticing small things, unusual things, sad things, happy things.

And then he writes songs about those things.

His latest work, “End to the Suffering,” is a haunting song about a soldier suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The music video on which the song is highlighted tells a bleak story of a man whose life has been upended by war and its aftermath.

Tree collaborated with Shanice Malakai of Malakai Creative to make the music video. Malakai produced and directed the video. The film was showcased at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Tree said 100 percent of the proceeds and iTunes sales of the single are donated to Military with PTSD.

“When I started working on the project, I was concentrating on homelessness,” Tree said.

“Shanice had the idea to focus on homeless vets. It evolved from there.”

The collaboration went on to include Grammy Award-winning producer Jeremy Parker, who helped shape the overall hard rock sound.

On his website, Tree describes the project as, “An immersive production that carefully integrated the pain, suffering and passionate journey of people we interact with every day.”

Homelessness and veterans’ issues are only two of the causes close to Tree’s heart.

He is an animal activist and philanthropist, giving what he makes to a variety of charities and organizations.

Tree said it is hard to decide which direction his life will take. He is a Chaparral High School graduate, earned his degree in entrepreneurship and marketing from Syracuse University and got serious about music after graduation.

In addition to writing music, he plays as well, and is continually striving to improve his knowledge and understanding of all his projects. Music is indeed his passion, and it gives him an outlet to express his creativity.

And in order to support his passion, Tree has a day job, working for a company that installs software for medical offices. He also works in graphic design.

“I love my day job,” he said.

“It does enable me to support my passion. But sometimes it seems like I never sleep.”

Despite his lack of sleep, Tree is upbeat and positive.

“I grew up like that,” he said.

“I have a sense that I want to bring others up, to make them happy, to make them think.”

His abilities as a wordsmith propel him forward in songwriting and storytelling.

“I love words,” Tree said.

“I always have, and I’ve always enjoyed writing.”

His songwriting reflects his world, and it follows his interests.

“I feel like the people I’ve met along the way, who are trying to make a difference, have helped me be that way,” he added.

He names those who inspire him, who help him, who have made a difference to him and to others.

His parents, his band, his friends. Tree’s world is ever-widening. He connects well with people wherever he goes.

He has traveled a good deal and lived in different countries. He lived in Hong Kong for a year while he was in college, then after graduation moved to Toronto.

“I think living in other countries gives a person a completely different perspective of people,” he said.

“I am really happy to have had the chance to see other places and experience other cultures. I hope to continue seeing the world through others’ eyes.”