Audrey Ryan (guitar/accordion/banjo/violin/keys/percussion/vocals). Currently performing solo, duo, trio, and beyond with James Borchers (drums/percussion/glockenspeil), and Stephen Brodsky (bass/vox)
Influences
Robert Wyatt, Radiohead, Dungen, My Morning Jacket, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, Arcade Fire, Stereolab, My Bloody Valentine, Led Zepplin, Dylan, Joni Mitchel, Cash, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, Miles Davis, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Bach, Jobim, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Billie Holiday, John Fahey, Bert Jansch, Pentangle...
I grew up on an island off the coast of Maine called Mount Desert Island. My home was very musical one and my dad played guitar and my mom sang and played piano in the living room and the organ at church. My dad was into the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and John Fahey, but the songs he played were more of a country-western nature and I remember him singing "hey good lookin' whatcha got cookin'" in our kitchen as my mom made dinner. Mom would play ragtime Scott Joplin tunes and sing ballads like "Blue Boyou" by Roy Orbison. Reluctantly at first, I learned to play guitar starting around age ten and through middle and high school learned a lot of folk tunes to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, John Fahey, and Dylan. In college I discovered jazz and became immersed in Miles Davis, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and all those greats. My main college gig was playing fiddle in bluegrass, celtic, and jazz bands and trying to be like Stephen Grapelli in jazz ensemble (never got quite that good). I also managed to spend a few years living and traveling abroad in Africa, Asia, and Australia. All the while I was writing songs and building up to a point where I might play them with other people in front of other people. When I graduated college I moved to Boston and started a band...///...
Since releasing my debut record, "Passing Thru", in 2004 I've been touring a good deal with a band and solo. I self-released two EPs in 2005 and 2006 sold exclusively at shows and then started recording my second full-length with help from Stephen Brodsky (better known for his work in "Cave In"). We recorded 14 songs in my rehearsal space and his during the course of 2006 and 2007. It was mixed by Andrew Schneider at Translator Audio in Brooklyn, NY in January and was mastered by Nick Zampiello in May at New Alliance East. The name of the record is "Dishes & Pills" and it was released in the UK by Folkwit Records. Over the years my music has evolved into an eclectic form of experimental folk, singer-songwriter indie rock of some alien breed using backwards and forwards loops, finger pianos, and other unique instrumentation. Overall this music blends together my early influences of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan with contemporaries such as Robert Wyatt, Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, Steroelab, Beck, and Arcade Fire. "Ryan is like Joni Mitchell and Radiohead playing some kind of hybrid indie music that- and this is why her stuff is so good - just doesn't exist anywhere else." (Leo Weekly). I tour a lot and have shared the bill with Suzanne Vega, Steve Forbert, Josh Ritter, Fionn Regan, Ra Ra Riot, and countless others. I currently am doing a "one-man-band" format, which you'd probably have to see live to appreciate. I perform nationally and internationally and live on the east coast...
To buy "Passing Thru" go to :.. --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> CDBABY LINK for AUDREY RYAN: Passing Thru -->
what is this artbeat about? glad i got to see you @ McCabe's since i got the days mixed and totally missed the secret show which is not to be mentioned :( now i need to find where that sole redbox thingy is since i can't find my hollywood express card!
bummer. well, you should come back down to rhode island again sometime. it's about time we played another show together. take care and tell j&j i said hi. -d
Hi, I am very pleased you have accepted my Friendship. I really like what you are doing. I will be popping round to yours regularly. Please come over to mine any time you want to. XXX
Thank you so much Audrey for honoring us with your precious friendship.... We hope your day is blessed with Love and that the adventures of your Life feel like a ride on the mystery train of Pure Joy.....Thanks again !!
That was a nice little set by you and James on Sunday. I'm glad Mike was there videotaping -- I didn't bring my little Kodak and probably would have regretted it. -Bernie
Fantastic stuff Audrey compelling arrangements of some fine tunes. Love your influences most of which we share. I bet you kill bunnies because you can't be all good surely:-)
Folks still talk about your set up here. Thanks again for coming up and sharing the night with us. Glad you were able to be a part of our release show. Hope things are well.
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