After recording Bad Monkey's first rough demo in April, we realized there's plenty of room for improvement. I suggested we focus on playing other songs (new stuff) before going back and rehearsing the songs we want to record for the final demo. It works for me, and singer Mirthe attested it works for her, too. The drummer and bass player are fine with it and go along. We all suggested some songs we wanted to play and eventually picked 4 songs for the next rehearsals - which were last weekend.
I made one suggestion, shortly before I went on a short vacation: Serena Ryder's "Stumbling over you".
A couple of years ago, I had given Mirthe's boyfriend EJ a copy/complilation of Serena Ryder songs off all her albums, knowing he'd like it. So Mirthe's familiar with her music, but in order for the other two to rehearse the song I had to send them an MP3 file of the song (which I incidentally have).
I figured, since the last rehearsals would be amongst trips of various band members (everybody but the singer) and we had very little time to practice before getting together, you'd want a song to be simple - or easy to play. Hence my suggestion.
After playing a couple of songs to warm up Mirthe's vocal chords we played "Stumbling over you". I was pleased we had it down after two takes, but imagine my surprised when the others praised me for picked such a good song. They love it because it's (fairly) easy to play, but they also love the song for the song itself!
We unanimously decided that this song is going to be recorded for the final demo! :D
Afterwards we had dinner at a lovely place, where we reflected on the rehearsals and planned ahead. Knowing bass player Ester is also a Melissa Etheridge fan I sent her Serena Ryder's duet with Melissa called "Broken heart sun" via blue tooth, which Ester immediately made her new ring tone (her previous one is some Madonna song). Ester is now "converted" and a Serena fan as well. Her last album "Is it O.K." is (still) not available in the Netherlands, so Ester had to order it.
Showing posts with label Serena Ryder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Serena Ryder. Show all posts
Jun 18, 2011
Tweet-tweet!
Originally posted on March 4th, 2011.
Serena tweeted this pic a couple of days ago.
Serena tweeted this pic a couple of days ago.
I really like the fact Serena's smiling on most of her pictures. Genuine joy is shown in this one, if you ask me.
Broken heart sun
Originally posted on February 10, 2011.
For those out of the loop: Serena Ryder's going to open for Melissa Etheridge during the Canadian part of her "Fearless love" tour. As you can probably tell by the cover artwork displayed above: the two have recorded a duet - their voices are an excellent match. I'm very excited, and even though I have to miss out on their shows in Halifax, NS, I'm hoping they'll also record a video to go along with it (it's been a while since Serena last released a single). There's only one thing that kinda irks me (I'm biased, I know): even though Serena wrote the song, Melissa's name's on first. Why? Probably because Melissa's more famous than Serena. It'll sell better, that's for one. And hopefully that means Serena's going to reach a bigger audience than she already did.
For those out of the loop: Serena Ryder's going to open for Melissa Etheridge during the Canadian part of her "Fearless love" tour. As you can probably tell by the cover artwork displayed above: the two have recorded a duet - their voices are an excellent match. I'm very excited, and even though I have to miss out on their shows in Halifax, NS, I'm hoping they'll also record a video to go along with it (it's been a while since Serena last released a single). There's only one thing that kinda irks me (I'm biased, I know): even though Serena wrote the song, Melissa's name's on first. Why? Probably because Melissa's more famous than Serena. It'll sell better, that's for one. And hopefully that means Serena's going to reach a bigger audience than she already did.
Read a short interview Serena did for Melissa's official site. And in case you still haven't heard the song: here's Broken Heart Sun.
Here's another article on Serena Ryder, which basically recaps the abilities of this Canadian songstress.
Jun 16, 2011
Serena Ryder news
Originally posted on November 14, 2009.
Her Juno winning album's released in the US and it's debuted #1 on Billboard's "Heatseekers albums" chart - and then some.
"Is it o.k." is mentioned in several US blogs. I picked two queer ones: towleroad (next to a picture of some blonde) / AfterEllen. "Saving the Set List" picked her for Artist of the Week! Check it out here.
Her Juno winning album's released in the US and it's debuted #1 on Billboard's "Heatseekers albums" chart - and then some.
"Is it o.k." is mentioned in several US blogs. I picked two queer ones: towleroad (next to a picture of some blonde) / AfterEllen. "Saving the Set List" picked her for Artist of the Week! Check it out here.
Jun 15, 2011
Whatever you want baby
This was originally posted in May 27, 2009.
I found Serena Ryder's cover of Kylie Minogue's "Slow" earlier today. I'm not a fan of Kylie's music (it just doesn't appeal to me), but I actually like this version better than the breathy original. Oh, and the first comment posted just cracked me up :D
I found Serena Ryder's cover of Kylie Minogue's "Slow" earlier today. I'm not a fan of Kylie's music (it just doesn't appeal to me), but I actually like this version better than the breathy original. Oh, and the first comment posted just cracked me up :D
For Serena Ryder, size matters
By Tom Lanham
Special to The Examiner 4/16/09
Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention.
Just ask Canadian folk-rocker Serena Ryder, who arrived at an unusual solution for the tennis elbow that was stifling her strumming. The tendonitis grew so painful, the petite powerhouse couldn’t play the big, full-sized guitars anymore.
That’s when she discovered vintage parlor guitars, popular in the late 1800s. “They were these tiny guitars, originally invented for women to play to the men in drawing rooms, and they’re amazing. I actually fell in love with their sound,” she says.
Now Ryder, 26, is an obsessive collector of parlor six-strings and their equally-comfortable competitors, half-sized guitars.
Next week at Slim’s, she’ll be playing a parlor, plus two half-sizes she tracked down on tour.
“They’re called Matons, you can only get them in Australia, and they’re the best I’ve ever found,” she says. “I actually have someone who’s making me a parlor guitar right now. He’s been crafting it for the last two years, and he keeps on sending me pictures of it. Other than that, if I can ever find any parlor better than the ones I have, I’ll get it — they’re that great.”
Plus, it beats the singer’s last obsession — sew-on buttons. It recently took her two full months to whittle her monstrous collection down to a prize 45.
All of these quirky eccentricities add up to some thoroughly refreshing songwriting on “Is It O.K.,” Ryder’s brainy U.S. debut for Atlantic.
From the chiming opener “Sweeping the Ashes” to a forlorn “Dark as the Black” finish, Ryder’s soulful rasp wends through tales of breakup, despair, even death, justifying her 2008 Juno win as Canada’s Best New Artist.
Ryder’s upbringing was equally odd. She hails from the rural Ontario village of Millbrook, population 3,000.
“The only thing that I knew of the outside world was by TV,” she says. “There was no bus that left town, no train — the only way to get out was by driving.”
Her biggest thrills were long woodland walks and the annual Millbrook Fair in June. “I had my first crush on the carny who ran the Octopus ride,” she says. “And I ended up writing an early song about him, which started out ‘I’m only 9/ What are you?’”
But she isn’t serenading any new beaus in her Toronto parlor; she’s looking inward instead: “I’ve actually been falling in love with myself and my life. Because only then can you truly love others and be loved in return.”
If you go
Serena Ryder
Opening for Paolo Nutini
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22
Where: Slim’s, 333 11th St., San Francisco
Tickets: $11
Contact: www.slimstickets.com
Special to The Examiner 4/16/09
Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention.
Just ask Canadian folk-rocker Serena Ryder, who arrived at an unusual solution for the tennis elbow that was stifling her strumming. The tendonitis grew so painful, the petite powerhouse couldn’t play the big, full-sized guitars anymore.
That’s when she discovered vintage parlor guitars, popular in the late 1800s. “They were these tiny guitars, originally invented for women to play to the men in drawing rooms, and they’re amazing. I actually fell in love with their sound,” she says.
Now Ryder, 26, is an obsessive collector of parlor six-strings and their equally-comfortable competitors, half-sized guitars.
Next week at Slim’s, she’ll be playing a parlor, plus two half-sizes she tracked down on tour.
“They’re called Matons, you can only get them in Australia, and they’re the best I’ve ever found,” she says. “I actually have someone who’s making me a parlor guitar right now. He’s been crafting it for the last two years, and he keeps on sending me pictures of it. Other than that, if I can ever find any parlor better than the ones I have, I’ll get it — they’re that great.”
Plus, it beats the singer’s last obsession — sew-on buttons. It recently took her two full months to whittle her monstrous collection down to a prize 45.
All of these quirky eccentricities add up to some thoroughly refreshing songwriting on “Is It O.K.,” Ryder’s brainy U.S. debut for Atlantic.
From the chiming opener “Sweeping the Ashes” to a forlorn “Dark as the Black” finish, Ryder’s soulful rasp wends through tales of breakup, despair, even death, justifying her 2008 Juno win as Canada’s Best New Artist.
Ryder’s upbringing was equally odd. She hails from the rural Ontario village of Millbrook, population 3,000.
“The only thing that I knew of the outside world was by TV,” she says. “There was no bus that left town, no train — the only way to get out was by driving.”
Her biggest thrills were long woodland walks and the annual Millbrook Fair in June. “I had my first crush on the carny who ran the Octopus ride,” she says. “And I ended up writing an early song about him, which started out ‘I’m only 9/ What are you?’”
But she isn’t serenading any new beaus in her Toronto parlor; she’s looking inward instead: “I’ve actually been falling in love with myself and my life. Because only then can you truly love others and be loved in return.”
If you go
Serena Ryder
Opening for Paolo Nutini
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22
Where: Slim’s, 333 11th St., San Francisco
Tickets: $11
Contact: www.slimstickets.com
I "heart" Serena Ryder
This was originally posted on April 1st, 2009.
When I blogged about Serena on Sunday, I noticed a little heart tattoo on her hand. It turns out she has one on each hand. Fellow forum member "gardengnome3" was kind enough to post a picture of it:
It's official: I "heart" Serena Ryder. How much cooler can this lady be?
Watching the tattoos, they remind me of my friend Kelly... :D
Update: I listened to this interview which Serena did for a radio station called Live 100.5 in Birmingham, Alabama: Serena's voice sounds just as sexy in my ears. And who would say no to free bubbles AND Serena? I wouldn't. In this interview she did for CBC Radio Ottawa (The Best of All In A Day) I'm amazed again by how well some of her impersonations of people are. (This one's very funny.) Watch her tell fans how she and her band got kicked out of a NYC rehearsal space. (Not for reasons you're thinking of...)
When I blogged about Serena on Sunday, I noticed a little heart tattoo on her hand. It turns out she has one on each hand. Fellow forum member "gardengnome3" was kind enough to post a picture of it:
It's official: I "heart" Serena Ryder. How much cooler can this lady be?
Watching the tattoos, they remind me of my friend Kelly... :D
Update: I listened to this interview which Serena did for a radio station called Live 100.5 in Birmingham, Alabama: Serena's voice sounds just as sexy in my ears. And who would say no to free bubbles AND Serena? I wouldn't. In this interview she did for CBC Radio Ottawa (The Best of All In A Day) I'm amazed again by how well some of her impersonations of people are. (This one's very funny.) Watch her tell fans how she and her band got kicked out of a NYC rehearsal space. (Not for reasons you're thinking of...)
Jun 14, 2011
Serena Ryder is very o.k.
Rarely do I stumble upon an artist that instantly blows me off my socks. When it comes to music, I admit there are a lot of good stuff out there, as well as lot of crap. Few are very talented in my opinion. So, I'm not easily impressed. But Serena Ryder did the other day. Today I got my copy of her latest album "Is it O.K." by mail :D
Serena Ryder and actress Ellen Page (a fellow Canadian) have much in common, besides their physical resemblance – both are highly talented, in their 20s and on the cusp of major fame. Like Page, Ryder has already earned raves for her work; having won the 2008 Juno for New Artist of the Year.
When Ryder won the Juno Award in April, many were left scratching their heads. It was not in criticism of Ryder’s deservedness of the accolade. But to them, her name was not new at all. She’s just one member of a group of underrated Canadian female singer/songwriters. (Ryder has been active in the Canadian music industry for years before nabbing the Juno.)
She's proven herself to be a hard-traveling troubadour, with a long series of tours in her native Canada, France and Australia. In the U.S. she's shared stages with artists as Paolo Nutini, and Xavier Rudd, not to mention performances at festivals as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Denver’s Mile High Music Festival.
2008 was a rough year: she toured a lot, and spent a lot of time by herself on the road, she went through a breakup, and her best friend died. Ryder put all of that pain into her latest album.
Losing her friend and manager of six years - Bonnie O'Donnell - was possibly the biggest blow in Ryder's personal life during the making of the album, which is dedicated (as was Ryder's '08 Juno for Best New Artist) to her memory. After O'Donnell's passing in January, Ryder says she emerged from "three weeks of being in an absolute haze" to find the music pouring out of her. Half of the material on "Is it O.K." was completed in a one and a half week burst of creativity. Songs inspired during that time include "Dark as the Black", "Truth", "Stumbling Over You" and the twangy, folk-rocking title track.
"She would have loved it, I think she would have loved it,"” Ryder says when asked what O’Donnell’s reaction to the record would be. "There were a lot of songs that were written after she had passed on. She would definitely have loved the record. I hope."
Her lead single, "Little Bit of Red", exemplifies that liberation of pain. At the height of the song’s chorus, Ryder sings, "Your black and white needs a little bit of red," reflecting on her frustration with constant human urge for self-definition in order to feel comfort.
"I like to think of the line as maybe even bleeding a little bit," she says. "The song is really about trying to fit yourself into those boxes and using those boxes as excuses for a lot of your fears. But humans are multi-faceted beings. There’s never one thing that can define us."
Ryder says she likes to keep things open-ended with her words. "It makes it like something we can all relate to - how you feel when somebody loves you or doesn't love you. We can all relate to that regardless of whether it's a dude, or your mom, or your friend."
My friend Sacha called the singer the missing link between Melissa Etheridge and Beth Hart, and I agree with him: it's not just the vocals that range from raspy (Ryder smokes) to smooth (not to mention her 3-octave range, on a good day), it's also in the lyrics in which she pours out her heart. In interviews I've seen comparisons with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Nicks, Tracy Chapman, Melissa Etheridge, and Janis Joplin. And she can rap!
While surfing the web in search of info on the 25-year-old, I suddenly realize I have heard Serena before on some Canadian rock radio station: "Just another day" is a tune that I found myself humming at one point several years ago :)
Serena Ryder and actress Ellen Page (a fellow Canadian) have much in common, besides their physical resemblance – both are highly talented, in their 20s and on the cusp of major fame. Like Page, Ryder has already earned raves for her work; having won the 2008 Juno for New Artist of the Year.
When Ryder won the Juno Award in April, many were left scratching their heads. It was not in criticism of Ryder’s deservedness of the accolade. But to them, her name was not new at all. She’s just one member of a group of underrated Canadian female singer/songwriters. (Ryder has been active in the Canadian music industry for years before nabbing the Juno.)
She's proven herself to be a hard-traveling troubadour, with a long series of tours in her native Canada, France and Australia. In the U.S. she's shared stages with artists as Paolo Nutini, and Xavier Rudd, not to mention performances at festivals as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Denver’s Mile High Music Festival.
2008 was a rough year: she toured a lot, and spent a lot of time by herself on the road, she went through a breakup, and her best friend died. Ryder put all of that pain into her latest album.
Losing her friend and manager of six years - Bonnie O'Donnell - was possibly the biggest blow in Ryder's personal life during the making of the album, which is dedicated (as was Ryder's '08 Juno for Best New Artist) to her memory. After O'Donnell's passing in January, Ryder says she emerged from "three weeks of being in an absolute haze" to find the music pouring out of her. Half of the material on "Is it O.K." was completed in a one and a half week burst of creativity. Songs inspired during that time include "Dark as the Black", "Truth", "Stumbling Over You" and the twangy, folk-rocking title track.
"She would have loved it, I think she would have loved it,"” Ryder says when asked what O’Donnell’s reaction to the record would be. "There were a lot of songs that were written after she had passed on. She would definitely have loved the record. I hope."
Her lead single, "Little Bit of Red", exemplifies that liberation of pain. At the height of the song’s chorus, Ryder sings, "Your black and white needs a little bit of red," reflecting on her frustration with constant human urge for self-definition in order to feel comfort.
"I like to think of the line as maybe even bleeding a little bit," she says. "The song is really about trying to fit yourself into those boxes and using those boxes as excuses for a lot of your fears. But humans are multi-faceted beings. There’s never one thing that can define us."
Ryder says she likes to keep things open-ended with her words. "It makes it like something we can all relate to - how you feel when somebody loves you or doesn't love you. We can all relate to that regardless of whether it's a dude, or your mom, or your friend."
My friend Sacha called the singer the missing link between Melissa Etheridge and Beth Hart, and I agree with him: it's not just the vocals that range from raspy (Ryder smokes) to smooth (not to mention her 3-octave range, on a good day), it's also in the lyrics in which she pours out her heart. In interviews I've seen comparisons with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Nicks, Tracy Chapman, Melissa Etheridge, and Janis Joplin. And she can rap!
While surfing the web in search of info on the 25-year-old, I suddenly realize I have heard Serena before on some Canadian rock radio station: "Just another day" is a tune that I found myself humming at one point several years ago :)
Serena Ryder
Originally posted on December 1st, 2008.
Ik ben niet snel van iemand onder de indruk. Muzikaal gezien ben ik ook nog eens redelijk kieskeurig; ik heb weinig met "pre-fab" groepjes jongens of meisjes die bij elkaar geraapt zijn vanwege hun uiterlijk. Op de een of andere manier word ik sneller aangetrokken tot singer/songwriters die recht uit het hart zingen. Ieder z'n eigen ding natuurlijk... Maar goed, ik was 9 toen ik de eerste keer Bruce Springsteen hoorde. En het sprak me aan. (Zo erg zelfs dat ik hem wilde zijn!) Een paar jaar later hoorde ik Melissa Etheridge voor het eerst op de radio - haar debuut album was net uit. Ik was verkocht al vanaf de eerste akkoorden van "Bring me some water"; het klonk als niks dat ik ooit gehoord was. En dat rauwe sprak mij ook erg aan. Een paar jaar later werd ik spontaan verliefd op de stem van Sarah Bettens (toen nog "The Choice" met broer Gert). Een bijkomstigheid is dat ik ze er ook nog eens leuk uitzag. (Mijn mening.) Weer een paar jaar later werden mijn oren gestreeld door TOOL. "Sober" was mijn eerste echte kennismaking met de Amerikaanse band, en hun muziek valt niet te categoriseren. Het is donker en intens.
Afijn, vorige week "ontdekte" ik Serena Ryder, een 25-jarige Canadese wiens album "Is it O.K." sinds 11 november jl. uit is (in Canada). De VS zullen volgen. En hopelijk Europa ook. Vanaf het moment dat ik "Little bit of red" hoorde, was ik verkocht, en met behulp van het internet ben ik wat over de jonge Canadese te weten gekomen. Serena heeft een zwaar jaar achter de rug (een relatie dat op de klippen liep, haar beste vriendin en manager die afgelopen januari op 32-jarige leeftijd overleed) en al die pijn heeft zij van zich afgeschreven. In april van dit jaar won de singer/songwriter een Juno (de Canadese Grammy) voor Best New Artist, maar als ik "Just another day" van haar hoor, besef ik dat ik dit nummer ken! Ik heb dit nummer een aantal jaren geleden gehoord, tijdens één van mijn trips naar Canada.
Als je die stem hoort (Serena heeft een bereik van 3 octaven - en rookt!) en de teksten van haar meest recente album beluistert, dan zou je haar ouder schatten dan 25, maar als je haar ziet...
Vrienden van me hebben haar al vergeleken met Melissa Etheridge, Beth Hart en Ilse DeLange. Hm. Nou, ik zie geen van hen rappen op een tv show zoals Serena hier doet :) Ze spreekt ook over het opnemen van een video clip voor haar huidige single ("Little bit of red"). Ik hoop dat "Is it O.K." ook in Europa wordt uitgebracht, zodat meer mensen met haar muziek kunnen kennismaken. En mocht zij haar album in Nederland komen promoten, dan hoop ik vooraan te staan bij een concert!
Ik ben niet snel van iemand onder de indruk. Muzikaal gezien ben ik ook nog eens redelijk kieskeurig; ik heb weinig met "pre-fab" groepjes jongens of meisjes die bij elkaar geraapt zijn vanwege hun uiterlijk. Op de een of andere manier word ik sneller aangetrokken tot singer/songwriters die recht uit het hart zingen. Ieder z'n eigen ding natuurlijk... Maar goed, ik was 9 toen ik de eerste keer Bruce Springsteen hoorde. En het sprak me aan. (Zo erg zelfs dat ik hem wilde zijn!) Een paar jaar later hoorde ik Melissa Etheridge voor het eerst op de radio - haar debuut album was net uit. Ik was verkocht al vanaf de eerste akkoorden van "Bring me some water"; het klonk als niks dat ik ooit gehoord was. En dat rauwe sprak mij ook erg aan. Een paar jaar later werd ik spontaan verliefd op de stem van Sarah Bettens (toen nog "The Choice" met broer Gert). Een bijkomstigheid is dat ik ze er ook nog eens leuk uitzag. (Mijn mening.) Weer een paar jaar later werden mijn oren gestreeld door TOOL. "Sober" was mijn eerste echte kennismaking met de Amerikaanse band, en hun muziek valt niet te categoriseren. Het is donker en intens.
Afijn, vorige week "ontdekte" ik Serena Ryder, een 25-jarige Canadese wiens album "Is it O.K." sinds 11 november jl. uit is (in Canada). De VS zullen volgen. En hopelijk Europa ook. Vanaf het moment dat ik "Little bit of red" hoorde, was ik verkocht, en met behulp van het internet ben ik wat over de jonge Canadese te weten gekomen. Serena heeft een zwaar jaar achter de rug (een relatie dat op de klippen liep, haar beste vriendin en manager die afgelopen januari op 32-jarige leeftijd overleed) en al die pijn heeft zij van zich afgeschreven. In april van dit jaar won de singer/songwriter een Juno (de Canadese Grammy) voor Best New Artist, maar als ik "Just another day" van haar hoor, besef ik dat ik dit nummer ken! Ik heb dit nummer een aantal jaren geleden gehoord, tijdens één van mijn trips naar Canada.
Als je die stem hoort (Serena heeft een bereik van 3 octaven - en rookt!) en de teksten van haar meest recente album beluistert, dan zou je haar ouder schatten dan 25, maar als je haar ziet...
Vrienden van me hebben haar al vergeleken met Melissa Etheridge, Beth Hart en Ilse DeLange. Hm. Nou, ik zie geen van hen rappen op een tv show zoals Serena hier doet :) Ze spreekt ook over het opnemen van een video clip voor haar huidige single ("Little bit of red"). Ik hoop dat "Is it O.K." ook in Europa wordt uitgebracht, zodat meer mensen met haar muziek kunnen kennismaken. En mocht zij haar album in Nederland komen promoten, dan hoop ik vooraan te staan bij een concert!
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