In early 2022, after several years away from touring and recording, Ryan suffered two strokes. As part of the healing process, he was drawn back to the music world and began the final production and mixing of a series of self-produced songs with Grammy Award-winning producer and mixing engineer, Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith, Daniel Lanois). The record, Crow Amongst the Sparrows, was released in September 2023 to critical acclaim. 

Ryan’s new single, “Grand Illusions,” featuring Felicity Williams of Bahamas, is the third release from his yet to be titled new album. This dreamy and psychedelic release melds winding and ethereal guitar and vocal harmonies.

With “Grand Illusions,” Ryan seeks to convey the emotional push and pull between a couple whose story he discovered in a typewritten letter nestled between the pages of a used book of Rilke poems.

The letter, written in the 1950s, details a father and husband’s concerns about his wife leaving the family to donate her time and inheritance to the communist party in New York City. The song attempts to tell that story by stitching together facts and inferences from the letter. – Ryan Wayne

The miles between us have a lot of weight

And I don’t know what else to say

When your grand illusion starts to fade away 

I hope you will come back this way

Born and raised in the blue collar town of Oshawa, just east of Toronto, Ryan Wayne grew up surrounded by music. His father is a songwriting truck driver, and Ryan spent countless summer nights singing with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends at the family cabin near Algonquin Park. 

During his musical career, Ryan has toured the globe, sharing the stage with artists such as The Drive-By Truckers, The Skydiggers, Elliott Brood, Deer Tick, and many more. Ryan has also done session work and production work with many artists including Dan Mangan.

Auteur Research

Around the same time, Ryan was jamming with some friends on his co-ed arts league hockey team, learning some ’70s funk songs. He noticed how few chords were used in the songs they were learning – it was all about the hooks and groove. Ryan wondered how far he could take a two-chord folk song by focusing on instrumental layers, counterpoint, groove and dynamics. He and Alex went back and forth on the music (as well as a few contributions from friends and bandmates) to complete “Ready My Love.”

“Where modern hearts unravel and the restless can’t escape 

You could build an empire of cardboard and clay 

But would you protect us from the wind and rain 

Or dance amongst the remnants of your own decay”

Ryan Wayne first came to recognition as a founding member and songwriter in the critically acclaimed, award-winning band, The Warped 45s. In early 2022, after several years away from touring and recording, Ryan suffered two strokes. As part of the healing process, Ryan was drawn back to the music world and began the final production and mixing of a series of self-produced songs with Grammy Award winning producer and mixing engineer, Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith, Daniel Lanois). The record, Crow Amongst the Sparrows, was released in September 2023 to critical acclaim. 

Auteur Research

Attention to details is a theme here…starting with the artwork, an absolutely stunning work of art…and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Ryan, a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has a lot to give to the world…and he has a very keen eye for details, it is evident in all of the 8 songs on his “Crow Amongst the Sparrows”.

After years and years of touring and recording, Ryan suffered two strokes early 2022…but the music is strong with this one…you could saw that Ryan was drawn to the music world once again, maybe as a meditative and as a healing journey…whatever it was, we’re glad that he’s doing great and his music is doing great too…

For his album “Crow Amongst the Sparrows”, Ryan worked with Grammy award-winning producer and mixing engineer Malcolm Burn, who worked with icons like Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith, Daniel Lanois and many more…so we’re in for a sonic treat.

Ryan’s album starts with “Forty Paces to the Bottom”…a defining indie folk song that sets the bar so high, not just for other artists, but for Ryan too…Ryan is a musical disruptor…he comes in with this album and just enchants everyone with his voice and his vocal performance charisma…

The guitars fill the air…the toy piano is emotions transforming to music…

“Forty Paces to the Bottom” has an ambient overdriven guitar solo that feels like you’re walking on clouds…

Ryan manages to keep the indie spirit along with the folk flavor alive across the whole album…the songs here are like beaches…whenever you visit one, it feels different, yet there are similarities…the emotion and sound that this album conveys is very nature-loving, bright and full of life.

“Oh My Maria” mixes the folk with new and modern sounds…it feels classic yet modern…and the vocals here are absolutely mesmerizing…the vocal layering and harmonies are top-notch.

Ryan continues to maintain his signature sound and musicality across the whole album like it was easy…it’s not, he’s just too good.

“Crow Amongst the Sparrows” is a very accessible and emotional album that quickly envelopes the listeners once you press the play button…it’s relaxing, full and rich of emotional delivery, whether through Ryan’s heartfelt vocal performance or through the amazing music.

“Crow Amongst the Sparrows” is a must-listen not just to any fan of folk music…but to anyone who enjoys awesome melodies and great music.

We wish Ryan all the best in life, he definitely deserves it…and we can’t wait to see what comes out next from the artist.

Cheers!

From the opening notes of the album, this notion rings true wholeheartedly; shades of classic boot stompin’ anthems shine through, offering glimmers of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Horton, and Conway Twitty; and the singer took a particular shred of influence from the “Bakersfield sound” scene, a strain of ’60s-era artists that infused traditional country & western songwriting with the electrified, then-new zing of rock & roll.

Presented “as a gift to my people, an exploration of the country & western and roots records they surrounded me with since childhood,” it wouldn’t truly be a Shane Ghostkeeper project without a few flashes of sonic risk-taking, with the latest single “Sunbeam” sporting a lightly psychedelic overcoat in tribute to Shane’s T. Rex and Led Zeppelin-loving Uncle Tucker.

“Sunbeam was written for my late Uncle Tucker and the family he left behind. I was unable to attend his funeral so I wrote this to express my condolences and support for my Aunty Lorraine and my cousins. Tucker was a huge force in the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement community and beyond, and he was a fiercely dedicated father and husband.”

Further extending the concept of “family,” Shane recruited a close-knit crew of collaborators to help him bring this project to life. Producer extraordinaire Lorrie Matheson (Rae Spoon, Art Bergmann), who has been part of the Ghostkeeper world since day one, and bandmates in the main Ghostkeeper band: drummer Eric Hamelin (known for his work with JOYFULTALK and drumming on Alvvays’ smash hit “Archie, Marry Me”), bassist Ryan Bourne (Chad Van Gaalen), and guitarist and pedal steel player Wayne Garrett (Surf Kitties).

Oli Swan on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Deezer, Apple Music, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

Martin Connon on Spotify.

White Noise Maker on Instagram, YouTube, Deezer, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Nick Ryan on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

FEATURED VIDEO

Spun Mellow on Instagram, Deezer, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Spotify.

The Meddlers on Instagram, Instagram, YouTube, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

Magic Nic on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

Waynewood on Instagram, YouTube, Deezer, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

The Municipality on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp.

FEATURED VIDEO

Plaster of Paris on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Spotify, and Bandcamp.

Crashed Astro on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Deezer, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

The Carbons on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

Sunday Morning on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp.

Friend Slash Lover on Facebook, Instagram, and SoundCloud.

FEATURED VIDEO

Art Mulcahy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Spotify.

X Harlow on YouTube, Deezer, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Strawberry Lace on Instagram.

The Secret Things on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Deezer, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Brock Colley on Facebook, Instagram, and Apple Music.

The Shadowboxers on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp.

Always Manic on YouTube, Deezer, and Apple Music.

Black Sea Storm on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Deezer, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Rich McPherson on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Apple Music.

The Love Buzz on YouTube, Deezer, and Apple Music.

Pilots in Training on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.

Colorblue on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

Betty Man on Deezer, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Michael Taylor on Instagram and SoundCloud.

Dear Me on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Apple Music.

The song features Arkaeo and Not My Weekend.

Paul Cook & The Chronicles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp.

Rock Era Magazine

– The order of the playlist is based on the submission receive date.

1. Jonathan Dyton and Valerie Faris

The director husband and wife have a huge resume from the early 80s till now. They directed for R.E.M., Soundgarden, Extreme, The Smashing Pumkins, The Ramones, Oasis, RHCP, as well as working with non-rock/metal such as Janet Jackson and Britney Spears.

2. Marty Callner

Callner has made music videos, comedy specials, concert specials, and created television shows. He worked with most of the successful hits music videos for Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Poison, Scorpions, Twisted Sister and Whitesnake. Also, he was selected to work with ZZ Top, The Cult, Ratt, Lita Ford, KISS, Heart and Dio.

3. Julien Temple

Temple is a dedicated rock fan since the 70s as his beginning as a director was a short documentary called Sex Pistols Number 1. Through the years, he worked with rock and metal artists like Judas Priest, The Kinks, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Billy Idol and Bryan Adams. Besides many pop artists like Enigma, Janet Jackson and Duran Duran.

4. Wayne Isham

You could be not familiar with the name, but when I mention hits of the hits for Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Queensrÿche, Megadeth, Michael Jackson and a very long list since the mid 80s till now with rock, metal, pop and R&B artists, then I do believe you will change your mind.

5. Andy Morahan

When I checked his work, I thought this guy wouldn’t have much time to make films because of his full dedication for music videos! Since the early 80s and Morahan directed over than 100 music videos, and from my personal opinion, his peak was in the 90s era. Most of the greatest hits were for Guns N’ Roses, Chris Rea, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Bryan Adams, Michael Jackson and many more.

6. Matt Mahurin

Mahurin has a huge list of works that includes a variation of films, photographs, short films and TV shows. Since the late 80s, Mahurin worked with many rock, metal, blues and pop artists. He directed different rock and metal acts like; Metallica, Def Leppard, Alice in Chains, Mötley Crüe, Queensrÿche, Rush, Scorpions, Skid Row, Soundgarden and U2.

7. Anton Corbijn

He is a Dutch photographer, music video director and film director. In the 70s he photographed many musicians and actors such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Robert De Niro, and more. In the 80s, Corbijn started his career as a music videos director, as he directed for; U2, Depeche Mode, Danzig, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, Bryan Adams, Metallica and many more.

8. Bruce Gowers

Since the mid-70s and this legendary TV director and producer gave us the best. The most popular hits were for Queen, Genesis, Styx, Prince, Rod Stewart, Kiss, Kansas and Rush were directed by him. He also directed numerous music TV specials, comedies and documentaries.

9. David Mallet

Most of the successful songs by David Bowie, Queen, Def Leppard, Tina Turner, Scorpions, Billy Idol, Rush, Peter Gabriel, AC/DC and Joan Jett were directed by him. He is also one of the most professional long-form music videos directors, as he filmed for Blondie, Pink Floyd, Sarah Brightman, U2, Phil Collins, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Elton John and Cher.

There are other unique directors who didn’t have music work with rock and metal acts but they have great works,, like; David Fincher, Dave Meyers, Floria Sigismondi, Mark Romanek, Nick Egan, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.

Edited by: NJ Bakr