Atlas Themes, "Light" Now Shipping!
Dear friends, I've got a few things to tell you about today! Firstly...
"LIGHT" CD NOW SHIPPING!
As part of my Atlas CD Box-set/Subscription, the latest EP, "Light" is now shipping to all "Passport Plus" members! To purchase and/or learn more about this new CD box-set, visit here.
ATLAS THEMES ANNOUNCED!
Speaking of Atlas, today I am pleased to announce the remaining Atlas EP titles/themes for this year! Drum roll, please...
The next Atlas theme is SPACE.
SPACE will be a collection of songs inspired by our Solar System - a song for each planet. Through lots of incredibly fun research, I've been learning a lot about each planet, documenting their colors, characteristics, mythology and other details that will inspire and inform the tone and feel of each song. A couple examples of this: "Mercury", as I've learned is a planet made up of roughly 70% metallic, will be a song recorded only using metallic instruments... Bells, Brass, Cymbals, etc. "Venus," named after the roman god of love, will of course be a love song. And so on and so on. As you can see, these songs will not be a collection of Theremin Solos, but Sleeping At Last songs inspired by the incredibly beautiful information that exists about the galaxy we live in!
This theme will span over the next two Atlas EPs. The first of which, called "SPACE 1" (late Summer release) will feature 6 songs:
1. Sun 2. Mercury 3. Venus 4. Earth 5. Moon 6. Mars
Followed by its 5-song sibling EP, "SPACE 2" which continues and completes the Solar System inspired track-list:
1. Jupitor 2. Saturn 3. Uranus 4. Neptune ... and of course, a bonus-track entitled "Pluto."
Later this year, I'll pull the camera in a little closer with the release of LAND. A 4-song EP:
1. North 2. East 3. South 4. West
Concluding Atlas Year 2013, I will release OCEANS. Continuing and completing the oceanic theme that began on my previous project "Yearbook," this 5-song EP will be a collection of all instrumental songs inspired by the 5 oceans of Earth.
1. Pacific 2. Atlantic 3. Indian 4. Southern 5. Arctic
As you can now see, Atlas tells an overarching story about how all things came to be: the origins, emergence and experiences of life. This Atlas year only tells a small fraction of that story, but I'm keeping next year's Atlas schedule and themes under wraps for now! So fun to finally share with you the concept. I geek out on this stuff and I couldn't be having a better time writing songs within these concepts and ideas!
Thanks for reading!!
Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
p.s. here's a list of things i love right now... (brought to you by the letter "c") 1. candy crush saga (i didn't want to get sucked into this life-consuming ios game... but it happened. i see candy in my sleep) 2. celestron telescopes (my wife got me one for my bday and i LOVE it. so inspiring for my "space" songs!) 3. can i stream.it? (my go to app for finding out if that movie or tv show is on netflix, or wherever!)
Re:new + Sleeping At Last Bag!
Hello! I hope this email finds you enjoying your Summer thoroughly! It's been a very busy and wonderful one here! Traveling, writing, recording... needless to say, it's flying by so fast!
LIMITED-EDITION MESSENGER BAGS
As you may already know, alongside each Atlas EP, I am offering a limited-edition merch item. For the recently released "Light" EP I am pleased to announce a collaboration with an absolutely incredible nonprofit called Re:new.
Behold! The limited-edition "You Are Enough" Messenger Bag!
Offered in 2 sizes, these bags were beautifully hand-made and custom designed in collaboration for this project, featuring the lyric "You Are Enough," from my latest EP, "Light."
Aside from being amazing and fashionable, these bags also carry a beautiful and important story...
Founded by our close friend, Rebecca Sandberg, Re:new exists to transform and invest in the lives of refugee women living in America. Every year, tens of thousands of refugees from all over the world fleeing war, persecution, or natural disaster are resettled in America. Re:new comes alongside refugee women in America, enabling them to thrive, by providing employment opportunity and relational community. Re:new Artisans enjoy fair wage employment creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted products in a creative and dignified workplace.
I've been so so so inspired over the years by the work of Re:new that I couldn't be more excited to partner up with them to offer you this custom-made bag!!
With your purchase, you come alongside refugee women in America and empower them to support their families and experience hope. All proceeds benefit the work of Re:new!
Get the "You Are Enough" Messenger Bags here!
Complimenting the "You Are Enough" Messenger bag (which is only avail on our site!), Re:new is offering a beautiful "You Are Enough" Zip Pouch, available on their site! The perfect accessory for your new messenger bag! OR a great gift for someone else!
Get the "You Are Enough" Zip Pouch here!
In addition to their incredible bags, Re:new is also a great source for handmade home linens and many other totally beautiful products, including my personal fav, iPhone/iPad cases! Please take a moment to visit the Re:new website or in person at their flagship store in IL and learn more about the incredible work they're doing, first-hand!
Thank you SO much for reading, and a HUGE thanks to Rebecca and the Re:new team for the wonderful work they are doing to make this world a better place!!
Much Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
Sleeping At Last on TV Tonight!
Hello!! SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - TONIGHT!
Just a super quick note to let you know that my brand-new song "In The Embers" (from my "Light" EP) will be featured on tonight's So You Think You Can Dance!! (7/9) Choreographed by the incredibly talented, Sonya Teyah!
If you missed the last few songs of mine on this season of SYTYCD, check 'em out here (click on the song titles to watch): "Turning Page", "Clockwork (Piano Version)", "Goes On and On" and be sure to tune in TONIGHT to hear "In The Embers"! 8/7c on FOX! I feel so grateful and blessed to be a part of this wonderful show!!
Thanks for reading! Many hugs your way!
Much Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
here's another list of things i love right now...
1. cosmicomics by italo calvino (this book is wonderful and so very visual) 2. in the shadow of the moon (beautiful and moving documentary. what an incredible moment in history to put a person on the moon.) 3. klondike vanilla icecream sandwich (i shouln't eat these.)
Summer Sale!
Hello all! Summertime is here! I hope that it's already been an amazing one for you! So far, so good over here - I just returned home from an incredible first-time visit to Paris and had the best time! Was there doing a little research for my upcoming EPs, as well as enjoying a bit of a Summer vacation. I'm back and already digging deep into the new songs for the remaining Atlas EPs, which is how I'll be enjoying my Summer. SO excited about these songs and can't wait to share soon!
Speaking of Atlas, thank you all SO much for such encouraging feedback on the new "Light" EP!! Means so much to me - such a reward to hear after spending so much time on these songs. Thanks to you, "Light" was featured on iTunes, Spotify, Paste Magazine, Myspace and even made it onto the Billboard Charts as a "Heatseeker"! Thank you so much for your support! So, so very honored.
SUMMER SALE!
Aside from wanting to say hello, I am writing today to let you know that in honor of 4th of July, we're having a Summer Sale!! 20% OFF everything* in the online store, now through July 9th at 11:59PM CST! Sale includes: Yearbook, All Shirts, Vinyl, CDs, Onesies and more!
Shop here, then at checkout, enter the code: OOZMAKAPA
(Orders must total $20 or more. *Atlas is not a part of this sale, sorry!)
Thanks so much for reading!! I'll be writing soon with more news/info about the next Atlas EPs - can't wait to tell you all about 'em!
Much Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
P.S. here's a list of things i love right now...
1. Monster's University (the orig. is an all time fav film of mine, and this prequel is so fun, clever and fitting! hooray pixar!! note the MU inspired coupon code above!) 2. Nutella (umm.. how have i not had nutella 'til now? a recent discovery i made via crepes in paris. mmm) 3. C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy (long time lewis fan, just not starting the space trilogy - in love.) 4. Instagram Video (into it.)