Having been a huge fan of TCM for many years now, I am beyond privileged to have my song "In The Embers" featured in their annual "TCM Remembers" piece this year.
Love, Ryan
"Space 2" Out NOW! Yearbook Vinyl! TCM!
Happiest of Tuesdays to you! SPACE 2 EP OUT NOW
I am so very pleased to announce that my brand-new EP, “Space 2" is officially OUT NOW!!
“Space 2” is the latest installment of my “Atlas” project and is of course, the sibling release to “Space 1.” (Side A and B of the same record, if you will.)
Grab "Space 2" now from iTunes (or anywhere digital music is sold!)
HUGE thanks to Sharon Gerber who played Cello gorgeously on the song “Saturn.” She’s such a sweet soul and it pours out through her Cello. So grateful to have her as my guest on this EP! Please check out her solo music, Celloasis! - It’s so beautiful!!
I truly had a wonderful time writing these Space-inspired songs and am so thrilled to share them with you! This EP concludes the Space themed portion of Atlas. Our universe is absolutely stunning in every way imaginable. Thank you for exploring it a little with me in these songs!
I wrote some extended release notes about Space 2 here.
YEARBOOK ON VINYL PRE-ORDER!
For the first time ever, my 36-song project Yearbook is being pressed on Vinyl!! I’m so thrilled with how this set is turning out! You get 3 records, 12 album-sized fancy posters featuring each of the 12 Yearbook covers (lyrics to every song on the backs) and a digital download of the collection - all beautifully wrapped in a classy Yearbook box/slipcase!
Pre-Order Yearbook (First Pressing!) on Vinyl here!
(Note: All orders are first come, first serve!)
SLEEPING AT LAST + TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES!
I’ve been a longtime fan of TCM, so I’m beyond thrilled to announce that my song “In the Embers” is featured in their yearend “In Memoriam” piece. It begins today and plays sparadically in the weeks to come on TCM. Such an honor. I wrote this song for a dear friend of mine who passed away earlier this year, so it means a lot to me to see this song carry on in this way.
Thank you for reading!! I'm hard at work on the next Atlas EP, "Land" which will release soon!!
Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
PS here’s a list of things i love right now…
1. Garrett’s “Chicago Style” Popcorn (caramel popcorn + cheese popcorn = mmmmm) 2. Garrett Campagna (an incredible designer who’s been lending a hand to the SAL team lately! this garrett even rules MORE than garrett’s popcorn. truth.) 3. This amazing 2013 Trailer Mashup Video (i love movies!!!) 4. My New House (my wife and i just bought our very first home and we’re so pumped about it!!)
Space 2 - Song Notes
Hello there! Today marks the release of "Space 2," so I thought I'd write down some release notes to go alongside it.
TRACK LIST
1. Jupiter 2. Saturn 3. Uranus 4. Neptune
... and of course,
5. Pluto
Space 2 is (obviously) the sequel to Space 1, thus completing my "Space" series within Atlas. Just like the Darkness and Light EPs were envisioned to be two halves of one “album,” Space 1 and 2 were meant to compliment one another as well; Two sides of the same record, which I'm calling Space. (duh)
While I was writing its sibling EP, Space 1, I found myself constantly immersing myself in all things Space as I wrote. For Space 2, the obsession continued- constantly glued to my telescope, constantly watching space-related tv and films. I had endless conversations with smarter people than myself too - all in an effort to gather up the tiny pieces we know about our gorgeous Solar System.
Nerd fact: You may, or may not have noticed… Space 1 feature what scientists call the “Inner Planets.” Space 2, feature the “Outer Planets."
I truly had a wonderful time writing these songs. Our universe is stunning in every way imaginable.
GUESTS:
SHARON GERBER (played Cellos on "Saturn”) - Sharon is a brand-new friend of mine. We met just last month in Atlanta, where she played Cello for me for the first time at a conference. She’s such a sweet soul and it pours out through her incredible Cello playing! After hearing her first note at the show, I knew I just had to invite her to be a guest ASAP on Atlas, so when I was writing “Saturn,” it just made perfect sense. Her recordings are so lovely and add so much depth to this song! Please check out her solo music, Celloasis! - It’s absolutely stunning!!
SONG NOTES
1. JUPITER
I wrote this song from the perspective of Galileo Galilei, who discovered Jupiter’s 4 Moons, which are consequently named the "Gailelean Moons." The song is divided into 4 parts, representing each of the moon’s Mr. Galileo discovered. If you listen close, you’ll hear some radio static that NASA recorded of Jupiter’s unique storm systems. Because Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, it's an awful lot of planet to explore - so as I wrote this song, I tried to have it constantly progressing into new territory.
2. SATURN
I liked the idea of following Jupiter with a song perhaps written from Galileo’s children perspective. It’s very much a song about losing someone close and deeply loved, but it’s about the good they left behind in our lives and how to reflect that in your relationships in front of you. The collection of Cellos on this song were played by Sharon Gerber. Saturn is of course our most photogenic planet, with it's gorgeous rings, so musically I aimed as best I could to write something worthy of such good looks. I held the word "beautiful" as a measuring stick constantly as I wrote the music, asking myself "is this beautiful.. enough?" This is of course an impossible task, but I had fun with the challenge.
3. URANUS
I have to admit, it took my a while to figure out how to approach this oddly named planet. Ultimately I decided that the only way to avoid 10 year old humorous connections to the lyrics, was to make it an instrumental. So I stared at images of the planet and watched as much as I could, learning about this planet. Like all of these Space songs, I tried to write a score for the planet. Its own little anthem. I learned a ton about the weather patterns of the planet - which I let inform the instrumentation. Some serious storms going on up there! So I tried to write this in a very serious, almost brooding tone.
4. NEPTUNE
Named after the god of the sea, I wrote this one with the Sea in my mind. Foreshadowing the upcoming “Oceans” EP. Neptune, the planet, is considered an Ice Giant - so I tried to use as many cold and wet sounding instruments as I could. (You can even hear some sampled melting Ice and snow in parts of this one!) This one was a really fun one to put together - though it’s a challenging story, being helplessly lost at sea. Inspired a bit by the film Gravity and All is Lost.
5. PLUTO
I knew right away when I was sorting out the ideas for Atlas, that on the Space EPs, Pluto had to be a part! So I made it a “bonus” track! It’s not really written from the perspective of Pluto, per say, but I liked the ideas of writing a song about the emotions that we human’s could assign to this lonely, demoted planet. It turned out to be a very personal song for me, though I consider it to be the most “fun” of the bunch.
As with all of the Atlas songs, I’ll be writing more detailed stories behind each song in the coming months! In the meantime though, I’ll be working hard on “Land” and “Oceans,” the remaining EPs for this Atlas Year!
Completing the Space-themed music for Atlas is bittersweet. I feel so grateful to have had a few months to dive in so deep and it feels amazing to reach the finish line and move onto new themes, BUT I will miss calling all of the hours I spend watching amazing Space documentaries and movies "research."
I truly had a wonderful time writing these songs. Our universe is stunning in every way imaginable. Thank you for giving me your ears to explore this stuff with you. It means so much to me!
Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
New Song on The Carrie Diaries & More!
Bonjour! Goodness gracious, December is here! I hope it’s treating you so well so far. I know it’s only been a matter of days since I last wrote, but I’ve got more fun things to tell you about! Hope you don’t mind...
INVISIBLE CHILDREN
I've teamed up with my pals Invisible Children in their #zeroLRA campaign, which is about helping kidnapped women, children and abducted soldiers return home safely to their families. I would be so very honored if you’d consider lending a hand and helping us do some good this holiday season! Please visit my fundraising page, here!
NEW COVER SONG ON CARRIE DIARIES!
Guess what! (You'll never guess...) I recorded a cover of an 80’s song called “The Safety Dance” (originally sung by Men Without Hats) and tomorrow night (12/6) it’ll be featured on the Sex in the City prequal TV show The Carrie Diaries on The CW!
A couple months ago, I was asked to record a melancholic version of this super fun song for the show and I had such a blast putting it together! So honored to be a part of The Carrie Diaries and hope you’ll tune in tomorrow!
My recording of “The Safety Dance” is available NOW on iTunes - would be delighted for you to hear it! Here!
It was mastered by dear friend, Chris Bethea. The lovely artwork is by the talented, Kyle Barrett.
HOLIDAY SALE ENDS TOMORROW
Lastly, just letting you know that our annual Holiday SALE ends tomorrow (12/6) at 11:59PM CST! Last chance to get 20% off everything in our store, by using the code: ZUZU
That’s it for today! Got lots of neat things to tell you about super soon too… in the meantime, I’ll be writing new songs for the upcoming EP “Land”!!
Much Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
PS here’s a list of things i love right now…
1. OKDOTHIS (a new photo app that is spectacular and endlessly creative! GET. IT.) 2. Faces In Things Twitter (you need to follow this account… literally makes me happy every day) 3. Cinnamon Rolls (all of them) 4. Amazon Prime Air (feels like the jetsons! future = yes, please.)
FREE Christmas Album!
Hey again, friends! I hope you don’t mind us occupying a little more space in your inbox so soon after the last note! Got a few more fun things to announce…
FREE CHRISTMAS SONG (& ALBUM!)
As many of you may already know, each year I record a Christmas cover song and give it away for free. It’s my version of a Christmas card. This has been tradition for many years now… for so many in fact that it has accumulated (like snow) into a full on 13-song Christmas album, I call my Christmas Collection.
This year I chose the John Lennon and Yoko Ono classic, “Happy Xmas (War is Over.)” I had so much fun working on this one - such lovely melodies… it’s almost as if Mr. Lennon was a genius or something! ;) Such a great song. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my take on it and consider it a worthy addition to my ever-growing Christmas Collection.
Download “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” along with the entire Christmas Collection for FREE via the wonderful NoiseTrade!
Just a friendly reminder that for a limited time EVERYTHING in the Sleeping At Last online store is on SALE! Get 20% OFF with the code: ZUZU! Sale includes Atlas (1st time ever!), Atlas GIFT Subscriptions, Vinyl, Shirts... Everything!
Check out the Sleeping At Last store here!
If subscribing to Atlas (on sale) ain’t yo thang, I’m pleased to let you know that as of right now my latest installment “Space 2” is now available for pre-order on iTunes for the sale price of $3.99! (Releases Dec. 10)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Last, but certainly not least, I just wanted to say how very grateful I am for you. I am genuinely overwhelmed with gratitude that I get to spend my life writing and singing songs that mean something to me… and that is entirely thanks to you. Thank you so much for listening. It means more to me than I could ever explain!
Much Love,
Ryan - Sleeping At Last
P.S. here’s a list of things i’m thankful for right now… (thanksgiving edition)
1. Mashed Potatoes (every time i eat them i think, “i need more mashed potatoes in my life”) 2. Traditions (a tradition in my family is the go see a movie thanksgiving afternoon. love. it.) 3. Countdown to Christmas (since i was a kid, thanksgiving was my mile marker for christmas.) 4. You (seriously. so so thankful for you.)