Ryan Downey

Last updated

Ryan Downey
BornAustralia
Origin Melbourne, Australia [1]
Genres
[1] [2]
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2013–present
Labels
  • Gaga Digi (2013-2017)
  • Barely Dressed Records (2018-2020)
  • Dot Dash Records (2021+)
Website www.ryandowney.net

Ryan Downey is a singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia. [1]

Contents

Early life

Ryan Downey grew up in rural Victoria, Australia. At age of 10 he was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. In 2016, Downey explains "I was a young boy with an old man's body. There were days when I couldn't walk and during the worst of it my hair turned grey for a while. Being a forced bystander through those early years really bound me to my love of art, music and cinema." [3]

Career

2013–2014: Familiar Ground by Venice Music

In July 2013, Downey released his debut 4-track EP Familiar Ground under the moniker Venice Music on Gaga Digi. [4] [5] The EP was produced by Casey Rice. [1] In a review of the EP, Stephanie Tell from The Music AU said "Ryan Downey's captivatingly dark, baritone voice immediately strikes you". [6]

2015–2017: Me & Her

In 2015, Downey broke his left arm which left him unable to play any instrument for six weeks. During this time, he recorded a "vocals based" EP titled Me & Her which was released on 22 March 2016. [7] The EP contained two originals and songs written and recorded by female songwriters. Downey said "The album was a true joy to make and these songs provided the greatest company, I hope you enjoy them too." [8] The Music AU described the EP as "A jaw-dropping set of gorgeously constructed voice work". [9]

2018–2019: Running

On 13 February 2018, The Music Network revealed Downey had signed with Barely Dressed Records and Remote Control Records and released the single "Running". [2] Two further singles were released and on 13 April 2018, Downey released his debut studio album, Running. Australian Independent Record Labels Association described the album as "jaw-droppingly beautiful" [3] and Alastair Cairns from Happy Mag said "Running is his immaculately crafted debut album and it provides the perfect introduction to an artist that has been gathering momentum for some time now." [10] The album was produced by Steve Hassett and recorded across New York and Melbourne, with subject material ranging from humour and pathos, self-analysis and love. [3] [2]

The album made the 2018 Australian Music Prize long list. [11]

2020–present: A Ton of Colours

In February 2021, it was announced that Downey had signed with Dot Dash Recordings. Downey said of the signing: "I'm very excited to be joining the Dot Dash fam, their gene pool is outstanding. Not only are they the easiest, most supportive people to work with, they're so incredibly hard working and they believe in the art." [12] To coincide with the announcement, Downey announced his second studio album, A Ton of Colours (stylised as A TON OF COLOURS) and released its lead single "Heart Is an Onion". [12] Downey enlisted producer Burke Reid for this album after hearing the rawness Reid brought to Julia Jacklin's Crushing and Courtney Barnett's Tell Me How You Really Feel albums. Downey said "I'd written these big drama-filled songs that I wanted to be represented vividly and playfully, but balanced with realness in the recordings, which Burke understood immediately." A Ton of Colours was released on 14 May 2021. [13] The album was proceeded by the singles "Heart Is An Onion", "Contact" [14] and "Half Light". [15]

Touring

Ryan has toured nationally, including performances at BIGSOUND, [16] Melbourne Recital Centre, [17] Museum of Old and New Art, [18] St Kilda Festival [19] and headline shows [20] and has opened for artists including Marlon Williams, [21] Middle Kids, [22] Julia Jacklin, [23] Sarah Blasko [24] and Emma Louise. [25]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with release date and label shown
TitleDetails
Running
A Ton of Colours
  • Released: 14 May 2021 [27]
  • Label: Dot Dash Records (DASH072CD/DASH072LP)
  • Formats: CD, LP, Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of EPs, with release date and label shown
TitleDetails
Familiar Ground
(as Venice Music)
  • Released: 26 July 2013 [6]
  • Label: Gaga Digi
  • Formats: DD
Me & Her
  • Released: 22 March 2016 [7]
  • Label: Gaga Digi
  • Formats: DD

Singles

List of singles, with year released and album name shown
TitleYearAlbum
"Tidings" [28] 2015Me & Her
"Only Time" [9] [5] 2016
"Running" [2] [29] 2018Running
"Those Eyes That Answer" [30]
"1+1" (featuring Zoë Randell) [31]
"No More Miracles" [32] non album single
"Heart Is an Onion" [33] 2021A Ton of Colours
"Contact" [34]
"Half a Light" [35]
"Let Me Love You Like a Woman" [36] TBA

Album appearances

List of non-singles, album appearances with year released and album name shown
TitleYearAlbum
"Good Time Girl" [37] 2020Bloom and Simmer(by various artists)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jen Cloher</span> Australian folk rock musician

Jen Cloher is an Australian singer, songwriter, and record producer, currently based in Melbourne, Victoria. Cloher's 2017 self-titled fourth studio album peaked at number 5 on the Australian ARIA Charts. From 2006 to 2010, Cloher recorded and toured with her band Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea and since 2013 has released with Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer music under the name Dyson Stringer Cloher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grouplove</span> American alternative rock band

Grouplove is an American alternative rock band that was formed in 2009 by Hannah Hooper, Christian Zucconi, Sean Gadd (bass), Andrew Wessen, and Ryan Rabin (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owl Eyes</span> Musical artist

Brooke Addamo, better known by her stage name Owl Eyes, is an Australian recording artist from Melbourne signed to the Illusive / Wunderkind Label with distribution through Universal Music Group. She released her debut studio album Nightswim in April 2013, which peaked at number 28 on the ARIA Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Cisco</span> Australian indie pop band

San Cisco is an Australian indie pop band that formed in 2009 under the original name of King George, in Fremantle, Western Australia. The band are a three-piece, and currently consists of Jordi Davieson, Josh Biondillo and Scarlett Stevens. Davieson and Biondillo share duties on keyboards. In November 2011, the band was signed by Albert Productions, but moved to Island Records for the release of its debut album. In October 2012, the band described its 'vibe' as "squelchy, crispy, streamlined, hairy, indie". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 the group were nominated for Best Independent Release and Best Dance Release for the album; and Best Video for "Fred Astaire", which was directed by Andrew Nowrojee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smith Street Band</span> Australian rock band

The Smith Street Band are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, in which the titular Smith Street can be found. The band have released five extended plays and six studio albums, No One Gets Lost Anymore (2011), Sunshine and Technology (2012), Throw Me in the River (2014), More Scared of You than You Are of Me (2017), Don't Waste Your Anger (2020) and Life After Football (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PartyNextDoor</span> Canadian singer (born 1993)

Jahron Anthony Brathwaite, known professionally as PartyNextDoor, is a Canadian R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the first artist signed to Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records in 2013. Braithwaite released his debut self-titled extended play in July that year to positive reception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montaigne (musician)</span> Australian singer

Jessica Alyssa Cerro, who performs as Montaigne, is an Australian art pop musician and Twitch streamer. Their debut album, Glorious Heights, was released in August 2016 and peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2016 they won Breakthrough Artist – Release for the album and was nominated for three other categories. In April 2016 they were a featured vocalist on Hilltop Hoods' track, "1955", which reached No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart. They were supposed to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with their song "Don't Break Me", until the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they represented Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Technicolour".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gretta Ray</span> Australian indie-pop singer-songwriter

Gretta Louise Ray is an Australian singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Victoria. In 2016, she was the winner of the national Triple J Unearthed radio competition for bands and songwriters, and the 2016 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, with her song "Drive". To date, Ray has released two studio albums – Begin to Look Around (2021) and Positive Spin (2023) – as well as the EPs Elsewhere (2016) and Here and Now (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Jacklin</span> Australian singer-songwriter

Julia Jacklin is an Australian singer-songwriter from the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales. Jacklin's musical style has been described as indie pop, indie folk, and alternative country. She has released three studio albums, Don't Let the Kids Win (2016), Crushing (2019) and Pre Pleasure (2022). Jacklin has also performed with the band Phantastic Ferniture, with whom she released the debut single "Fuckin 'n' Rollin" and a self-titled album in 2018, followed by subsequent singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Millar</span> Canadian-Australian electronic, indie pop singer-songwriter

Nicole Maxine Michel-Millar, who performs as Nicole Millar, is a Canadian-Australian electronic, indie pop singer-songwriter. She is the featured vocalist on "High" by Australian duo, Peking Duk, which peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Millar co-wrote the track with Sam Littlemore and the duo's Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2014 she won a trophy for Best Dance Release alongside the group. In the following January, "High", was listed at No.2 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Cope</span> Australian punk rock group

Camp Cope were an Australian alternative rock band formed in 2015 in Melbourne, Victoria. The group's lineup consisted of lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Georgia "Georgia Maq" McDonald, bassist Kelly-Dawn "Kelso" Hellmrich, and drummer Sarah "Thomo" Thompson. The band were signed with independent Melbourne label Poison City Records, where Thompson also works, and independent Boston label Run for Cover Records distributed their releases in North America and Europe. In February 2023, Camp Cope announced their imminent disbandment with a series of final performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Lahey</span> Musical artist

Alexandra Lahey is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her debut album I Love You Like a Brother was released on 6 October 2017 and peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Her second album, The Best of Luck Club followed in 2019, peaking at number 30. Following an EP issued during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she released her third record, The Answer Is Always Yes, in May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Barter</span> Australian singer-songwriter

Alison Barter is an Australian pop rock singer-songwriter. Trained in classical music, Barter began writing and independently releasing pop rock in her mid-twenties. She released an EP, Trip, in 2012 and was the winner of the 2013 Triple J Unearthed competition. An opinion column Barter wrote in 2016 for Junkee, on the need for representation of women in music history, attracted local and international attention. As of 2021, Barter has released one live and two studio albums. She married musician and collaborator Oscar Dawson in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallrat</span> Australian pop musician (born 1998)

Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw, known professionally as Mallrat, is an Australian musician, singer, and rapper from Brisbane. Mallrat has released three EPs: Uninvited (2016), In the Sky (2018) and Driving Music (2019). She also released her full-length debut studio album titled Butterfly Blue (2022) in May 2022 to critical acclaim. In 2019, her tracks "Groceries" and "UFO" placed at number 7 and 70, respectively, in the 2018 Triple J Hottest 100, in 2020, "Charlie" and "Nobody's Home" placed at number 3 and 59, respectively, in the 2019 Triple J Hottest 100 and in 2021, "Rockstar" placed 13 in the 2020 Triple J Hottest 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skegss</span> Australian surf rock band

Skegss are an Australian surf and garage rock duo trioriginally from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, who formed in 2014. The band's line-up consists of Jonny Lani (drums) and Ben Reed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waax (band)</span> Australian band

Waax are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, Queensland that formed in 2012. The band was co-founded by drummer Tom Bloomfield and lead vocalist Marie "Maz" DeVita, who oversaw every iteration of the line-up until 2023. Waax have released two studio albums, Big Grief (2019) and At Least I'm Free (2022), as well as two independent EPs Holy Sick (2015) and Wild & Weak (2017).

Crooked Colours are an Australian alternative dance group from Perth, Western Australia, who formed in 2013. The band consists of Phil Slabber, Leon Debaughn and Liam Merrett-Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moaning Lisa (band)</span> Australian rock band

Moaning Lisa are an Australian rock band formed in Canberra in 2016. The group has released two EPs, The Sweetest in 2017, and Do You Know Enough? in 2018.

Madeleine Jane Woolley, who performs as Maddy Jane, is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Bruny Island.

A. Swayze & the Ghosts are an Australian band formed in 2017. They released their debut studio album Paid Salvation in September 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Westsider". The Westsider. February 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, Zanda (13 February 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Downey signs to Barely Dressed, announces album and drops lead single "Running"". The Music Network. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ryan Downey Running". AIR. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Familiar Ground is the debut baroque-folk EP from Venice Music, the moniker of Melbourne-based musician Ryan Downey". Facebook. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 "New Music: Ryan Downey "Only Time"". The Aussie World. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  6. 1 2 Tell, Stephanie (29 November 2013). "Venice Music Familiar Ground". The Music. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Album News Weekly: 18th March 2016". The AU Review. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Me & Her OUT NOW!". Facebook. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  9. 1 2 "PREMIERE: Ryan Downey - Me & Her". themusic. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Cairns, Alastair (13 April 2018). "Ryan Downey plays by his own rules on Running, a completely compelling debut". Happy Mag. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Tuskan, Peter (31 December 2018). "Troye Sivan, Amy Shark headline the 2018 Australian Music Prize longlist". The Music Network. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  12. 1 2 Triscari, Caleb (26 February 2021). "Ryan Downey signs with Dot Dash Recordings for forthcoming album". The Music Network. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Ryan Downey releases A TON OF COLOURS – Remote Control Records" . Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "Ryan Downey shares vulnerable new single 'Contact'". NME. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ryan Downey shares 'Half Light' – Remote Control Records" . Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "Previous Years". BIGSOUND. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "StackPath". amnplify.com.au. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "Ryan Downey". Select Music. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  19. ↑ "St Kilda Festival 2016 Drops Eclectic Lineup". Tone Deaf. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Ryan Downey". Select Music. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "Ryan Downey supporting Marlon Williams across EU/UK + headline Melbourne show tonight – Remote Control Records" . Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "Middle Kids taught us there's more to gigs than moshing and boozing when they hit Melbourne". Beat Magazine. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  23. ↑ "Julia Jacklin @ Northcote Social Club". Beat Magazine. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Ryan Downey". Select Music. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  25. ↑ "Tivoli In The Round: Emma Louise". The Tivoli. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  26. ↑ "Running CD". JB HiFi . Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  27. ↑ "A Ton of Colours LP". JB HiFi. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  28. ↑ "Tidings by Ryan Downey". bandcamp. October 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  29. ↑ "Ryan Downey - Running (Official Video)". YouTube. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  30. ↑ "Single of the Day: Ryan Downey "Those Eyes That Answer" (2018)". The AU Review. March 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  31. ↑ "Ryan Downey - 1+1 (feat. Zoë Randell) [Official Video]". YouTube. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  32. ↑ "No More Miracles – Single by Ryan Downey on Apple Music". Apple Music. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  33. ↑ "Heart Is an Onion – Single by Ryan Downey on Apple Music". Apple Music. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  34. ↑ "Contact – Single by Ryan Downey on Apple Music". Apple Music. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  35. ↑ "Half a Light – Single by Ryan Downey on Apple Music". Apple Music. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  36. ↑ "Let Me Love You Like a Woman – Single by Ryan Downey on Apple Music". Apple Music. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  37. ↑ "Bloom and Simmer on Apple Music". Apple Music. June 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.