Dear Friends,
Even though I know it’s just a date on a calendar, the start of a new year feels like magic to me. Whether we deem the departing year “good” or “bad”, the clean-cut, fresh start and unwritten nature of January 1 feels brimming with hope.
Over the years, I’ve done a little “year in review” for all things Sleeping At Last. I love this practice because it invites me into gratitude for all the miles marked and for all who listened! Here are my Sleeping At Last 2023 highlights:
I got to make a lot of new music.
Wrote a small collection of songs called Mother that I needed to write, which helped me process the loss of my mom, as well as honor her beautiful life. In March on the one-year anniversary of her passing, I had the equally heartbreaking and healing experience of celebrating her life with my family in Hawai’i per her final wishes.
Created two new additions to my ongoing Astronomy series of songs, inspired by Comet ZTF and 2023’s Super Blue Blood Moon.
Continued my ongoing series of tiny music, by writing and recording 8 new atoms, which completed my very first Molecule (what I am calling a collection of 15 atoms).
Recorded a couple of Christmas songs, which completed my second-ever Christmas album, Christmas Collection, Vol. 2.
Had the privilege of making music for Ryan Reynolds and his amazing team for his wonderfully sweet children’s show, Bedtime Stories with Ryan!
Speaking of screens, my songs got to be a part of Grey’s Anatomy, Love Island, and in ads for The National Lottery, Vestaboard, and more!
My Space album of songs was transformed into a gorgeous 8-hour relaxing listening experience called Space for Sleep, a collaboration with Kaleidoscope.
The Sleeping At Last album, Ghosts turned 20 years old!
Recorded a cover of one of my favorite Radiohead songs with my pal, Andrew Belle. And I got to cover a song by my pals, Switchfoot, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their album The Beautiful Letdown.
My song Turning Page was RIAA certified Platinum and Touch RIAA certified Gold (THANK YOU)!
Turning Page finally got a music video, which was directed by the incredible Derek Hough and Phillip Chbeeb, and premiered on Entertainment Weekly and was covered by Good Morning America and ABC News.
You Are Enough got a gorgeous new music video by Michael Means and Tom Shea (the geniuses behind my Saturn video)!
I challenged myself to play live shows again! First, at the iconic Pritzker Pavilion with the Chicago Philharmonic! Then five back-to-back shows in my hometown at Maypole and Subourbon. I also announced tickets for 2024 shows in London and Chicago!
I got to chat with NPR’s Here & Now.
The Sleeping At Last team grew in 2023 with the addition of my manager, Jeremy, and assistant, Sarah. What a joy to work alongside people you love.
My family and I got to spend several months experiencing life in London, one of our favorite places.
Personally, 2023 was a year of fear, healing, togetherness, holding on, and letting go. I’m grateful for its multitudes.
For every good thing Sleeping At Last experienced this year, THANK YOU so much for making it happen! There was a song in Disney World’s fireworks show called You Are The Magic that brought tears to my eyes, sitting there with my wife and our kids in the Magic Kingdom, eating Disney snacks, watching the sky light up, hearing those simple affirming words echo over thousands of people… (I’ll be honest, I just listened to the song and teared up again, and now I’m like 8 songs into a Disney music playlist crying at my laptop.) Anyway, in the words of a Disney fireworks show, you are the magic. Thank you for listening to my songs. I am forever grateful for you!
Reminder: tickets for my show this fall with the Chicago Philharmonic at Harris Theater go on sale in a few days!!
Hoping 2024 is gentle and kind to you. Happy New Year.
Huge Love, Ryan - Sleeping At Last
1. Wonka (What a wonderful and heart-full film! All hail Paul King)
2. Hitting my Goodreads Goal (Just barely hit my modest 24 book goal!)
3. Charlie Mackesy's The Mole Stuffy (Received this perfect gift from my wife and daughters!)
4. Disney 100 Tribute Camera LEGO (Obsessed.)
