Dear Friends,
New music release days are my favorite days! I am delighted to share a bunch of new things with you in today's Letter. At a glance:
New Atlas: III song, Hurt out now
New episode of The Sleeping At Last Podcast out now
New Astronomy, Vol. 2 and Mother vinyl drop
Last call for Enneagram anniversary sale
Dadville podcast
New Song: Hurt - Out Now
I'm so proud to let you know that my newest Atlas: III song, Hurt is now available everywhere (Spotify, Apple, you name it)!
Hurt is the fourth song in Atlas: III. Hurt explores the grief and pain I felt after my mom’s passing. It reflects my struggle to accept my irrational desire to change the past and erase all pain, hurt, and fear from my life. The song is also about finding a way to hold space for all of it, allowing myself to grow and, eventually, to heal.
Heal is the next song in Atlas: III and is the sibling song to Hurt. (I look forward to sharing that song with you soon.)
New Episode
Another new episode of The Sleeping At Last Podcast is out now! This episode is about how my latest Atlas: III song, Hurt came to be! It means a lot to get to share the story of this song. It's out now everywhere podcasts are available!
Hurt Liner Notes
I had the privilege of bringing this song to life with the help of the following people:
Cellos: Sharon Gerber
Violins: Anya-Katarina Gerber
Flutes & Clarinets: Paul Von Mertens
Mixing: John Goodmanson
Piano and Vocal Engineer: Gordon Davidson - Abbey Road Studios
Mastering: Greg Obis - Chicago Mastering Services
Artwork: Elicia Edijanto
Lyrics
i already miss what i have.
i think about that a lot-
two funerals in my head.
i want to go back in time,
like some sci-fi storyline
and pull a single thread
without fear
or consequence,
i want to raise the dead.
i want to live.
i want to live oblivious to pain.
i want to feel unfazed, unchanged by change.
i want flowers to bloom
without rain.
without rain
i know better than to believe
that i could bend the rules,
but God i want to try
to tip the hourglass on its side.
remember when we were young,
afraid but brave enough to swim away,
imaginations big enough to dream a better life,
unburdened by bloodlines?
i want to change the tide.
i want to live.
i want to live
into the other side of pain.
i want to give in
to the mercy of change,
i want flowers to bloom
after rain
i want to swim.
i want to swim
to the other side of pain.
i want to give in
to the mercy of change,
i want flowers to bloom
after rain.
i want to swim.
i want to swim
to the other side of pain.
i want to give in
to the mercy, the mystery of change.
i want flowers to bloom.
after the rain,
i want flowers to bloom.
New Vinyl: Astronomy, Vol. 2
I am so excited to share that my album, Astronomy, Vol. 2 is now on vinyl for the first time!! This gorgeous first pressing will drop this coming Monday, Aug. 12 at 10am CT sharp.
New Vinyl: Mother
This one's bittersweet for me. My Mother collection of songs were written in the aftermath of losing my mom, these songs helped me process my grief and honor my mom's beautiful life. This first pressing also drops on Monday, Aug. 12 at 10am CT sharp.
Enneagram 5th Anniversary Sale
The Enneagram 5th anniversary sale ends on August 14. Last call to use the code: ENNEAGRAM to get $5 off any Enneagram-related merch in The Sleeping At Last Shop!
Dadville podcast
I had a ton of fun talking to fellow musician and dads, Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin on their wonderful podcast, Dadville. The episode is out now! Thanks for having me, Jon and Dave!
Upcoming Shows
Oct 11 - Harris Theater, Chicago w/ Chicago Philharmonic SOLD OUT
Oct 12 - Harris Theater, Chicago w/ Chicago Philharmonic SOLD OUT
Oct 24 - Carnegie Hall, New York City w/ Chicago Philharmonic - Tickets
Feb 11. '25 - Kennedy Center, D.C. "Cody Fry & Friends" Orchestra Show - Tickets
Feb 12, '25 - Kennedy Center, D.C. "Cody Fry & Friends" Orchestra Show - Tickets
What a joy it is to get to share my music with you. Thank you x infinity for listening, reading and making it all possible. The next Atlas: III song, Heal is just around the corner and as a Letters subscriber, you'll hear it first! Talk soon.
Huge Love, Ryan
Sleeping At Last
P.S. Things I Love Right Now
1. Michael Giacchino "Exotic Themes" (Such a fun album from one of my fav film composers ever.)
2. EP-1320 Medieval (TE has unreasonable power of me. Fine, Just take my money.)
3. War for the Planet of the Apes (Late to this 2017 film but wow. Watched in prep for the latest movie and was really taken with this one.)
4. Typewrite Something (Love this little online typewriter simulator.)