The Search For Self - Through Music
On “Diaphanous,” Seattle singer-songwriter Mary Lydia Ryan hoped to reveal the truth one layer at a time, until she became translucent.
“There’s a theme of really wanting to get down to the very core of who I am, musically and personally,” Ryan says. “This is who I am. You’re looking at me.”
What she’s produced on this, her second CD, is a beautiful, soaring album, at times reminiscent of early Tori Amos, that should surely win the attention of a record label.
“Diaphanous” opens with the swirling, accordion-filled waltz “Devil With Wings.” It’s a catchy, single-worthy tune. The album also includes a haunting song called, “Self Control,” a theme Ryan says is central to the CD.
“I’ve gone through a lot of personal growth and musical growth,” she says. “That song was about being able to dig deep inside. It’s often painful to do that.”
Ryan, 33, has lived in Seattle for 11 years, but was raised in a Mormon family in Salt Lake City. She was active in the church until about seven years ago.
“I grew up classically trained and saturated in religious music,” Ryan says. “I needed to shed those things … I needed to move on spiritually on my own.”
She worked in customer-service jobs until about 10 years ago, when she decided to focus on music full-time.
She’s often compared to Amos since both are female singers who play the piano. But much of Ryan’s work takes on a jazzier, more horn-influenced style than Amos’ music.
“That happens all the time,” Ryan says of the comparisons. “I really like her music, though I wouldn’t call her one of my influences.”
She leans more toward Kate Bush and Jane Siberry.
Check out www.marylydiaryan.com for more information.
Ryan plays today at noon at Barnes & Noble, 15310 E. Indiana (east of the Spokane Valley Mall), and at 9 p.m. at the Rocket Coffee House, 24 W. Main. She’ll play Saturday at 9 p.m. at the Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd.
All of the shows are free, and as an added bonus, Ryan’s drummer is Coeur d’Alene native Andrew Hasseries.
Clam chowder or minestrone?
Take your pick with Soup of the Day, a grooving six-piece originally from Spokane but migrating west to Seattle.
The group is scheduled to release an as-yet-untitled CD early this fall, but you can get a sneak peek of some of the tracks at http://artists.mp3s. com/artists/37/soup—of—the—day.html.
All but one of the members grew up in Spokane and attended Lewis and Clark High School. (Turntable master Andrew Fuller is the only one who didn’t.)
They’ll play at 9 p.m. tonight at Mootsy’s, 406 W. Sprague; there’s no cover. On Saturday, they’ll play the Fort Spokane Brewery, 401 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and cover is $5.
Club-hopping
* Bug-eyed comic Jay Wendell Walker performs tonight and Saturday at Laughs Comedy Club, 1221 N. Howard. Shows are at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and tickets are $6.
* Folk duo CAVU plays at 8:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday at Pend Oreille Brewing Company, 220 W. Cedar in Sandpoint. There’s no cover.
* Charlotte Carruthers plays with the Arnie Carruthers Quartet at 9 p.m. tonight at the City Lights Lounge at the Shilo Inn, 923 E. Third. Cover is $5.
* After the Crash, with Seawolf and Braindead, plays tonight at 9 at Outback Jack’s, 321 W. Sprague. Cover is $5.
* Tongue in Groove plays at 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Fort Spokane Brewery. Cover is $5.
* Britches Malone and his Fabulous Big Band returns to Tubs Cafe in Coeur d’Alene for a 7 p.m. show Saturday. Tickets are $10. On Tuesday at 7:30, it’s Chicago bluesman Roy Hytower for a $5 cover.
* Jupiter Effect (formerly Longview) plays at 9 p.m. Saturday at Mootsy’s. There’s no cover.
* The Blue Dolphin, 16 S. Robie Road, is offering live original music, beginning Saturday with local faves Civilized Animal at 9 p.m. Cover is $5.
* Spokane instrumental rockers The 4th Kind play at 10 p.m. Wednesday at the Quarterhorse Saloon, 1321 W. Second. Cover is $3. The band is almost done recording its third CD, “Beers, Cars, and Other Earthly Pleasures.”