Ryan Downey
BornAustralia
OriginMelbourne, Australia[1]
Genres
[1][2]
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2013–present
Labels
Websitewww.ryandowney.net

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

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
Title Details
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
Title Details
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
Title Year Album
"Tidings"[28] 2015 Me & Her
"Only Time"[9][5] 2016
"Running"[2][29] 2018 Running
"Those Eyes That Answer"[30]
"1+1" (featuring Zoë Randell)[31]
"No More Miracles"[32] non album single
"Heart Is an Onion"[33] 2021 A 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
Title Year Album
"Good Time Girl"[37] 2020 Bloom and Simmer (by various artists)

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.
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