Riley Armstrong (musician)
Encyclopedia
Riley Armstrong is a Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter
from the hamlet of Dapp, Alberta, Canada. His live performances have been described as innovative, engaging, funny and surprising. Musically his work is eclectic, combining acoustic guitar and hip-hop rhythms, with layers of sound supported by sampling
and programmed loops
. A few of his notable songs are "Sleep", ">" (Greater Than), "What I Found", and "The Only".
at the age of 18 to pursue a career in music. He earned a degree in sound recording
and soon became the sound engineer for the Christian rock band Hokus Pick
. Riley was the engineer on the 1997 Hokus Pick album Snappy. A year later he released his own independent effort Novel Reason under the pseudonym Plain Edson.
Riley persuaded the members of Hokus Pick to let him be their opening act, as well as being their sound engineer. While in Nashville
on a Hokus Pick tour he befriended the members of the Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline
. Soon thereafter three members of Audio Adrenaline founded a new record company. Riley was invited to be the first performer to release on their Flicker Records
label.
He then moved from Vancouver to Nashville, where he spent the next five years. Riley Armstrong became the opening act for Audio Adrenaline. During this period he released a follow up album, Whatever the Weather. Armstrong then asked to be released from Flicker Records and returned to Canada. Marriage followed, with the couple settling in Calgary. Riley and his wife Shannon have one son, Zeffren, who was born in 2005. Also that year Riley released the album La Loop on the 7 Spin Music indie
label. His band members were Rick Enns on bass, Dan Kim on guitar and Jared Falk on drums.
During 2010 Riley Armstrong toured in the U.S. during which time he also opened for Starfield during their "The Saving One" tour.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from the hamlet of Dapp, Alberta, Canada. His live performances have been described as innovative, engaging, funny and surprising. Musically his work is eclectic, combining acoustic guitar and hip-hop rhythms, with layers of sound supported by sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
and programmed loops
Music loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
. A few of his notable songs are "Sleep", ">" (Greater Than), "What I Found", and "The Only".
Musical career
Riley Armstrong moved to VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
at the age of 18 to pursue a career in music. He earned a degree in sound recording
and soon became the sound engineer for the Christian rock band Hokus Pick
Hokus Pick
Hokus Pick was a Christian pop/rock band that was together from 1988 to 1999. The four members of Hokus Pick met in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hokus Pick was well known for their quirky sense of humor, using sarcasm, satire, and general silliness to convey a deeper message.Hokus Pick toured...
. Riley was the engineer on the 1997 Hokus Pick album Snappy. A year later he released his own independent effort Novel Reason under the pseudonym Plain Edson.
Riley persuaded the members of Hokus Pick to let him be their opening act, as well as being their sound engineer. While in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
on a Hokus Pick tour he befriended the members of the Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles. They were regular performers at the...
. Soon thereafter three members of Audio Adrenaline founded a new record company. Riley was invited to be the first performer to release on their Flicker Records
Flicker Records
Flicker Records is a Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It was founded by members of Christian rock group Audio Adrenaline. The label mainly focuses on rock/hard rock artists, though it also created a subsidiary, Big House Kids, for Christian children's music.The label was...
label.
He then moved from Vancouver to Nashville, where he spent the next five years. Riley Armstrong became the opening act for Audio Adrenaline. During this period he released a follow up album, Whatever the Weather. Armstrong then asked to be released from Flicker Records and returned to Canada. Marriage followed, with the couple settling in Calgary. Riley and his wife Shannon have one son, Zeffren, who was born in 2005. Also that year Riley released the album La Loop on the 7 Spin Music indie
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
label. His band members were Rick Enns on bass, Dan Kim on guitar and Jared Falk on drums.
During 2010 Riley Armstrong toured in the U.S. during which time he also opened for Starfield during their "The Saving One" tour.
Albums
- Novel Reason (Independent, 1998) (as Plain Edson)
- Riley ArmstrongRiley Armstrong (album)Riley Armstrong is the self-titled debut album of Christian singer-songwriter Riley Armstrong, released in 2000 . It marked the replacement of his stage name Plain Edson with his real name. Riley had previously released the album Novel Reason under his pseudonym. Riley Armstrong also marked the...
(Flicker Records, 2000, reviews) - Whatever the Weather (Flicker Records, 2002, reviews)
- La Loop (7 Spin Music, 2005, review)
- Alive and Acoustic (2007, live concert CD/DVD)
- Comedy Songs (2010, EP)
Songs on compilations
- Sea to Sea: For Endless DaysSea to Sea: For Endless DaysSea to Sea: For Endless Days is the third album in the Sea to Sea Christian praise and worship music series. The album has thirty songs and two bonus tracks performed by various Canadian artists on two CDs. It won a Gospel Music Association Canada Covenant Award in 2007 for Special...
, "Above Every Name" (CMC, 2006) - GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary CollectionGMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary CollectionGMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection is a three-CD collection commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Gospel Music Association of Canada. It showcases the history of Christian music in Canada...
, "What I've Found" (CMC, 2008)
Awards and recognition
Shai Awards (formerly The Vibe Awards)- 2003 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2004 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
Collaborations and other credits
- engineer: Snappy by Hokus PickHokus PickHokus Pick was a Christian pop/rock band that was together from 1988 to 1999. The four members of Hokus Pick met in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hokus Pick was well known for their quirky sense of humor, using sarcasm, satire, and general silliness to convey a deeper message.Hokus Pick toured...
(1997) - background vocals: This Much I Understand by Carolyn ArendsCarolyn ArendsCarolyn Arends is a Contemporary Christian musician, songwriter, and author based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.-Musical career:Arends began her career as a songwriter at Benson Music Publishing. In 1995, Carolyn began touring and releasing albums as a singer and guitarist. Her debut release...
(1999) - producer and engineer: The Late Show by Toby Penner (2003)
External links
- Official Riley Armstrong website
- Riley Armstrong's MySpace
- Concert review, Spring 2009, York, Pa.. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
- Interview with Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (2004-02-21). Retrieved 2011-02-05.
- Unofficial Riley Armstrong biography. Retrieved 2008-11-01.