Ryann Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Ryann Donnelly is a horror punk
, shock rock
and dance/pop
songwriter
and vocalist.
Born in Olympia, Washington
, although she moved to Seattle, Washington
after attending Charles Wright Academy. With fellow class members Jonah Bergman and Steve Bonnell, Ryann formed the band Schoolyard Heroes
, which won acclaim after winning second place at the Experience Music Project
's Sound Off! Competition. Their debut album was "The Funeral Sciences
", and their sophomore
album "Fantastic Wounds
" was a cult hit
. In 2007 Ryann continued working with the band, and released Abominations
, for which two music video
s were made. Abominations received generally poisitive reviews from music critics. The band announced their break up on November 20, 2009.
Ryann started a similar band, "Blood Cells" with Jonah Bergman and two new members in early 2010. After only a few shows together, Ryann left the band and moved to New York, where she now produces pop music through her own label "The Lonely Hearts Singles Club." Ryann played similar pop music with Mark Gajadhar, drummer of The Blood Brothers as the duo "Weekend." .
Musically, Ryann has expressed influences from singers such as Courtney Love
and Madonna
.
Horror punk
Horror punk is a music genre that mixes Gothic and punk rock sounds with morbid imagery and lyrics, which are often influenced by horror films...
, shock rock
Shock rock
Shock rock is an umbrella term for artists who combine rock music with elements of theatrical shock value in live performances.-History:Screamin' Jay Hawkins was arguably the first shock rocker...
and dance/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and vocalist.
Born in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, although she moved to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
after attending Charles Wright Academy. With fellow class members Jonah Bergman and Steve Bonnell, Ryann formed the band Schoolyard Heroes
Schoolyard Heroes
Schoolyard Heroes was a horror punk/alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, consisting of four members: Ryann Donnelly , Jonah Bergman , Steve Bonnell , and Brian Turner .-History:...
, which won acclaim after winning second place at the Experience Music Project
Experience Music Project
The EMP Museum is a museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction located in Seattle, Washington...
's Sound Off! Competition. Their debut album was "The Funeral Sciences
The Funeral Sciences
The Funeral Sciences is the debut album by Schoolyard Heroes. It was released in 2003 on Control Group/TCG. All songs are written by Schoolyard Heroes.-Track listing:# "Curse of the Werewolf" – 3:14# "All-You-Can-Eat Cancer" – 3:54...
", and their sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
album "Fantastic Wounds
Fantastic Wounds
Fantastic Wounds is the second album by the Schoolyard Heroes. It was released in 2005 on Control Group/TCG.-Track listing:#"Body Shots" - 1:02#"Panic in the Year Zero" - 4:08#"Serial Killers Know How to Party" - 3:29...
" was a cult hit
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
. In 2007 Ryann continued working with the band, and released Abominations
Abominations (album)
Abominations is the third studio album by Schoolyard Heroes. It was released in 2007 on Stolen Transmission. All songs are written by the Schoolyard Heroes.- Track listing :# "Dude, Where's My Skin?" – 2:45...
, for which two music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s were made. Abominations received generally poisitive reviews from music critics. The band announced their break up on November 20, 2009.
Ryann started a similar band, "Blood Cells" with Jonah Bergman and two new members in early 2010. After only a few shows together, Ryann left the band and moved to New York, where she now produces pop music through her own label "The Lonely Hearts Singles Club." Ryann played similar pop music with Mark Gajadhar, drummer of The Blood Brothers as the duo "Weekend." .
Musically, Ryann has expressed influences from singers such as Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
.