Serena Ryder
Encyclopedia
Serena Ryder is a Juno Award
-winning Canadian singer-songwriter
raised in Millbrook, Ontario
.
Ranging musically between folk, roots, country, and adult contemporary music, Ryder possesses a five-octave range. She attended the Integrated Arts Program at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School
in Peterborough
as well as Crestwood Secondary School. As a teenager, she performed solo as well as with many bands from the Peterborough area, including Christian band Thousand Foot Krutch
and Jive recording artist Three Days Grace
.
, Ontario
. Her first indie CD, called Falling Out, was released in December 1999 by the Peterborough, Ontario based independent record label Mime Radio
. Ryder was 15 years old at the time. Her other independent releases include Serena EP (cassette only) 1999 (limited run of 100); Live at The Market Hall & A Day in the Studio 2002; and Serena Ryder Live 2003 (a CD recording of her performance on CBC Radio
's program Bandwidth
).
In 2005, she released her debut major label CD Unlikely Emergency, which included the song "Just Another Day" which gained significant airplay on many radio stations, including CHUM-FM
. The album was released by Hawksley Workman
on his Isadora Records
. Also released on Isadora was Live in Oz, a recording from her tour of Australia, released in limited numbers only at shows.
Ryder's second album, released on the EMI
label in November 2006, is called If Your Memory Serves You Well
and is a collection of notable Canadian songs from the past 100 years or so. The tracks include Leonard Cohen
's "Sisters of Mercy", Galt MacDermot
's "Good Morning Starshine" and the Bob Dylan
-Rick Danko
written "This Wheel's on Fire
", popularized by The Band
, as well as Paul Anka
's "It Doesn't Matter Any More."
Appearing as a guest on SBS Australia television's RocKwiz
in 2007, she displayed an authoritative knowledge in rock music-related questions, singing many song segments in answer and performed in the closing guest spot with Lior
.
A new EP titled Told You in a Whispered Song was released 19 June 2007, and is an acoustic studio collection of several live tracks and new songs.
Along with other bands, including 54-40
and Cheap Trick
, Ryder opened for Aerosmith
on their world tour in July 2007 in Prince Edward Island
.
Ryder was the 2008 recipient of the Juno Award for New Artist of the Year
with label EMI
.
On 9 October 2008 Ryder and Greg Keelor
attended a performance of Tim Hus and his Rocky Mountain Two at the Dakota Tavern, in which an impromptu performance was given by all three, jamming to Blue Rodeo
's "Hasn't Hit Me Yet".
On 11 November 2008, Ryder released her new EMI album Is It O.K. in Canada
. It was released on Atlantic Records
in America on 11 February 2009. The single to be taken from it is "Little Bit of Red". The song "All for Love", which appears on Ryder's EP Sweeping the Ashes and album Is It O.K.
, is featured in an episode of ABC
television's Private Practice.
Is It O.K.
won the Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year
. Ryder was nominated for Artist of the Year
on March 29, 2009 in Vancouver
.
In 2009, her song "Sing, Sing" was selected for Music Monday, a special event to highlight music education
in Canada which saw nearly two million Canadian schoolchildren singing the song in class on May 5.
In May 2009, she appeared on Bruce Springsteen
's official website, covering his song "Racing in the Street
". The video was part of the "Hangin' On E Street" feature of his website.
The following month, Ryder recorded the duet "You Can Always Come Home" with former American Idol
contestant Jason Castro for his eponymous first solo album, Jason Castro
.
In 2009 Ryder took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic
. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had her reflecting on her move to Toronto
and her discovery of the Dakota Tavern.
She has also performed and recorded with labelmate Needtobreathe
for the band's single "Stones Under Rushing Water".
In 2010 won the Juno Award
for Video of the Year
for "Little Bit of Red" directed by Marc Ricciardelli, with label EMI
.
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
-winning Canadian singer-songwriter
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...
raised in Millbrook, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Ranging musically between folk, roots, country, and adult contemporary music, Ryder possesses a five-octave range. She attended the Integrated Arts Program at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School
Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School
Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School is a public high school located at 201 McDonnel Street in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. One of the oldest public schools in the country, PCVS was founded in 1827. Since 2006, it has operated at capacity with 960+ students, 73 teachers and support staff...
in Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
as well as Crestwood Secondary School. As a teenager, she performed solo as well as with many bands from the Peterborough area, including Christian band Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch is a Canadian Christian rock band formed in 1995. They have released five major studio albums: Set It Off , Phenomenon , The Art of Breaking , The Flame In All of Us , and Welcome to the Masquerade . They also have one live album, Live at the Masquerade...
and Jive recording artist Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band, formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1992, originally under the name Groundswell. After a breakup in late 1997, the band regrouped in the same year under its current name and with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer...
.
Life and career
Ryder was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Her first indie CD, called Falling Out, was released in December 1999 by the Peterborough, Ontario based independent record label Mime Radio
Mime Radio
Mime Radio or sometimes referred to as "The Mime Radio Recording Company" was a recording studio, and independent record label based in Peterborough, Ontario Canada run by engineer and producer Damon de Szegheo. The label is best known for releasing Canadian singer/songwriter Serena Ryder's debut...
. Ryder was 15 years old at the time. Her other independent releases include Serena EP (cassette only) 1999 (limited run of 100); Live at The Market Hall & A Day in the Studio 2002; and Serena Ryder Live 2003 (a CD recording of her performance on CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
's program Bandwidth
Bandwidth (radio program)
Bandwidth is a Canadian radio program, which airs on most CBC Radio One stations in Ontario on Saturday afternoons. The program, produced by CBO-FM in Ottawa, airs in all Ontario markets except Toronto, where CBLA airs its own local production, Big City, Small World, in the same time slot...
).
In 2005, she released her debut major label CD Unlikely Emergency, which included the song "Just Another Day" which gained significant airplay on many radio stations, including CHUM-FM
CHUM-FM
CHUM-FM is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario and operated by Bell Media. It broadcasts at 104.5 MHz with a hot adult contemporary format that leans towards rhythmic adult contemporary...
. The album was released by Hawksley Workman
Hawksley Workman
Ryan Corrigan , better known by the stage name Hawksley Workman, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter who has garnered critical acclaim for his blend of cabaret pop and glam rock. Workman has released eleven full length albums throughout his career...
on his Isadora Records
Isadora Records
Isadora Records is an independent record label started and operated by Hawksley Workman. The first album released was Workman's own debut, For Him and the Girls, in 1999. The label has been releasing albums online since 2004...
. Also released on Isadora was Live in Oz, a recording from her tour of Australia, released in limited numbers only at shows.
Ryder's second album, released on the EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
label in November 2006, is called If Your Memory Serves You Well
If Your Memory Serves You Well
If Your Memory Serves You Well is the second major label album by Serena Ryder, released in 2006 on EMI Music Canada. The album is primarily a collection of covers of classic songs by Canadian songwriters, although it also includes three original songs by Ryder...
and is a collection of notable Canadian songs from the past 100 years or so. The tracks include Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's "Sisters of Mercy", Galt MacDermot
Galt MacDermot
Galt MacDermot is a Canadian composer, pianist and writer of musical theatre. He won a Grammy Award for the song African Waltz in 1960. His most successful musicals have been Hair and Two Gentlemen of Verona...
's "Good Morning Starshine" and the Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
-Rick Danko
Rick Danko
Richard Clare "Rick" Danko was a Canadian musician and singer, best known as a member of The Band.-Early years :...
written "This Wheel's on Fire
This Wheel's on Fire (song)
"This Wheel's on Fire" is a song written by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko. It was originally recorded by Dylan and The Band during their legendary 1967 sessions, portions of which comprised the 1975 album, The Basement Tapes...
", popularized by The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
, as well as Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
's "It Doesn't Matter Any More."
Appearing as a guest on SBS Australia television's RocKwiz
RocKwiz
RocKwiz is an Australian television quiz show series, focused on rock music, and broadcast on SBS One. It premiered in 2005.-Summary:The forty minute program airs on Saturday at 9:20 pm, and is hosted by Julia Zemiro. It is shot in The Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel, commonly...
in 2007, she displayed an authoritative knowledge in rock music-related questions, singing many song segments in answer and performed in the closing guest spot with Lior
Lior
Lior is a male, independent Australian singer-songwriter based in Melbourne.-Career:In early 2005, Lior independently self-released his debut album Autumn Flow, certified gold by ARIA...
.
A new EP titled Told You in a Whispered Song was released 19 June 2007, and is an acoustic studio collection of several live tracks and new songs.
Along with other bands, including 54-40
54-40
54•40 is a Canadian alternative rock group from Tsawwassen, British Columbia.The band takes their name from the slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!", coined to express the expansionist agenda of James K...
and Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, Ryder opened for Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
on their world tour in July 2007 in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
.
Ryder was the 2008 recipient of the Juno Award for New Artist of the Year
Juno Award for New Artist of the Year
The Juno Award for New Artist of the Year has been awarded since 1974 as recognition each year for the best new artist/musician in Canada. The category was originally divided by separate awards for men and women...
with label EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
On 9 October 2008 Ryder and Greg Keelor
Greg Keelor
Greg Keelor is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the band Blue Rodeo, where he shares song writing and vocal duties with Jim Cuddy. Keelor has also released three solo albums and appeared as a guest musician on albums by Crash Vegas and Melissa McClelland...
attended a performance of Tim Hus and his Rocky Mountain Two at the Dakota Tavern, in which an impromptu performance was given by all three, jamming to Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
's "Hasn't Hit Me Yet".
On 11 November 2008, Ryder released her new EMI album Is It O.K. in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was released on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in America on 11 February 2009. The single to be taken from it is "Little Bit of Red". The song "All for Love", which appears on Ryder's EP Sweeping the Ashes and album Is It O.K.
Is It O.K.
Is It O.K. is the third major label album by Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder. The album was released on November 11, 2008 in Canada. The singles for this album are "Little Bit of Red", "All for Love", and "What I Wanna Know"...
, is featured in an episode of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television's Private Practice.
Is It O.K.
Is It O.K.
Is It O.K. is the third major label album by Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder. The album was released on November 11, 2008 in Canada. The singles for this album are "Little Bit of Red", "All for Love", and "What I Wanna Know"...
won the Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year
Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year
The Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year has been awarded since 2005, as recognition each year for the best alternative album in Canada.-Adult Alternative Album of the Year :*2005 - Sarah Harmer, All of Our Names...
. Ryder was nominated for Artist of the Year
Juno Award for Artist of the Year
The Juno Award for Artist of the Year has been awarded since 2002 as recognition each year for the best artist/musician in Canada. The category was originally divided by sex...
on March 29, 2009 in Vancouver
Vancouver
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,...
.
In 2009, her song "Sing, Sing" was selected for Music Monday, a special event to highlight music education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
in Canada which saw nearly two million Canadian schoolchildren singing the song in class on May 5.
In May 2009, she appeared on Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's official website, covering his song "Racing in the Street
Racing in the Street
"Racing in the Street" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town. In the original vinyl format, it was the last song of side one of the album...
". The video was part of the "Hangin' On E Street" feature of his website.
The following month, Ryder recorded the duet "You Can Always Come Home" with former American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant Jason Castro for his eponymous first solo album, Jason Castro
Jason Castro (album)
Jason Castro is the self-titled debut studio album recorded by Jason Castro. The album was released April 13, 2010.-Background:On April 12, 2009, Jason signed to Atlantic Records, and released his first official single, "Let's Just Fall in Love Again," which peaked at #113 on Billboard Hot 100 and...
.
In 2009 Ryder took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic
City Sonic
City Sonic is a documentary series about Toronto-based musicians and the places that influenced their music. The first five City Sonic films were previewed at Toronto's 2009 North by North East Music and Film Festival.-Films:...
. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had her reflecting on her move to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and her discovery of the Dakota Tavern.
She has also performed and recorded with labelmate Needtobreathe
Needtobreathe
Needtobreathe is an American rock band from Seneca, South Carolina. The band has charted on mainstream rock/pop charts, but have had their greatest number of singles on Christian music charts...
for the band's single "Stones Under Rushing Water".
In 2010 won the Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Video of the Year
Juno Award for Video of the Year
The Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...
for "Little Bit of Red" directed by Marc Ricciardelli, with label EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
Albums
- Falling Out (1999)
- Unlikely EmergencyUnlikely EmergencyUnlikely Emergency is the breakout album by Serena Ryder, released April 5, 2005.In 2009, the song "Sing, Sing" was selected for Music Monday, a special event to highlight music education in Canada which saw nearly two million Canadian schoolchildren singing the song in class on May 5.-Track...
(2005) - If Your Memory Serves You WellIf Your Memory Serves You WellIf Your Memory Serves You Well is the second major label album by Serena Ryder, released in 2006 on EMI Music Canada. The album is primarily a collection of covers of classic songs by Canadian songwriters, although it also includes three original songs by Ryder...
(2006) - Is It O.K.Is It O.K.Is It O.K. is the third major label album by Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder. The album was released on November 11, 2008 in Canada. The singles for this album are "Little Bit of Red", "All for Love", and "What I Wanna Know"...
(2008)
EPs
- Serena (1999)
- A Day At the Studio (2002)
- Told You in a Whispered Song (2007)
- Sweeping The Ashes (2008)
- "LIVE" (2011)
- Serena Ryder and The Beauties 12" Vinyl (2011)
Live Recordings
- Live at The Market Hall (2002)
- Serena Ryder Live (2003)
- Live in Oz (2005)
Singles
- "Good Morning Starshine" (2006)
- "Weak in the Knees" (2006)
- "Little Bit of Red" (2008)
- "All for Love" (2008)
- "What I Wanna Know" (2009)
- "Broken Heart Sun" with Melissa EtheridgeMelissa EtheridgeMelissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...
(2011)