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Audrey Ryan - Dishes and Pills

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Mike 'n' Molly's »
Address: 105 N. Market St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 355-1236
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On Friday, April 24, Mike 'n' Molly's will play host to up-and-coming singer/songwriter Audrey Ryan as part of the Shadowboxer Collective series of performances.

Since starting out in 2004, Ryan has been morphing the music industry with her unique folk-indie style. Her upcoming show assures a well-rounded performance of Ryan's tunes both old and new. The success of Dishes and Pills has brought upon fan favorites such as “No Difference” and “Shiny Things.” Like the rest of the songs on the album, both are equipped with fresh, intricate lyrics and strong eclectic instrumental arrangements into which Ryan's smooth voice melts.

Incorporating and layering such instruments as the accordion, guitar, kick drum, and many others herself, Audrey Ryan demonstrates the power that lies in the artist's hands.

“Mostly I want people to think [that] the one man band concept is original and unique. There are other people who do these things, but I haven't seen very many at all. To me, it's a fairly unknown territory in a way, and I really enjoy doing it. My hope is that people understand the concept of doing everything yourself as being an extension of the music,” Ryan said.

Her layered songs certainly bring with them an interesting vibe, particularly a huge branch of tracks from her 2004 debut album, Passing Thru, as those songs contain more of a jazz-based center. As an artist, Audrey Ryan admits that her music has taken on a new form since then.

“At the time, I was playing with a vibraphone player and a full band, and it was just a completely different sound. As I have evolved over the past five years, [the music] has become more quirky, indie, experimental. The first record, Passing Thru, was done in a studio, and pretty much the recordings I've done over the past two or three years, I've done by myself or with one other person sort of in our rehearsal space. I've decided in order to record, you don't need to have a bunch of money—you just need to capture the songs in a very sort of honest way, even if it's on a four-track recorder,” Ryan explained.

When not on the road, Ryan devotes her time to her upcoming record, which will include songs she has been working on for the past two years.

“That one is going to be closer to Dishes and Pills; more layered, a lot of instruments,” Ryan said.

Audrey Ryan will take the middle spot on Friday, April 24 between Shadowboxer Collective leaders Casados and Ryan Groff. The Mike 'n' Molly's show begins at 8 p.m.