Triple Grammy Award-winning Producer meets ‘wee Ryan’ for Transatlantic Collaboration
Though he’s only just graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Scottish fiddle player Ryan is already drawing international attention. Boston-based music producer Jesse Lewis wants to produce Ryan’s debut album of traditional Scottish tunes, and flew across the Atlantic this May to join Ryan in an adventure to find a suitable recording venue.
In his first recording venture on UK soil, Jesse plans to bring his infectious positive spirit to the recording of Ryan’s album. This collaboration will place Ryan among a list of world-class musicians who have worked with Jesse, including The Silk Road Ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma, Bela Fleck, Jan Vogler and Brooklyn Rider. Before Jesse returns in the Autumn to record his album, Ryan has a busy summer of performances, including an appearance at the prestigious Willie Clancy Festival (Milton Malbay, Co. Clare).
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Aly Bain and Eilidh Steel, Ryan is leading a new wave of traditional Scottish fiddle-players and breathing new life into old and forgotten tunes, with his inventive and modern interpretations. Ryan’s unique style has arisen from his influence from both Irish and Scottish traditional music, lending both harmonies and tensions to his music. Ryan has drawn praise for his ‘depth of dynamics and precision’, a quality that should be spotlighted by Jesse’s interest in high resolution recording and his ambition to ‘seek and capture a life and tactility in the sound.’
Jesse Lewis on the upcoming album: “Ryan’s pacing (when playing music) is way beyond his years. There’s so much talent in this young man already, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store. I’m so excited to spend some quality time in Scotland, making this album the best it can be.”
Ryan Young on the upcoming album: “Jesse understands what I’m trying to do with the music without me having to use words, and he helps push me in the right direction. When playing through a tune at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he turned the process into telling a story, whispering his suggestions about where the story was leading. This has spurred me on to find new possibilities in my music and helped me find confidence I didn’t know I had.”
Notes for Editors:
High resolution photos of Ryan and Jesse are available on request (mim@miriamrune.co.uk), you can also find press information at ryanyoung.scot
· Ryan Young is an emerging fiddle player from Cardross, one of a ‘new wave’ of young players who are reinventing traditional Scottish tunes. Not one to blow his own trumpet, (Ryan is more occupied with his fiddle!) this modest young man won’t be the first to mention that he has performed on the BBC Hogmanay Show, or that he’s shared the main stage with Paolo Nutini and Phil Cunningham at T in the Park, performing for around 80,000 people.
A personal highlight would be Ryan’s performance at Feakle Festival (Co. Clare, Ireland), accompanied by one of his greatest inspirations, Dennis Cahill. A winner of the Danny Kyle Open Stage in 2007 at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, Ryan was also a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards in both 2007 and 2008, and more recently a finalist in both 2015 and 2016 for the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.
· Jesse Lewis is a triple Grammy award-winning music producer, recording engineer and cellist from Boston, devoted to the communication of great performances through music technology. He has experience in acoustic music of classical chamber and solo opera, orchestral, historically performed baroque, jazz, traditional fiddle, indie classical, including an ever-growing list of World music genres. Jesse has won Grammy awards for his work with ‘Roomful of Teeth’ (2014), ‘Elmer Gantry’ (2012) and ‘Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé’ (2010). Jesse’s Bakery
For further information and press images, visit ryanyoung.scot
Or contact Miriam Rune: mim@miriamrune.co.uk / 07740 339628.
Follow Ryan at @RyanYoungFiddle
Listen at soundcloud.com/ryan-young-fiddle
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