My Northern Sky

Drawing inspiration from artists such as Sigur Ros, Cinematic Orchestra, Thomas Newman, Coldplay, Doves, Moby, Bjork and Yann Tiersen, My Northern Sky's Christopher Ryman has awoken sounds and stories that are uniquely and obviously his. This is no more apparent than in my northern sky’s debut album, Glasswing. Fly, at it’s most simple, the story of a boy and his battle to the much longed-for promised land of freedom.

Indeed, Glasswing. Fly is more a soundtrack to a film (than it is an album), the storyline of which Christopher tells through defining tracks and scenes, like chapters in a book.

Christopher’s ability to make room for silence as much his ability to weave together threads of moments and sounds, can often leave you dreaming film-like reflections. This musical slant, together with his distinctive voice – a beautiful vocal of rich tones and heartfelt expression that the BBC once described as “the voice of an angel… innocently flying to its falsetto on frail wings, but with the power to hit the listener like a juggernaut" – makes Christopher an artist we will hear of in a lot more environments than one; from film and television to a full band on stage to an intimate acoustic solo gig.

Whereas Glasswing. Fly represents a clear change in direction and explores the bigger sound Christopher has been longing to explore ever since his days with Cardiff-band Westgate Street came to an end, it was the Irish acoustic scene that Christopher (playing under the name ginosko) had been playing until he moved back to the UK in 2011 and lay down his guitar, in preference for his first-love the piano and the piano through a laptop.

Pre-My Northern Sky, saw Christopher share the same billing with some of Ireland’s most popular acts Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan, Declan O’Rourke, Ann Scott and Mick Flannery. And now, although keen to pick up the acoustic scene again, Christopher’s present attentions are to the bigger sounds he has discovered through writing and recording Glasswing. Fly and finding out what else lays deep down inside for the world to hear.

Indeed, Christopher has already started to make inroads into British music scene, with a "one to watch" review on BBC Radio 6, invites to play BBC Introducing Stages and festivals.

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My Northern Sky’s debut album, Glasswing. Fly is available on iTunes and Bandcamp. Go to mynorthernsky.net for more details