Recently returned from performing at the prestigious Modern Composers showcase at this year’s SXSW creative industries festival in Austin Texas, electronic/classical crossover artist Ryan Vail will release two tracks of solely piano music to celebrate Wold Piano Day.
One track “We Drift We Wake” is a brand new composition written entirely in celebration of the day, a gentle 5 minute piece that transports the listener on an ethereal drift between the worlds of wakefulness and sleep.
The second track is a re-recording and development on a sombre track Ryan had composed for Piano day in 2015 that was included in the celebrated German composer Nils Frahm 2015 Piano day playlist. Both tracks can be listened to here.
“Why does the world need a Piano Day? For many reasons. But mostly, because it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the piano and everything around it: performers, composers, piano builders, tuners, movers and most important, the listener.” – Nils Frahm
Piano Day, a annual worldwide event founded by a group of likeminded people, takes place on the 88th day of the year – in 2017 it’s the 29th March – because of the number of keys on the instrument being celebrated.
The aim of the day is to create a platform for piano related projects in order to promote the development of musical dimensions and to continue sharing the centuries-old joy of playing piano. Piano Day welcomes all kinds of piano lovers — young and old, amateur and professional, of any musical direction – to join in this years festivities. It is intended to be the most joyful of all holidays!
Ryan Vail is a musical pioneer with vision. Ryan blends the worlds of electronica, folk and classical, always experimenting combining classical instruments with unique methods of recording and composition. His debut album “For Every Silence” was released in April of last year to critical and commercial acclaim finding fans across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Ryan blends the worlds of electronica, folk and classical, always experimenting combining classical instruments with unique methods of recording and composition. In 2014 he composed the soundtrack for a full length BBC2 Documentary entitled “The Longest Night” as part of the BBC’s “True North” series. In 2015 he composed a solo piano piece for World Piano Day which was chosen for Nils Frahm’s Piano day playlist on SoundCloud. His 2015 collaborative album with Ciaran Lavery “Sea Legs” has been shortlisted for the NI Music Prize (Best Northern Irish Album of 2015) previous winners have included Foy Vance and Robyn G Shields. In 2017 Ryan developed a live A/V show that debuted at the Output music conference festival in Belfast and will be performing this live at all major Irish Festivals. Ryan also showcased at the prestigious Modern Composers showcase at SXSW 2017 in Austin. Ryan has had radio play or performed live Sessions with BBC Introducing, Other Voices, Annie Mac, Tom Ravenscroft, Across The Line, Tom Robinson, Phillip Taggart and Zane Lowe.
Ryan has supported many international live acts such as Nils Frahm, Jamie XX, Jon Hopkins, Tycho, David Kitt, Boxcutter, Todd Terje, Phil Kieran, Luke Vibert and Orbital.
