Los Angeles, CA – You may not know Kelley Ryan’s name but chances are you are familiar with the work of some of her collaborators which include Marshall Crenshaw, Jesse Valenzuela (Gin Blossoms), Amy Rigby, Marti Jones and Don Dixon (producer – REM, Smithereens, Tommy Keene, Matthew Sweet and many more).

The bi-continental musician can generally be found in one of her two home studios which are located in Palm Springs, CA and Cork, Ireland.  She’s a self-described studio rat who adores the creative process and is constantly writing song snippets, melodies, words, constructing loops and pads.  She’s been working with musical soulmates Don Dixon and Marti Jones (whose gorgeous backing vocals are heard on Ryan’s latest release Telescope) for many years.

Ryan’s new album Telescope is actively receiving airplay at Sirius XM’s The Loft and a radio campaign is underway with stations being added frequently.  Prior to recording under her own name, Ryan went under the moniker of astroPuppees and put out her debut on High Tone Records.  She produced, sang and wrote virtually all of the album.  Four astroPuppees releases followed, some on High Tone, others on her own label Manatee.  Telescope is the third release under her own name.

The musician calls this album “a quiet and subtle respite from the crazy static going on in the world right now.”  The only cover on the album is "Passing Through" which was a co-write with Marshall Crenshaw for his last record. The track is  “about non permanence and treasuring each and every moment in our fleeting lives.”

Each track has an intriguing story, here are just a few:

• “’Cigarette’" was based on a painting that Marti did of two people backstage at a show she was attending. The painting is called 'Green Room at the House of Blues'.
• "’Flake White Heart’ is a particular color of paint that the artist Lucian Freud liked to use. The song is a result of Marti and me wondering just what was going through his models’ minds as he would painstakingly paint them for years at a time.”
• "’Pulling For Romeo’" is about hope.  Romeo and Juliet. His 'fake poison plan' almost worked. Even though I KNOW the outcome will be tragic, I am hoping he will wake up and they will live happily ever after. I always pull for Romeo.”
• "’Real Gone Girl’ is about a beautiful, wonderfully wacky girl I know in Ireland. She is constantly on the move. Restless yet always in love. i wrote it originally for the Gin Blossoms upcoming record but when I found out the band was going to write all of their own songs, just decided to change the prepositions and sing it myself. And, to be honest, with all the traveling I do, I am pretty much a real gone girl myself.  Haha!”

photo credit: Amos Perrine