Though Serena Ryder is just 24 years old, she is no stranger to the music scene. While not familiar with American audiences, this Canadian songstress is going to make a splash that is set to be undeniably big. With a developed, three octave vocal range, Ryder has the ability to sound how she wants to sound whether she is tough, sultry, or tender in her musical styling.

With lyrics as unique as her voice, Ryder is sure to be one of the smash hits of the American music scene. She is emotional, strong, and calm in her approach, which leaves a lasting effect on the listener. Her voice is uniquely addicting, which is wonderful because she is filling a much needed void in American music and the chick rock scene. While Jewel, Alanis Morrisette, and the once great Sarah McLaughlin have seemingly faded from the scene, Ryder will pick up and revive the genre where they left off.

In celebration of Ryder coming to America with her music, a five song EP has been released. I was offered a copy of the songs for review. The first thing that struck me about Ryder was her voice. Her musical accompaniment is incredibly simple because her vocals are able to stand up on their own with little help. It was her lyrics that really got to me though. Ryder has a way about her lyrics that remind me of the late, great Jim Morrison. One of the many things that made Morrison’s best songs stand out were the elements of poetry found in the songs. He was a poet prior to being involved in music and his poetry was crafted to become his music. Many of Ryder’s lyrics have that same pleasant, literary feel to them.

The name of the five songs on this EP by Serena Ryder, which are meant to introduce her to the US, and some thoughts about each track are listed below.

“Blown like the Wind at Night” – As the first song (I listened to them in backwards order) my immediate thought was that Ryder’s sound, meaning both lyrical and musically, was interesting. I found the soft rock elements flattered the song perfectly. The mix of style with Ryder’s unique voice blend to make a new song that I have been desperately waiting to hear. I love Ryder’s voice with all of its soothing, beautiful qualities. I also love the versatility. While one moment she is being soothing and seductive, the next minute she sounds harsh, deliberate, and calculating. It’s this kind of quality that will keep listeners aching for more.

“Weak in the Knees” – This lyrics here are just amazing. I can see her being huge in the chick rock scene. A jilted song of love can be hard to pull off without sounding whiny or weak, but Ryder has a way about her that gives us hope that all will end well. There were elements here that reminded me a little bit of country music though it was not prevalent enough that it would bother non-country fans.

Thanks to the strength and excitement that plays through Ryder’s voice I can see her doing an excellent job at adding some interesting content to the failing chick rock scene. I am sure that she will become a big force in the music industry. Her music is relatable, strong, and has lyrics that produce just the right levels of emotion.

“Brand New Love” - This one tends to be a little more upbeat than the previous songs. Despite being upbeat there is still that mellow, hippy-like quality about it that is incredibly appealing. This is likely due to the fact that Ryder’s music is more on the acoustic end of things with a simple guitar and some drums leading the way for most songs. It’s refreshing to see someone concentrate on basic instruments and their voice to fuel their music. Ryder is gaining more respect from me with every song. She reminds me of a cross between Janis Joplin and a younger, more empowering, less pop Sheryl Crow.

“Hiding Place” - This is one of the slowest of the five songs that I have heard thus far. I can’t get over how pleasing her voice is in its uniqueness. I used to love to listen to Jewel because her voice had the same effect on me. It’s likely I will be looking up Ryder more in the future and will be picking up her CDs when they are available. At this stage, it is hard to pick a favorite song, because I like them all. I wouldn’t turn any of them off if they came on the radio or if I’m playing one of her CDs. “Hiding Place” offers lyrics that are both profound and open in their aggressive honesty though this comes as no surprise at this point because all of Ryder’s work had exceeded my standard expectations.

“Told you in a Whispered Song” – This song offers a nice, soft Jazz beat with a good sound and interesting lyrics. Keeping that in mind, it is set to be a hit if and when it lands on the radio. It’s unique enough to stand out and strong enough to become catchy. I have no doubt that Ryder is poised to make a big splash in whatever she does in music. It is refreshing to welcome her to ranks of female musician stardom. She is definitely a welcome addition and I look forward to seeing all she will do from this point on.

If you are looking for a fresh, new sound by a female artist that can actually sing in this age of self-diluted, drugged out, over synthesized pop artists then Serena Ryder is your dream singer. Actually, she is most likely much more then you ever could anticipate.

Technorati Tags: Serena Ryder, Music, EP, Music Review, Jewel, Jim Morrison, Alanis, Canadian Singer, Crossover, America

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