Welcome
Welcome to Witherwillow Sounds, the web home of synthesist/bassist
J.D. Ryan (Thorny).
PERFORMANCE:
NEW ENGLAND SYNTH FEST
Hello, friends,
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I had a great performance and great time at the NESF last weekend. I performed three pieces - When the Water Comes (from Flood), A Simple Plan, and Eclipse.
Here's the video...
Thorny: Flood
Hello, friends.
​
I'm happy to let you know that Flood, the new Thorny album, iss now out, and is available at Bandcamp and all of the major streaming services.. It was music inspired by the devastating floods that hit my home state of Vermont in July of 2023.
Tonally, it still has the Thorny sound, although it is a bit more dense and varied in texture than my previous releases. I'm excited to share it with you.
Press for Thorny - Flood
"The ambient project of Plainfield musician JD Ryan, Thorny is a fascinating study in musical reaction to environmental stimuli....
Throughout the record, Ryan uses synthesizers and bass guitar to represent the horror and tranquility of the water, the despair over natural destruction, and the hope of reconstruction.
- Seven Days (Vermont's arts weekly)
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“Thorny constructs powerful compositions which demonstrate the intensity and frequency of nature and reveal real-life undercurrents.”
-Ambient Landscape Podcast/Blog
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“Each track is thoughtfully arranged, blending muted white noise, the ebbing and flowing of oscillating drones, expansive soundscapes with spacious instrumentation, and a generous wash of ambient reverb. You can almost feel the empathy woven throughout, telling the story of those that endured.”
-Stolace/Relay Station Podcast
"Flood is a wholly original work and one where he has created his own unique and moving sonic vocabulary. Never one to miss the opportunity for a pun, I dare say the floodgates are open on Thorny's unique musical vocabulary. Fans of Steve Roach’s more earthy soundscapes and VidnaObmana’s early works will truly enjoy Flood." - Ambient Soundbath