Ryan Farish

All Music Guide:

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Farish describes his music as "positive chillout," though his fusion of jazz, electronica, new age, and Christian pop has earned him a following that spans the boundaries of genre. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, Farish began taking music lessons and writing melodies when he was just four years of age. As a teenager, he studied music performance at Norfolk's Old Dominion University, and later studied music business at UCLA. In 2000, Farish began taking his music public by posting material on the website MP3.com; his music soon developed a loyal following, and in time he racked up 1.8 million downloads from the site. The same year, he also released his first album, In the Day, through a small independent label, and in 2004 he signed with EMI to release his breakthrough album Beautiful. Since then, Farish had produced a steady stream of albums and singles, establishing his own Rytone Entertainment label to give him full control over his marketing and distribution. Farish's career received a tremendous boost when the cable network The Weather Channel began using his music as part of their broadcasts; Farish's distinctive, soothing melodies became a staple of their Local on the 8's segment, his music was featured on the compilation album The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz, and Farish was commissioned to write the theme for the TWC's popular series Storm Stories. He has also licensed his music for use in a variety of television programs, motion pictures, commercials, and promotional films. In addition, he has worked with a number of other noted artists, including vocalist Donna Lewis and musician and producer Paul Hardcastle, and his collaboration with gospel vocal group Trin-I-Tee 5:7, "Listen," earned him a Dove Award in 2008 from the Gospel Music Association. And Farish's music is a frequent presence on YouTube; his song "Pacific Wind" accompanied a video created to pay homage to American soldiers fighting in Iraq which has received well over 30 millions views.

Wikipedia:

Ryan Farish is an American electronic artist, producer and DJ from Virginia Beach, Virginia. As a Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer/composer/multi-instrumentalist, Farish launched his music career on the first generation MP3.com. It was at this site where he received 1.8 million downloads of his trademark, electronic/world music.

His albums include Upon A Dream (2011), Opus-Reloaded (2011), Opus (2010), Bloom (2010), Movement in Light (2009), Wonderfall (2008), Everlasting (2006), From The Sky (2005), Beautiful (2004), Selected Works and Selected Works Xpanded (compilations of his early works featured on The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s), Daydreamer (2002), Beyond the Horizon (2002) and In The Day (2000). Songs from these are featured on Selected Works. He also released a Christmas EP Spirit - A Ryan Farish Christmas (2009), as well as multiple singles, including 2008’s “Dancing Angel” (a Ryan Farish and Donna Lewis collaboration) and “In This Moment". All of which were released by Ryan's label, RYTONE Entertainment.

Farish has been a Weather Channel music staple for over a decade. Many of Farish's works can be heard on TWC's Local on the 8s. One of his songs, "Holding Hands" is featured on The Weather Channel's CD released in October 2007, The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz. This compilation climbed to the No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Album Chart. Farish's work with on TWC led to the channel commissioning an original score/theme for their primetime TV show "Storm Stories".

A Farish song, "Pacific Wind," was featured in a popular YouTube video, entitled "Remember Me," created by a 15-year-old high school student named Lizzie Palmer. The video, a sentimental montage of soldiers in the Iraq War, was ranked as the 48th most watched YouTube video of all time as of April 26, 2008. As of May 2012, it has received almost 40 million views. Palmer and Farish gained renown from the prominence of the video; the former was interviewed on news networks including CNN. To date, more than 1,800 listener supported videos have reached beyond 58 million views on YouTube.com.

Media

In 2004, after many requests as to what genre Ryan Farish considered his music to be, Ryan coined the name "Positive Chillout" to be a reference to his unique brand of uplifting, Chillout electronic music. In November 2006, Ryan Farish published this title, on his owned/operated Live365 internet Radio Station, "Positive Chillout", as well as RyanFarish.com and PositiveChillout.com.

The Live365 radio station was first created in November 2006 as “Positive Chillout”. In 2010, Ryan re-launched the show on DI.FM's (Digitally Imported)"Chillout Dreams" channel as “Positive Chillout with Ryan Farish”. The new show brought an emphasis on Electronic Chillout Music, which is considered positive and uplifting.

January 2011, Ryan Farish debuts his Progressive Trance radio show "Elevation" on Hot 100.5 on WVHT-FM of Max Media. Elevation is a two-hour exclusive DJ mix set produced and hosted by Ryan Farish.

Endorsements

In late 2009, Ryan Farish signed an exclusive endorsement deal with Yamaha Corporation of America.

In 2011, Ryan Farish is featured by Audi USA in a series called "Remarkable Audi". In this short film which also features Ryan's music, Ryan discusses the qualities of Audi's audio engineering and how he uses the advanced sound of his Audi as part of his creative process.

Collaborations

Ryan has collaborated with a variety of artists. In 2008, Ryan worked with multi-platinum recording artist Donna Lewis to release their first collaborative single "Dancing Angel". Lewis is widely known for her No.1 hit "I Love You, Always Forever" (Now in A Minute/Atlantic Records). He also co-wrote and co-published "Listen" for Trin-i-tee 5:7's album T57, for which he was nominated for a Grammy and won a Dove Award.

Ryan collaborated on Sempre Vicino (2009) with The Canadian Tenors. Farish also produced and cowrote an EP with Nathan Morris, "Just Me, Just You".

On June 22, 2010, Ryan Farish released "Reflections", a collaborative effort between Farish and English artist Paul Hardcastle.

August 9, 2010 - Following the heels of his release with jazz master Paul Hardcastle, electronic artist/producer Ryan Farish digitally releases a tune with Paul’s son on RYTONE Entertainment. Called “Sunset Sky,” the number features Paul Hardcastle Jr. on the saxophone mixed with a twist on Ryan’s signature melodies.

August 16, 2011 - With the debut of Ryan's latest album, "Upon a Dream," his latest work includes collaborations with Tiff Lacey, Aprille Goodman, Madelin Zero, and Dave Moisan.

October 11, 2011 - Ryan Farish & Paul Hardcastle, both masters of Chillout, announce "Transcontinental", a collection of new music featuring the vocals of Paul's daughter Maxine Hardcastle, and son Paul Hardcastle Jr., as well.

Awards and Credits

Ryan Farish won a Dove Award at the 39th Annual GMAs (2008) and received a Grammy nomination (2008) and has had several top ten Billboard.com charting songs. The Dove Award was for co-writing the hit gospel song, "Listen" for Trin-i-Tee 5:7.

Included in honorable mentions to Farish’s music credit are having his music used as part of the Freedom Towers documentary in New York City, “Access Hollywood,” Universal Music Publishing, EMI, Discovery Channel, “20/20,” FOX Sports, American Airlines, Virgin Airlines, MTV, Red Cross, Lifetime Network, Sony and Columbia Tri Star Pictures.

2010 - Producer Ryan Farish was named by The Recording Academy Washington, D.C. Chapter Board as the Chapter’s first-appointed Advisor representing the VA Beach/Tidewater area.

2011 - Producer Ryan Farish is named as an elected Governor by The Recording Academy Washington, D.C. Chapter Board