🏠 Here'e the direct link to the Episode 2 home page:
🎥 Here's the "Read Along Video" for Episode 2 https://youtu.be/6TIJO6wSsac
♫ Listen to the Lights (Social Links) = https://www.prettycitylights.com🔗 Follow The Lights (Social Links) = https://www.prettycitylights.com/links
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Episode Description:
In this 23-minute podcast, Ryno sifts through the years 2008 to 2012, examining the milestones in his life when so much changed for him. In particular, the moment he re-discovered songwriting, in a very special room, February 5th, 2010. It’s not everyday that you discover what you really want to do with your life. Nor is it common to delete Midi symphonies, and shake hands with Clive Owen and Seymour Cassel in the same instant.
This oral history was not meant to be a podcast. It became one. It was originally intended to be an audio introduction to Part 2 of my Demotron series on the song “Please”, which is 30 years old. Please check that out series, if you have a moment, here.
The Room:
NOTES - In 2010, the ‘special room’ I am referring to, inside The Hit Factory recording studio, was at the original location, 353 W. 48th Street. View a picture of that gorgeous room, below. The drums were situated right where the Baldwin grand is sitting in this photo
At the time when I was there, in 2010, it was no longer a functioning studio—the equipment had been removed. It occupied by Gibson Guitars, being used as a ‘showroom’. There’s a heap of history about the this location, as well as the modern location. The Hit Factory wikipedia is worthy of a visit, here. You can visit the website of the modern location of Hit Factory Recording Studios, here.
The Film:
“Keep the Home Fires Burning” is available for viewing, here. This is the film was the compacted result of nearly a year of film creation inside 56 Bogart Street Building, near Morgan Ave L Train, in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I was working with my very own K107 JK Optical Printer, blowing up super-8mm film to regular 16mm. They genius who designed this scaled down masterpiece of the huge optical printers in the laboratories of cinema history was named Jaakko Kurhi. He was a Karelian-born Finn who described himself as an “optical instrument designer and builder”. He passed in 2023, right before his 93rd birthday. I wrote more about him on the post associated with my film, here.
The Deleted Midi Symphony:
The unfinished remnants ‘deleted’ symphony can be found, here. I do believe this work is worthy of completion, but it’s a mountain. I’m focussed on my songs currently. I really need a composer/arranger to help me get this all notated properly.
Podcast Description:
Sitting at his songwriter's workbench, Ryno leans back in his chair to share his deepest thoughts, embarrassing experiences, and profound discoveries, exploring how his songs fit into the world today and the significance of songwriting in his personal growth. Join Ryno as he explores the genesis of his lyrics, sonic creations, and song-making process, with stories from past and present, encountered on the journey of a DIY songwriter & recording artist.
About the author
Ryan OToole (aka, RYNO) is a skateboarder from Arizona with too many film degrees, who writes songs for Pretty City Lights—a new music project based in Seoul, South Korea. His songs have been described as, "alternative rock for people dying of middle age". Formerly associated with the band, Amateur Blonde, his songs have been featured in television and film - notably, The Walking Dead (S10 Ep21). RYNO is the author of Behind The Lights, a freemium substack publication, documenting the Pretty City Lights song & album creation process with the slogan, “watch me make music”.
Get full access to Behind the Lights at www.behindthelights.org/subscribe
