It just—I don’t know. I was the first time I kind of thought,Huh.
Mari
My mom flew out with me to attend the launch party. It was maybe the most excited I’ve ever been. Not only did I get to see Ryan again for the first time inwaytoo long—although we racked up our parents’ phone bills with plenty of long-distance calls—but I’d get to go with her to, like,theswankiest party my fifteen-year-old self could possibly fathom.
She and her mom picked us up from Austin-Bergstrom International in a company car from Madcap, which was already unbelievable. And—this is why I love her—she wouldn’t let me ask any questions about her life until I caught her up on everything I was doing: on my harp lessons, on Frank, on all the gossip around Hamilton-Wenham and our old classmates.
We had our first sleepover that night in a long time, but it felt like we’d never been apart.
And yes, we watchedEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Skip
The break I was hoping for came in September, when I got a call from a connection of mine. He’d recently started working with the band Dust and Roses, the country group who’d won a well-deserved Grammy the year before, and he said they were looking for an opener for theNortheast leg of their spring tour. The South was covered, he made that clear, but they were looking for local voices that would be a nice nod to the regions where they were traveling. And would Ryan Holding be interested in taking it back to her roots?
Would sheeverbe.
Six
NBC10 Boston News,Aired February 7, 2006
Host: I’m here with young bluegrass star Ryan Holding, who’s been making waves in the Austin, Texas, music scene with her two hit singles “Providence” and “Shoes on the Dash,” along with her eponymous album,Ryan Holding, released last summer. Now, she’s headed on tour with country music group Dust and Roses—but into familiar territory. Ryan, you’re from our own town of Hamilton, Massachusetts, just a short drive from this very studio. How does it feel to be back home?
[Ryan smiles and tucks her thick hair behind her ear, smoothing her hands on her blue jeans.]
Ryan: It feels good. It’s hard to believe I’m here, honestly.
Host: Now, you are the youngest musician that Madcap has ever signed to their label, and as far as I’m aware, certainly the youngest to ever tour with Dust and Roses. Have you gotten to meet the band?
Ryan: Oh, definitely. They’re all really sweet, taking me under their wing and stuff. They got pizza delivered right to the stage after the first rehearsal, and we just sat together and talked about how we got to this point. I’ve been so lucky to have a lot of teachers—my first banjo teacher, Frank, but then my producer, Skip, has taught me so much, andmy co-songwriter, Jasmine—everyone at Madcap. And now the Dust and Roses crew. I know I’m still starting out, so there’s so much to learn.
Host: It sounds like you’re on the right track. What are you looking forward to most about being back in the Hub?
[Ryan laughs.]
Ryan: Honestly, I carved out some time between shows to see my old friends again. I’m looking forward to that more than anything. Oh, and maybe a lobster roll!
Host: I don’t think Texas can beat that. Ryan, I have your album here with me, and I’m going to give our audience a good look so they can find it at their local record store and wherever CDs are sold. And while we’re admiring this album, can you tell me a little bit about the art?
[The host presents the album, which features a photo of Ryan with her banjo between two monolithic stones, taken at Enchanted Rock’s peak in Texas. Then, the host opens the CD case and points to the lyric booklet, which is covered in white doodled lines on a black background. Ryan smiles demurely, and her tone is innocent.]
Ryan: I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Host: Well, some have said that there’s a secret message written in the doodles here. I haven’t cracked the code myself, but that looks likestorms, and I think I might seerootsdown here ...
Ryan: Would you look at that! You must have really good eyesight.
Host: I’ll neither ask you to confirm or deny—it sounds like our audiences will have to look for themselves.Ryan Holdingis out now, and you can see her perform live with Dust and Roses at the Orpheum Theatre on February 11.
Mari
There were three different versions of the secret messages. They were all quotes Ryan lived by: “Storms make trees take deeper roots,” by Dolly Parton; “I was determined to carve out a music of my own,” by Bill Monroe; and “Keep the music ringing”—that wassomething Frank always said. She spent a day making the doodles herself and getting them just right before they sent the design files off to the printer.
Skip
It was genius. Everyone wanted to get their hands on those CD booklets to see what the secret messages were, and back then, the way to do that was to buy it. I’d say that idea alone nearly doubled sales.
Her numbers didn’t skyrocket like some of the other artists I’d seen at the big labels, but it was good, steady growth. And the tour could only improve that.
