Serena Ryder playing at Bowery Ball Room in May 2013.
photo by Lisa Gansky
I believe that every little bit counts
and everyone can effect change.
— Serena Ryder
wiki:
Serena Lauren Ryder (b. 12/8/82) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Born in Toronto, she grew up in Millbrook, Ontario. She is the daughter of Barbara Ryder and Glen Sorzano and was born into a musical family. Her biological father was a Trinidadian musician who immigrated to Canada in the early sixties. Her uncle, part-Ojibwe (Temagami First Nation) singer-songwriter Bob Carpenter, worked with producer Brian Ahern and singer Emmylou Harris and recorded the unreleased Silent Passage (1974,) which has since become a folk-rock cult classic. Ryder, youngest of three children, was raised by Barbara and her second husband, Andrew McKibbon and grew up listening to old records by the Beatles and Leonard Cohen from her parents’ collection. At age eight, Ryder sang at Royal Canadian Legion halls and motor hotels. Having received a guitar from her stepfather, she began playing the instrument at the age of thirteen. Songwriting efforts followed. At fifteen, she was playing classic and folk tunes with her piano teacher in coffeehouses and legion halls.
Ryder first gained national recognition with her ballad “Weak in the Knees” in 2007 and has released eight studio albums.
Official website here
Tao Talk 
She’s a talented singer songwriter that seems to just on the edge of something, what I am not sure. I like her earlier stuff though.
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Randy I see she’s got a new album coming out. I really like that song, “Better Now.”
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Thanks Lisa, that’s exciting for the fans, I wasn’t aware.
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One of my faves – thanks for giving me insight as I knew none of that.
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Paul, happy to oblige. She’s totally new to me but I like what I’m hearing.
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Another new name to me but another I liked
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Me too, Glyn!
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Serena is an extraordinary talent with a deep, soulful and powerful voice. My sweety and I saw her perform with Canada’s Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in February 2020. It was a fabulous show.
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Steve, I figured you and Sweety would know who she is. To see her live had to be a real thrill.
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Oh, it sure was, Lisa, and the last big show for us before everything shut down with Covid.
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I’ve heard of her, but never actually heard any of her music. An excellent choice. I like the rough edges of her voice. (K)
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She really impacts me with her voice.
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Her name sounded familiar, but I checked and can confirm I haven’t covered any song by Serena Ryder yet. “Stompa” did ring a distant bell, but I can’t remember the context. In any case, together with “Weak In the Knees” and “Better Now” I like what I’m hearing.
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I love the message in Better Now and the beat in Stompa. With her heritage I could feel the power of the beat in it.
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I love her and saw her live. She is a firecracker. They have called her the Canadian Melissa Etheridge and she wrote a song for Melissa but Melissa refused to sing it without her. Wonderful song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VupzVP8Jjr8
I also love her Sing, Sing, too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RCdkwlp4L8
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I love the duet with Melissa!!!!! I’ve been a fan of Melissa Etheridge for years and even saw her in concert once. Serena really shows off her singing ability in Sing, Sing. Wow!
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Isn’t it fantastic? I love them both. They do have a similar style of singing and boy, are they powerful.
Glad you enjoyed Sing Sing. It’s one of my faves.
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This is one of my most favorites that you have posted this month…love Better Now…I know you will go what? But it is a song that I think U2 would do….it’s a great song. I also like the other one because it sounds strong and powerful.
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Max, I love all kinds of lyrics, from frivolous to deep, but the deep holds a soul connection. Did you see the video of the duet with Melissa Etheridge in the comments? That song really hits the spot with those two singing.
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I just checked it out…her voice really showed a different side in that duet…that is great. I will keep my eye on her in the future…I like her a lot.
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:)
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