Norfolk, Virginia-based, multi-instrumentalist, indie-rock musician Ivy Ryann is set to release her new album, A Nonaggressive Extreme Violation of Boundaries, on March 4, 2022. Ryann is poised to blow the doors open on what is deemed acceptable or taboo material through her new, highly anticipated debut album,which was recorded in Nashville and produced by Rich Mossman. Heavily influenced by artists such as Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Brandi Carlile, Ryann’s music invokes powerful emotion, taking listeners on a journey to their inner depths.
Coming from fundamental Christian roots, Ryannllonged for a connection she now takes charge of through her art.“I want my music to be what I felt the church should have been for me–a sanctuary with no judgement,” she says. With that mentality, she is a radical advocate of solidarity and community through song. For Ryann, music is her safe space, and she welcomes all to experience it with no holds barred. “I want this project to be the experience that I was looking for for the majority of my life,” she says. “I had to create it for myself,but if I could just hand that gift to someone else in the form of music, I will consider it a mission complete.”
On Nonaggressive, Ivy’s music ranges wildly from intimate to intensely passionate, a stunning venting of emotion. Each song feels carefully crafted, with each note and cymbal strike designed for the most emotional impact. Tying it all together is Ryann’s confessional songwriting style, anchoring her stunning soundscapes into the earthy mess of the human heart. You can listen to A Nonaggressive Extreme Violation of Boundaries in full below, exclusively on Adobe & Teardrops.
Your album is really special. Tell us how you came to gather this collection of songs together.
Thank you! This collection has amounted to being a summary of my musical existence in a way. Some of the songs on this record are over seven years old and some of them are pretty recent. I see a lot of personal growth and history when I look at the record as a whole. When I decided to turn some of my “prized possessions” into a collection, I knew it would be something really special to me.
Because these songs are from so many different seasons of my life and so many different phases of my growth as an artist, it took a lot of patience and adjusting to make these songs sound like they belong together on one record. This album took so much longer to track than I could have imagined, but I’m really glad my producer, Rich Mossman, and I took the time to let this one mature the way it was supposed to over time.
The album title is amazing. Where did that title come from and what does it signify for you?
The album title is something I’m really proud of. I knew I wanted the album title to be something that made people do a double take and go, “What the fuck?” I’m pretty sure I achieved that goal, if nothing else.
I was sitting on a porch with my producer and another friend; I’d had a few beers at that point and jokingly described someone I knew as “a nonagressive, yet extreme violation of my boundaries,” and we all laughed. Then I said,”Well, honestly, that’s how I feel listening to my album, too,” and Rich, my producer, looked at me and said “THAT… That’s your album name.” And it just stuck.
So many of the songs are about some of the nicest (nonagressive) people I know, violating my boundaries in a really personal and harmful way. We all have stories of people who feel like they should have some control over your life under the guise of religion, being family, or just “wanting what’s best for you.”
And, in another sense, I feel like that’s what the experience of listening to this album is in some ways. It’s beautiful and catchy but will also kind of invade your space and make you feel things you might not want to. It’s honest. Not aggressive or unkind. But brutally honest.
What was the recording process like? Did it go the way you expected? What was your favorite moment or moments in the studio?
The recording process was kind of brutal. The album took significantly longer to complete than I originally thought for various reasons, and it definitely did not go the way I expected it to. The phrase we kept using as a motto for recording this album was “throwing off the chains.” We decided we would use whatever sounds we wanted to and do unconventional things to get what we wanted out of the song.
I spent a lot of my musical career trying to sing perfectly in tune and use “good technique,” but the takes we ended up keeping most often on this record were when I pushed myself through tears or just let myself go in the vocal booth and do something that probably resembled screaming more than singing. Those were some of my favorite moments. After long days of trying to “do it right,” we got some really beautiful takes when I “threw off the chains” and let myself cry, scream, or let my voice crack. That’s where it became imperative to be surrounded by a group of people I completely trusted. The album wouldn’t be what it is if I had to record with a team that I didn’t consider family.
Other favorite moments in the studio would probably be a collection of absolutely terribly auto-tuned vocals that my producer made of my voice to show Nicole Tester, who is featured on this album, and me. If those ever get out to the public, I’m pretty sure my career would be over in a blaze of embarrassing auto-tuned glory. I was sore from laughing for nearly a week after hearing those, which is a testament to how hilarious it was, but also a testament to my lack of core strength.
Do you have a favorite song on the album? What makes it stand out for you?
You’re asking me to pick a favorite child? Like any parent, I for sure have one but I’ll never tell.
How would you describe the music that you make? Does this album feel like your most “genuine” musical self?
I describe my music as soft indie rock with singer-songwriter influence.
I do believe this album represents my most genuine self right now. That might not be true in a few years. I actually hope it’s not my most genuine work in a few years. I’ve been learning a lot about vulnerability and honesty. I hope the next album will be even more open and raw, because I’m not done learning yet and never will be. But this album does represent who I am today very well, and I’m happy with that.
What’s coming up next for you once the album comes out this week?
I am in the process of booking a tour for this album! I would love for this collection to take me on tour to the West Coast for the first time. I hope to connect with more artists and work with more beautiful humans this year through this project.
A Nonagressive Extreme Violation of Boundaries will be available everywhere tomorrow, March 4th. You can pre-save the album here.