The music of Ryebender is shaped by the musical journey of its members, with influences ranging from roots rock, pop and country, to folk, bluegrass and Irish music. The result is an unusual openness to diversity and personal songwriting – with a refreshing ability to create genre bending arrangements that defy convention. It is familiar Americana and Alt-country, but yet somehow different. Ryebender’s debut album “Hollow and Drifting” released in November of 2008 under the independent label, Last Train Records. The twelve-song CD was recorded at DeNovo Studios in Sun Valley, Idaho, and mixed by the Juno award nominated Sheldon Zaharko at The Factory Studios in Vancouver, BC. Sheldon’s work appears on Albums by Leeroy Stagger, Built to Spill, Billy Talent and many others. "There's something about those guitars and harmonies, somewhere between The Byrds and Son Volt's first records, they just makes you wanna adjust your rear-view mirror so you can watch what you're leaving fade all the way away. Good music offers cinema. This is good music guys." A&M Records/Megaforce Recording Artist - Matthew Ryan The sound of the band is the product of Alaskan brothers, Mark and Jason Ward who grew up playing music with fellow Alaskan Lennie Dietsch. The bandmembers have been friends for years and played in a number of line-ups both together and apart. These day’s they are flung across the continent, from Anchorage to Oregon, Chicago, and Sun Valley where we came together to record this CD. “Getting the college band back together with our fellow bandmate Michael Carpenter, was exhilarating because we already knew how to play together and the long hiatus had given each member something new to bring to the table.” Says bandmember, Mark Ward. "I always hear some part of the American Midwest or heartland inside the rock and roll bands of Alaska. Ryebender takes me back home to those raw sounds and influences I grew up with." Singer/Songwriter - Tim Easton Ryebender’s “Hollow and Drifting” is available in record stores and online at Amazon.com, CDbaby.com, Itunes, and many others. For more information, please visit www.myspace.com/ryebender.