Ryan Kickland's music reaches back to a place when folk music was less about style and pop-functionality, to a time when it had a gritty social conscience and a personal depth that was anything but commercially driven. Kickland's songwriting explores the dark sides of the human condition, modern society, politics, introspection and artistic expression, while providing alternate images of joy, humor, salvation and redemption.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1977, Kickland was fortunate enough to be raised by a family of musicians. His father, Rocky Kickland and his mother, Marcella Remund (along with step-father Al ""AR"" Remund) have been staples of the Midwest music community for over twenty years.

Kickland grew up and dug his musical roots in South Dakota, where he began playing music as a young child. In his late teens, he started the cult phenom psychedelic rock group, Animalcule, with bassist and longtime friend, Josh Hilpert. Over the next ten years, Animalcule, comprised of Kickland, Hilpert, keyboardist Pat Ondrozeck and drummer Clint Wood, went on to gain a substantial following throughout the Midwest. Kickland began to truly dig into his folk roots around 2001, and started releasing solo folk recordings in his spare time. Since then, Kickland's passion for these dual-life artistic adventures (namely, Animalcule and his folk music) has grown in substance and ability. Kickland moved to Oregon with his family, as well as friends and fellow musicians Clint Wood and Pat Ondrozeck, in 2004, to pursue music on the West Coast.

Ryan Kickland is a highly ranked favorite on Garageband.com, was a finalist in the 2005 ""International Songwriter of the Year"" competition, has toured the Midwest and the Northwest, released five solo albums, as well as several collaborative experimental side-projects, and an additional five albums with Animalcule. From his Dylan-esque folk debut, ""Living Stones,"" to his experimental folk/world music 2004 release, ""Wood Carvings,"" Kickland's songwriting ranges from old-style, gritty folk music to Eastern-inspired instrumentals to psychedelic rock and beyond. Ryan is currently in the studio, recording his new album ""A Madman Chimes In.""

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