Harvey Miedreich || a photographer

This week we are featuring Ryan and Rebecca. A couple who have been married 10 years traveling the world together and playing music. These two sure live adventure packed lives! Rebecca is a lead singer/songwriter and manages the couples band (F&M) while working part time at the Edmonton Arts Society. Ryan is the other lead singer who also works with troubled youth when the band is not touring. He and his team recently won a medal of distinction from the premier for the work they do with these children. Way to go Ryan!

F&M is a well known local band who have garnered some pretty impressive accolades. Here is just a peek at the buzz surrounding the band. CBC radio says “A great expressive range” , VUE Weekly  “staying focused and true to the soul of their songs”, SEE Magazine “Lullabies for Adult minds”.  And the Edmonton Journal says “ If the rest of the music scene seems more concerned with pumping out the party hooks, F&M are still studiously crafting their own brand of cerebral melodies…. And stripping the music down to it’s most basic, heart-wrenching core”

Just before our photoshoot they brought me a couple of F&M CD’s and I haven’t been able to stop listening since. Check out the music video below for a great example of their work. If you need to know more check out their website to learn more about them and to see them play live. The band is currently touring BC but they have an upcoming Edmonton date scheduled for July 10th. Can’t wait!  Oh and their new Album comes this FALL!!!  I’m really excited about that one!!! 

F&M “Shy” Official Music Video from F&M on Vimeo.

Ryan Christian Anderson

Who are you?

A guy in a band and a guy who works with kids.

Which superhero impresses you the most?

Batman, 100%.

Why?

He doesn’t have superpowers, he just uses his resources to solve problems, crime and so on. I actually use Batman as part of my treatment where I work. If you watch the very first one [batman] there are a lot of changes, through a lot of work he changes his life, conquers his demons and then becomes something better and something bigger than himself. And he’s really rich and he’s a ninja, it’s really cool. Compare him to superman it’s just not possible.

What was your favourite cartoon as a child?

Gummibears. Laughter coming from Rebecca

If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow where would it be?

A private island in Croatia.

What do you do for fun, besides music?

I jog, run, draw and read.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Working as a professional musician traveling Canada and Europe.

What inspires you to create music and how do you keep motivated when things get tough?

I haven’t had a problem getting motivated to make music yet.  The human experience inspires me to create music.

What advice would you have for an artist just starting out?

Work really hard and just don’t expect anything, I think our society grapples with entitlement. I think a lot of kids come up and expect to make it. Don’t expect anyone to do anything for you, you have to do it for yourself. And practice practice practice.

Describe your perfect bite

Steak tar tar, I’m a big meat eater and I love Steak tar tar.

Could you briefly describe your music making process?

Cocktail napkins, I draw it out and put it all together.  I used to write a song a day.

Where can people buy your music?

Online, (it could be more all over soon)  iTunes, megatunes, blackbird music. All the finer music shops.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

I don’t think I’ve done it yet. I try to accomplish something every day and there hasn’t been a greatest.

What has been your most significant moment so far?

My wife sitting beside me on my wedding day.

What is one thing people can appreciate about you?

My sense of humour, maybe.

What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

Always milk, Worcestershire sauce, and eggs.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?

I’ve got lots for sure, I’m a very awkward person, I’m very much like Larry David. So here is mine, people talk about talking behind other people’s backs.  Well one time, I was in a movie theatre and I was talking about this guy and this girl and I was knocking them down pretty bad and all of a sudden this head turns around and says “oh I didn’t know you felt like that” and it was the people I was talking about. What are the odds of that? So I learnt really quickly not to talk behind peoples back.

What words or phrases do you most over use?

Fair enough, such is life, more over.

What is it you most dislike?

Entitlement and arrogance. People who think they know it all and expect it to be so easy and everything is owed to them. If you’ve traveled just a little bit you’ll know we’re the top 10% and the luckiest people. The fact is we are really, really, fortunate and I just can’t stand people who don’t get that. I can’t stand a blatant arrogance about that.

Rebecca Anderson

Who are you?

I am a lead singer/songwriter /multi instrumentalist and a manager of band affairs and I also help out casually for the Edmonton arts counsel.

Which superhero impresses you the most?

A Russian character called Cheburashka, which is really popular from the soviet times. He’s a children character and we don’t know exactly what type of animal he is. He came in an orange box and has a way of bringing different animals and characters together and everyone learns to love him rather than questioning who he is.

What was your favourite cartoon as a child?

A bear called Jeremy, the first stop animation. And I really like Paddington Bear.

If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow where would it be?

Moscow.

What do you do for fun besides music?

Ryan tells me not enough. Sometimes I have a hard time getting out and doing things. But for fun I really love to read.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, look around at the people who you admire in your community first. And find out how they got to where they are and go up and ask them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Describe your perfect bite

Either schnitzel or medium rare beef tenderloin with blue cheese and maybe chocolate sauce on there too.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

Getting my masters, I really struggled near the end and I’m really proud that I plunged through it and finished it .

What is one thing people can appreciate about you?

My husband!  (“Absolutely” blurts Ryan) My honesty, and sometimes that may make me seem a little negative but I’m a little more of a realist. You can take my comments with a grain of salt.  But if you ask my opinion I’ll tell you.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

I played a wedding when I was younger. I was wearing a really short dress and I was coming down some stairs with all my books and I fell and my music went everywhere and I was sprawled, my dress was way up and I was wearing grandma underwear and it was a really embarrassing thing. I couldn’t get up and run I had to stay and pick up all my music.