Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on April 8, 2012
Hey folks! Tune in at 7pm PST to listen to the Hollow-Gram Radio Show! The subject tonight is ‘The Value of Volunteering’. I have the honour of guesting tonight. Listen and call in!
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on March 2, 2012
You can visit my iTunes page here!
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on February 16, 2012
This is definitely one of my favourite songs! Heh.
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on February 12, 2012
Listen in to my very good friends Ash Riot and Cheryl Catherine Smith, from the band Hollow-Gram on their LIVE Radio Show. Tonights topic is “Our Greatest Inspirations”. An amazing topic….I just love these women! So much talent and the message they carry is so powerful and full of love.
And CALL IN!!
Tune in at 7 pm PST. I promise you’ll love it!!
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on February 2, 2012
I grew up singing. It had always been a part of my life. When I turned 24, I had to undergo a medical process that involved me taking a medication that seemed to take that away from me. Being someone who loves music, I was determined to find my voice again. I spent years breathing, pushing myself, trying different ranges, vocal lessons….but nothing was really getting me there. For a good four years, Richard kept telling me “You CAN!” but in my mind I had it set…”I can’t”.
You can take as many lessons as you want, you can use autotune and melodyne to excessive amounts, you can harmonize with yourself in layers, upon layers, upon layers. But until you find self confidence and inspiration, you will never hit those notes that you’re supposed to be hitting.
Back in June of 2011, I had a life changing surgery. 6 weeks after the surgery, I decided to go see Richard again at Digital Sound Magic Studios. I walked in and it’s like the first time I’d seen the studio. Just like the first time in 2007. But my energy was different. My self confidence had risen. We got the music down and the next day I came back to do vocals. I sang with so much more depth and heart than I ever had before. It only took a couple of takes. That had never, ever happened before. The song I wrote was for the surgeon who performed my surgery. The cool part was, before he became a surgeon, he too was a musician (he still is involved with the industry, but on a smaller scale). His band hit the bigtime in the 80s and 90s. His band was also one of my faves growing up, so I had a lot to go on with inspiration. He heard the song and he loved it. It boosted me and whenever I start doubting myself, I pull up the email he sent me telling me how he ‘loved the song’, that’s it’s a ‘great song’ and to ‘keep up the beautiful work’.
Since then, it’s only been a few takes until I ‘get it’. ‘Getting it’ simply means holding your own personal character. Don’t worry about trying to be on tune, you’ll just stress yourself out. While JUNO awards are amazing, they are no match for self confidence. You’ll never get that award if you don’t believe in yourself and your work. Just get into that booth, hold the biggest inspiration in your heart and sing your truth. No matter what the subject is, your fans want to be convinced that you know what you’re singing about. That you feel it.
A standard I’ve set for myself is that every song I bring to the studio to record should have at least a couple of lines that sends chills down my own spine or shakes my core somehow, and the whole song has to really flow naturally. That feeling means I’ve spoken my truth.
Now, when Richard says ‘You CAN!’, I believe it, and I do it. Rich has an excellent ear and is incredibly intuitive. In my experience, he has never been wrong. He pushes me to do things I may not even realize I can do. And then I do them.
Remember, it’s not about being the worlds greatest, it’s about being the best YOU can be. So think of your favourite artist that’s local to you….if you’re serious about music, there is a good chance they’ll hear your stuff. Hold on to that and give it your best. What’s meant to be will fall into place if you let it!
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on January 21, 2012
You just don’t see songwriters and performers like these guys very often anymore. This is one of my favourite songs of all time. Not sure what it is about this particular performance…perhaps the rawness, the energy, the crowd or the fact that it’s 1am but…I actually teared up.
I think everyone can identify with songs like these. I have to say 0:15-0:21 Paul looked like he was thinking “Fuck…I smoked a bit too much before the show….”
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on January 20, 2012
It pays to be completely honest. The shame can dissipate when someone is honest. The truth comes out. The healing can continue, or begin.
Opening up can lighten up the load. To say “Hey, this is what I’m experiencing.” to the right person, can help a person feel in the company of those who understand.
I know how fortunate I am to have all of what I do. I might have only a few things, but I have everything I need in order to be happy. I’ve chosen carefully.
And I’ve chosen to trust, this time. I chose to open up. To be vulnerable, but with strength. To draw a boundary, and to make sure that my own boundaries would be respected, even when deep ceded issues tell me I have no right to have them.
Today I really learned that there are things that I went through that never should have happened, and I think I’ve begun to believe it wasn’t my fault. And I learned that not everyone will do that. I learned I CAN leave it to someone else to respect boundaries. Other people can be, and are safe. Something I didn’t get much of growing up. But I think that’s being implemented. It’s ok to feel close to someone. In fact, I never have to do anything that compromises me and jeopardizes my health in order to be liked.
Plain and simple, if people didn’t like me, they wouldn’t be around me. It might take my emotional side to catch up to that, but logically, it’s very, very true. It’s a start.
And hey, there’s a saying to follow “If you ever feel worthless, remember you were once the fastest sperm”.
It’s true, rely on yourself to make yourself feel worthy! And only let those in who will see the diamond value in themselves and you.
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on January 18, 2012
Tonight I sent this text out to a bunch of friends: “I got a new phone and lost your number. Can you send it to me please?” and a number of them actually responded…with their numbers lol Some ‘got it’ though hehe
This is my care cup \_/ Look. It’s empty.
My alarm clock is a dream killer.
I’m not fat, my stomach is 3D.
I’m athletic. I surf…the internet.
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on January 9, 2012
Made no bake soybutter chocolate drop cookies tonight.
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup soybutter (instead of peanut butter)
1/2 cup pure cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup raisins
3 cups oats
On stove in a large pot, heat, melt/mix butter, soybutter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla, milk. Once well mixed, turn off heat and add oats and raisins.
Take 2 or 3 baking sheets and put wax paper on them. Drop tablespoonish-sized drops on the wax paper, put in fridge, keep in fridge. Should be 4 dozen small cookies, or 3 dozen large-ish ones. And don’t forget to share ‘em with your friends, family, co-workers, band members, landlords, therapists….whoever might appreciate 
because let’s face it….everyone loves home baked goods!
They should look something like this:
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on January 4, 2012
Difference between bird flu & swine flu: Bird flu, you need tweetment. Swine flu, you need oinkment.
I went to a seafood disco last week…and pulled a mussel.
Everyone has at least one friend who needs to learn how to whisper.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, others just gargle.
I’m sorry, did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?
You can’t fix stupid, but you can elect it to office.
What does a wicked chicken lay? Devilled eggs.
‘Smiles’ is the longest word in the English dictionary because there’s a mile between it’s first and last letters.
I quit my job at the cardboard factory. I just felt so boxed in.
I wonder if Noah kept the bees in the archives.
So many scams on the internet these days. Send me $19.95 and I’ll tell you all about them!
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on January 4, 2012
My can of tuna says we have at least two more years!!
The Almighty Can Of Tuna hath spoken.
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on January 1, 2012
My good friends Ash Riot and Cheryl Catherine Smith are hosting their show tonight! Hollow-Gram Radio Show TONIGHT! The subject is ‘Change’. Call in! 7pm-8pm PST.
Posted By Ryan Jarman-Furber on December 24, 2011
Have a lovely and Happy Christmas, everyone! There are blessings all around each of us. Open your eyes, they are indeed there. Wishing you the best of this season!
