It's been 3 years in the making, and the new album, 'Ria' by singer-songwriter Mike Grutka is now being released. "The songs are refreshing." Dave Michaels, 97.7 WEXT "Definitely one of the best of 2009 from the 518" Chris Wienk 97.7 WEXT When I was younger my mother and I were sitting on a picnic table by the river at a camp our family used to go to each summer for a week. This was the summer of the raccoon invasion and the gigantic catfish that pulled my Dad's friend upriver in the rowboat and the eel that wrapped itself around the fishing pole. I don't know how the conversation started, but she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. "Independently wealthy" was my 8 year old response. So I became a musician at the dawn of the digital age when no one wants to buy any music. Hmmmm. Needless to say, I learned how to play multiple instruments, sing a little and started writing songs. They keep coming so I keep writing and recording. I love performing and play solo and with a band. Band's are fun! Acoustic guitar is fun! I love both and prefer neither (if that makes any sense). My new album is now out. I love it. It's the same as my others, but very different. I'm the wrong person to ask what the difference is. But I hear it. Here's what's happened so far: 'Reach' was released January 2004 "...an enjoyable splurge of rhythmic tunes..." (Tom Diamopolous), and spawned the commercial radio single "Song for the Rain" which cut across genres gaining airplay at AC/Hot AC/Modern AC/AAA and Country stations. The song charted #12 Indie Up and Coming FMQB, and #29 Indie Top 30 FMQB. June 2006 saw the release of 'Myself Again'. The record was released to college/AAA and non commercial radio in the fall of 2007 and was added to over 200 stations drawing comments such as, "Good songs, great voice. And compared to most of what I hear, I actually enjoyed listening. Which says a lot these days." Jim McGuinn WXPN This was followed up with a northeastern US tour with my band 'The Mike Grutka Project', that included stops at the Millenium Music Conference, NYC, Philadelphia, Newport, RI, Burlington VT and many other towns and cities throughout New England. Shows with They Might Be Giants, World Party among others were highlights of the roadwork. 'Ria' took a bit longer to complete than in the past, but is well worth the wait. The songs weave a tapestry of rock, pop and lush moody sonic blasts; with stacked vocal harmonies and instrumental hooks along with sing-along choruses that you can't get out of your head. Mike Grutka - Ria "Transforms from an eerily REM-like ('Top of the World) and (Denver) to a very electronic (Sunshine) with backing instrumentals sounding like the Eurythmics." Bryan Skowera WESU 88.1FM 'Ria' grips you from the opening countoff to the final fade out. Comments like "Mike's new album, 'Ria', is striking out in a new and bold direction" (97.7 WEXT) are proving this is by far the strongest, most complete and compelling musical vision so far. Once again I recorded and produced the record at my own morg-n-daze studios as well as performing all the instruments on the songs. A college/non-commercial/AAA radio push started September 14 and already has the album charting #5 (m3radio), #23 (WKKL), #16 (WCCX), #30 (WFTU) with play at notable stations like WFDU, WEXT, KOPN, WRUW, KSYM, KSCL, and more. 'Denver (Spinning Around)' charted #15 for local releases of 2009 on 97.7 WEXT. A friendly pronunciation guide: Mike Grutka (gruht-kuh) Ria (Rye-uh)