Chase Rysavy, who performs as Me And My Anatomy, is a young musician from Moose Jaw who is just developing his style thanks to performances like the one at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer in Yorkton last Thursday evening.
Rysavy said he is a relative newcomer to music.
"When I first started playing music, was between three and four years ago," he said. "I had an interest in music but I didn't know how to go about starting a band, so, I joined one. The style we were playing was what some would call metal, some would say it was 'hardcore' or even punk. I don't really know how I'd classify it personally, but it was bad music no matter what you call it."
The style really wasn't one Rysavy felt comfortable with.
"I was a front man originally," he said. "At the time I wasn't singing or playing guitar, I was just yelling as loud as I could."
However the experience did broaden his musical understanding.
"The guitarist from the band showed me a few chords on the guitar, and I started practicing and playing constantly," said Rysavy. "I've taught myself guitar from that point, teaching myself music theory and picking up other instruments along the way, gaining influences from a lot of different bands and people I've met."
Rysavy said in terms of influence, his musical interests seem to still be constantly evolving."My biggest influences change week to week," he said. "I listen to a lot of different bands and solo musicians. At the moment, the CDs stuck in my head are: Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Band Of Horses - Infinite Arms, Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood, Bright Eyes - Casadega And Dr. Dog - Fate; In no particular order of course."
Possibly because what he listens to changes, Rysavy admitted his solo music is not easily labeled."My music style is hard to define at this point," he said. "I say this because since I have released my CD, I've changed a lot as a person and as a musician.
"What I'm trying to say is that my next CD is going to be a lot different. I'd classify the CD I released in February named Fiction Science as almost pop acoustic, but all of my new material I would classify as Indie, Folk."
Rysavy said when it comes to his writing his process is rather spontaneous.
"Well, the writing process for me is pretty scattered I'd say," he said. "Sometimes it starts with some guitar I've written and I just kinda make something up along with it, sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.
"There are days when I'll get a good idea for lyrics in my head first and I'll just make up some guitar for it, or go back and use old riffs and chord progressions that I haven't put to a song yet."
"But it took me about a year and a half to write all the songs on my CD. The thing about that is, I wasn't trying to write a CD at the time. I just had a few songs that weren't being used. When the opportunity came about that I could get them tracked and have my own CD, I went for it. "
That said Rysavy said he may have rushed the first disk a bit.
"Looking back, I wish I had put a little more thought into which songs I wanted to record that would represent me as a musician, but, you live and you learn," he said.
The CD was recorded with Jared Robinson at Nebulous Entertainment in Moose Jaw.
"I went to Jared because I had recorded with him before in my old band," said Rysavy. "I had never really tracked guitar or singing too much, except for the demo's I was originally recording by myself. I really didn't know what to expect, but it all turned out pretty good, I'd say."
In terms of how he now sees the album, there is a level of satisfaction, but also a realization he has already outgrown the music.
"Well, as I said earlier, I think the songs themselves don't really represent the music I'm writing now, but the quality of the recordings are good," said Rysavy. "Much better than the demo's I had been recording on my land lady's Mac Book. But I did release a few of the songs to radio that they've been playing here in Moose Jaw. I just haven't got around to sending the CDs to everywhere I intended."
Looking ahead Rysavy said he is going to focus on growing his career.
"My plans for the next year are pretty simple really," he said. "I want to release a few of my new songs, and send them out to a few record labels and radio stations, and see where that takes me.
"No matter what happens with the labels I definitely just want to do a lot more touring. Hopefully, get my name out there a little more. Just play music, and enjoy life."
