SHaDOW
ANIMAL
EPK
Bio
Shadow Animal is the musical alter ego of songwriter Christopher Ryan. Shadow Animal walks the line between indie-rock and singer-songwriter creating music that explores the relationship between hope and hardship. His art often marries his music with strong visuals and spoken word.
Christopher's music has been played on radio stations worldwide. In 2019 he was selected as an Artist in Residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts where he worked with with Grammy Award winner Larry Mitchell. In 2021 Christopher took second place in the COMBO Songwriting Contest. In 2022 he was a Showcase Finalist in the Rocky Mountain Songwriting Contest. In 2025 his "Distant Diamonds" music video won the Best Music Video award at three international film festivals. (Cine Sepia Reels Carnival, Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival, Indie Cine Tube Awards)
His upcoming album, Dreams We Build, was produced by Grammy nominated producer Andrew Berlin and mastered by Grammy Award winner Jason Livermore.
Music
Press Quotes
The [Another Night] EP effortlessly rides that indie rock/singer-songwriter line with cinematic guitar layers, heartfelt vocals, and just enough spoken word texture to feel intimate without dragging you into over-styled territory. [...] All in all, Another Night feels honest, fully formed, and more “soundtrack to your real life” than anything else on my indie radar right now. Highly recommend giving it a few spins and stashing it in your regular rotation.
Shadow Animal returns with Another Night, a striking new EP that showcases...refined indie rock sensibilities through detailed arrangements and marvelously executed performances. Released on May 9th, the EP offers a rich listening experience filled with cinematic textures, intricate guitar work, and emotionally resonant lyricism.
-Thoughts Words Actions | May 29, 2025
A brand new single release from Shadow Animal delivers such a unique honesty and perspective with a very relatable sentiment… “Everybody Wants" has an amazing build to it. It feels alive and breathing in its arrangement, and the array of instrumentation is part of what makes it feel theatrical and cinematic… This is the kind of track you think about hours after it's ended, and you may just have to go back and listen again to satiate that feeling.
-The Sounds Won’t Stop | March 21, 2025
Between suspended moments and frenetic rides with almost tribal rhythms, a deep singing accompanies us through soundscapes that are at times rarefied and melancholic, at times more rhythmic, at times excited and impetuous, in an up and down of moods, "Everybody Wants" is the new song by Shadow Animal that presents itself as a very short suite of only 2:38
--QALT Media, 2025
Notable Venues and Performances
Globe Hall • Larimer Lounge • Hard Rock Cafe Denver • Black Rose Acoustic Society • Atlantic Center for the Arts• King Performing Art Center • Swallow Hill • Sie Film Center • One Month Festival • Rocky Mountain Loopfest • Sunshine Studios Live • Dickens Opera House
