Press Release

Ragtop Car Press Release New Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/16/2022

CONTACT:
The Ram
ASCAP Songwriter: 375350750
OD Soul, Inc
ASCAP Publisher: 375351159
7040 AVENIDA ENCINAS STE 104-464
CARLSBAD, CA, 92011-4652 United States
phone: 760-476-0170
email: ram(at)odsoul(dot)com

SUBJECT:
“Ragtop Car” New Music Release August 19
My new single “Ragtop Car” is a laidback funky homage to car cruising.
Official Release: August 19, 2022

THERAM.IO

Ragtop Car Release landing page on theram.io:
https://www.theram.io/ragtop-car

Artist Press Kit
https://www.theram.io/epk-electronic-press-kit/

Listen now on Bandcamp
https://therammusic.bandcamp.com

Other Streaming Platforms
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theram2/ragtop-car

Press Release:
My latest single “Ragtop Car” is a laidback funky homage to car cruising. The beat follows the footsteps of a street musician playing to an audience of pedestrians, passing vehicles, and street traffic. He daydreams out loud about cruising through the night with his baby in his decked-out convertible.

About this song
Ragtop Car is the last of a series of songs recorded in the spring of 2022 in a studio-live setting with minimal overdubs. We played the song two times back to back. The extended take was the second take where we stretched our legs a bit and explored some ideas while jamming the song out. Our normal tracking workflow leaves the drums & bass untouched, then we sparingly overdub the rest to achieve a sound true to our live performances. No click tracks were used, no quantization, just a legendary local drummer, Mike Hunt whom I played with years ago in another band. Local San Diego musician and engineer, Mike Butler takes care of the mixing and mastering.

The featured musicians are also among my closest lifelong friends.
It is a gift to be able to record and perform with such talented people.

Mike Pritchard on Keyboards
Dan Greenbaum on Bass
Mike Hunt on Drums
Mixed & Mastered by Mike Butler
Mark (The Ram) ODonnell on Guitar & Vocals

Official Video

Lyrics

Some say that the love of the wanderlust
Is just a life that won’t amount to much
A man born with rambling shoes
Is just another man born to loose
I want to set the record straight
Before I hit the road today

Got a ragtop car
Enough gas to take us far
Enough away
Because I plan to drive all day
When the evening comes
We’ll be like loaded guns
Out in the night
Shooting stars out the sky, baby

When the blue sky’s lost in a concrete maze
I get the feeling, I wanna get lost for days
Lace up my rambling shoes
Get a chance to beat the 3rd street blues
Race up the Taconic Parkway
Drive until the break of day

Got a ragtop car
Enough gas to take us far
Enough away
Because I plan to drive all day
When the evening comes
We’ll be like loaded guns
Out in the night
Shooting stars out the sky, baby

I got myself a roadie in my hand
Talking a cool Pabst Blue Ribbon in a can
I’m not trying to be tough
Just priming up the motor of love
Gotta loosen up
Here come my baby just a strutting that stuff

She got a ragtop car
Enough gas to take us far
Enough away
Because I plan to drive all day
When the evening comes
We’ll be like loaded guns
Out in the night
Shooting stars out the sky, baby

New Day Dawn: Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/01/2022

CONTACT:

The Ram

ASCAP Songwriter: 375350750

OD Soul, Inc 

ASCAP Publisher: 375351159

7040 AVENIDA ENCINAS STE 104-464

CARLSBAD, CA, 92011-4652 United States

phone: 760-476-0170

email: ram(at)odsoul(dot)com

SUBJECT: 

“New Day Dawn” New Music Release July 1

WHEN: Official Release: July 1, 2022

Listen now on Bandcamp

https://therammusic.bandcamp.com

Other Streaming Platforms

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theram2/new-day-dawn

Press Release:

My new single, “New Day Dawn” was written years back when data integrity and misinformation had not yet sunk to the lows in which we see it today. When it comes to home life, I’m relatively reserved, and I don’t care for other people’s drama. So the idea of inviting vitriol spewing idiots into my own living room through the cable TV, was as attractive as hiring out a pyromaniac to handle my gas and electricity.  

It’s a homage to a time when a man was only as good as his word. It’s also is a nod to an upstate New York college dorm house party where I saw the sunrise on the rooftop while drinking from a massive jug of cheap wine. Good times had by all.

About this song

Consistent with past singles, I’m releasing two song versions with an additional instrumental mix. Once again, the single was tracked in our Carlsbad, California home studio during a live session recorded in early 2022 with a live drummer, bassist and minimal overdubs.

This particular song highlights the playing of my friend and bandmate Mike Pritchard on keys. If I had to choose one musician that has brought me closest to my own creative voice, it’s Mike. I’ve always loved the great jazz organ players of the classic era like Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, and new school players like Joey Defrancesco. Whenever I play with Mike, be it in the studio or live, I’m placed deep in the emotional source of the song. It makes my job as easy as breathing.

Along with Mike, are featured musicians who are also among my lifelong friends.  It is a gift to record and perform with such talented people.

• Mike Pritchard on Keyboards
• Dan Greenbaum on Bass
• Mike Hunt on Drums
• Mixed & Mastered by Mike Butler
• Mark (The Ram) ODonnell on Guitar & Vocals

Official Video

Lyrics

Ain’t no right ain’t no wrong
When you sit and watch a new day dawn
Ain’t no wrong ain’t no right
Been sittin’ since the dark of night

Walked myself to the edge of town
Made damn sure no one follow me down
Yes and to keep myself a little company
Well I got a little hipper from the whiskey family

But it don’t
No it don’t
Yes it don’t
Matter much now anyway

All alone
All alone
One and only
Let me get my thinking straight

Just cut the cable and the TV screen
Just a rabid dog barking back at me
So many voices chiming through my head
Can’t put a face to all the words just said

Get more listening to the wind and rain
Or the rumble of a diesel train
Cause a mans a man, a fact’s a fact
Those are lies and we can’t be lied to like that

But it don’t
No it don’t
Yes it don’t
Matter much now anyway

All alone
All alone
One and only
Let me get my thinking straight

Can’t tell a lie through a song
Expect folks to listen all that long
Guitar note catch a breeze and off it goes
Who’s going to catch them I don’t know

Over top a voice gonna hit that note
You know it’s coming from a bluesman’s throat
Thats my version of a TV screen
You see it doesn’t have to be all obscene

But it don’t
No it don’t
Yes it don’t
Matter much now anyway

All alone
All alone
One and only
Let me get my thinking straight

Do It Right: Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/03/2022

CONTACT:

The Ram

ASCAP Songwriter: 375350750

OD Soul, Inc 

ASCAP Publisher: 375351159

7040 AVENIDA ENCINAS STE 104-464

CARLSBAD, CA, 92011-4652 United States

phone: 760-476-0170

email: ram(at)odsoul(dot)com

SUBJECT: 

“Do It Right” New Music Release June 3

My new single “Do It Right”, is a sonic love letter from distant roads to our loved ones stoking the fire back home.

WHEN: Official Release: June 3, 2022

RESOURCES & LINKS:

THERAM.IO

https://www.theram.io/do-it-right

Listen now on Bandcamp

https://therammusic.bandcamp.com

Other Streaming Platforms

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theram2/do-it-right

Press Release:

My new single “Do It Right”, is a sonic love letter from distant roads to our loved ones stoking the fire back home. Many of us need to travel for work to make ends meet for the family. The traveling Ram knows that high-end hotels will always pale in comparison to the love that’s in store back home.  

The first time I wrote and performed this song was in 2006, to my newborn son Ronan, so I dedicate it to him, my pops Buzzy, and the women in my life. Love and Respect to my grandmothers, aunts, mothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, and daughters. You are perpetually in my thoughts, guiding my path through life, and teaching me how to love unconditionally.

About this song

The official single was the first take of our Carlsbad, California home studio live session recorded in early 2022. We played the song two times back to back. The alt-take was the second take where we stretched our legs a bit and explored some ideas while jamming the song out. Our normal tracking workflow leaves the drums & bass untouched, then we sparingly overdub the rest to achieve a sound true to our live performances. No click tracks were used, no quantization, just a legendary local drummer, Mike Hunt whom I played with years ago in another band. Local San Diego musician and engineer, Mike Butler takes care of the mixing and mastering.  

The featured musicians are also among my closest lifelong friends.  

It is a gift to be able to record and perform with such talented people.

• David Ondrick on Saxophone
• Mike Pritchard on Keyboards
• Dan Greenbaum on Bass
• Mike Hunt on Drums
• Mixed & Mastered by Mike Butler
• Mark (The Ram) ODonnell on Guitar & Vocals

Official Video

Lyrics

No sight of the man on the interstate
Spent a mess of time truckin’ on the road today
I got a one-way ticket babe, the diesel down
And I’m blowing off some doors as I pass each town
As I pass each town, as I pass each town
As I pass each town, laying that diesel down
Going down, going down

Let me tell you
Yeah, oh yeah
If you’re gonna do it, do it right
Grab your little woman, treat her right
If you’re gonna do it, do it right
Grab your little woman, treat her right
Get down, going down

Like a shotgun kick, I move as fast as I can
Yes that’s the signature style of a do right man
And I know every action means the word to you
That’s why I’m trucking this load to bring the goods to you
Bring the goods to you, bring the goods to you
Bring the goods to you, baby bring the good to you

I say yeah, yeah
If you’re gonna do it, do it right
Grab your little woman, baby treat her right
If you’re gonna do it, do it right
Grab your little woman, treat her right

Bring it down
I know it’s late at night, but I need to know
Just what kind of love you’ve got in store
I know outside is just a drizzling, drizzling rain
So won’t you start a fire in your hearth again
In your hearth again, in your hearth again
In your hearth again, light a fire in your hearth again

Yeah, yeah
If you’re gonna do it, do it right
Grab your little woman, treat her right
If you’re gonna do it, do it right
Grab your little woman, treat her right

Just like I told you
If you’re gonna do it, do it right
Grab your little woman, treat her right
Get down, get down

Sessions: Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/17/2021

CONTACT:

The Ram

ASCAP Songwriter: 375350750

OD Soul, Inc 

ASCAP Publisher: 375351159

7040 AVENIDA ENCINAS STE 104-464

CARLSBAD, CA, 92011-4652 United States

phone: 760-476-0170

email: ram(at)odsoul(dot)com

SUBJECT: 

“Sessions” EP New Music Release December 31

The new EP by the Ram, “Sessions” release date: December 31, 2021, to compliment the new single “So Lucky Unplugged”.

WHEN:  Official Release, December 24, 2021

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Artist Press Kit:
https://www.theram.io/epk-electronic-press-kit/

Listen now on Bandcamp & Soundcloud:

So Lucky Unplugged

https://therammusic.bandcamp.com/track/so-lucky-unplugged

Sessions EP 

https://therammusic.bandcamp.com/album/sessions

Available on Streaming Services:

So Lucky Unplugged

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theram2/so-lucky

Sessions EP

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theram2/sessions

Press Release:

“So Lucky Unplugged” is not just my new single coming out on December 24, it’s a new chapter in my life as a performer. To celebrate the band’s return to the stage, we cut an additional studio/live EP version of “So Lucky” along with 2 previously unreleased songs from my catalog. This EP, available on December 31, is important to me because of its close proximity to our spontaneous live sound.

There’s only one Ram. I hope these funky grooves hit you where it counts because they’re guaranteed to make you feel good. I’m an indie visual and performing artist from Carlsbad, California. My nickname came from local surfers and has served me well as a recording and performing moniker. My real name is Mark ODonnell, I look to artists like Beck, Tom Waits, and Neil Young as my spirit guides.

I support local music. All of the music, art, design, and media involved with the release was conceived, written, produced, tracked, and self-released, out of the home studio in Carlsbad, California, and distributed through my record company OD Soul, Inc. Whenever possible, I collaborate with friends within the local San Diego music scene. Marco Savoia, Mike Pritchard, and Mike Hunt perform on these recordings. They were mixed and mastered by local legend, Mike Butler. 

Quotes:

Hands down the local favorite musician who performs here at our venue. Regardless of the weather, time of day, or day of the week, when the Ram shows up to play, people come out of the woodwork to take part in his musical celebration.

 – The Camp Store, South Carlsbad State Beach

He’s a wine club member favorite. The people that attend Ram’s shows are some of the best crowds a venue could ask for.

– Coomber Craft Wines, Oceanside, California

Official Music Video:

Motor Kine: Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/04/2021

CONTACT:
The Ram
ASCAP Songwriter: 375350750
OD Soul, Inc
ASCAP Publisher: 375351159
7040 AVENIDA ENCINAS STE 104-464
CARLSBAD, CA, 92011-4652 United States
phone: 760-476-0170
email: ram(at)odsoul(dot)com

SUBJECT: 
“Motor Kine” New Music Release July 4
Official Release: July 4, 2021

Artist Press Kit
https://www.theram.io/epk-electronic-press-kit/

Listen now on Bandcamp
https://therammusic.bandcamp.com

Other Streaming Platforms
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theram2/outside-the-city

Motor Kine is a love letter to the wild sands of Baja Mexico where open land collides into the Pacific Ocean. I’ve sung Motor Kine live across the globe for years, with many different bands and instrumentation. This version provides insight into my 2020-2021 creative process.

I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some of the best musicians and engineers in Southern California. I thank them each from the bottom of my heart for breathing new life into one of my oldest songs.

Mike Hunt on Drums
Marco Savoia on Bass
Mixed & Mastered by Mike Butler
Mark (The Ram) ODonnell on Guitar & Vocals

Official Video

Lyrics

Dusty roads through the canyon gorge
Like a bullet baby how we run
Steer me babe with a gentle hand
On into that old boy sun

I am your Motor Kine
I know you’ve seen me riding
Greased back I shine like lighting
Leg up mamma and take a ride

Dusty roads through the canyon gorge
Like a bullet baby how we run
Steer me babe with a gentle hand
On into that old boy sun

Your desert is of the rarest beauty
I’ve never seen the like
Your sands they give me my water
Your sun keeps me alive

Race down the pacific ocean
Run down those Mexico sands
Just for nothing babe, just cause I want to
Gonna fly all across these lands

Motor Kine don’t take low octane
Get yourself out and buy me some premium fuel
Motor Kine don’t run on that cheap stuff
Ease your hand mamma, keep me cool

Race down the pacific ocean
Run down those Mexico sands
Just for nothing babe, just cause I want to
Gonna fly all across these lands

To Love a Wild Fire: Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/24/2020

CONTACT:
The Ram
ASCAP Songwriter: 375350750
OD Soul, Inc
ASCAP Publisher: 375351159
7040 AVENIDA ENCINAS STE 104-464
CARLSBAD, CA, 92011-4652 United States
phone: 760-476-0170
email: ram(at)odsoul(dot)com

SUBJECT:
“To Love a Wild Fire” New Music Release January 10
Featuring the new single “Keep Warm” a homage to our loved ones.
Official Release: January 10, 2020

THERAM.IO

To Love a Wild Fire Release landing page on theram.io:
https://www.theram.io/to-love-a-wild-fire/

Artist Press Kit
https://www.theram.io/epk-electronic-press-kit/

Listen now on Bandcamp
https://therammusic.bandcamp.com

Other Streaming Platforms
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theram2/to-love-a-wild-fire

Press Release:
To Love a Wild Fire, the self-released first album from San Diego, CA local artist the Ram is currently available on all streaming platforms.  To Love a Wild Fire is a curated collection of love songs, prayers, and laments drawn from the Ram’s reservoir of unreleased home recordings.

All of the songs from To Love a Wild Fire, were written and performed as a gesture of love and appreciation. Inspired by the Pacific & Indian Oceans, the Eastern Sierras, and the family farm. “I write my best songs when spending time with family and loved ones. Nothing inspires good music or storytelling quite like the lasting power of love. It’s eternal. Reminds me of a passage from Herman Hesse that described how the love we share keeps us warm into old age through the coldest of nights. The times we spend in love, are the times that last forever. ” 

The Ram’s younger days were of motion driven by wanderlust. From rural Pennsylvania, through New York, up into the Vermont border. In 1999 he drove to California with nothing but a beat-up F150. His traveling jones was traded in for the chance to settle down with his lady and build a family by the ocean in North County San Diego.

• David Ondrick on Saxophone
• Mixed & Mastered by Lee Knight
• Mark (The Ram) ODonnell on Guitar & Vocals