Ryland Russell is an artist who calls Edmond, Oklahoma home. Ryland was raised in a traditional Baptist Church in Chickasha, Oklahoma where he first developed a love for music watching his pianist mother and drummer father lead in church worship services. "I guess music is just in my genes." he comments. As a youth Ryland began leading Wednesday night youth worship services and formed his first band, Juniper with friends Tyler Glaze, Ben Freeman, Eric Gammeros and Kevan Angel. Ryland began playing acoustic guitar as a senior in high school. "I had to learn out of necessity, anyone can just sing." he laughs. Shortly into his college days he began to write his own songs and Juniper began leading worship at various campus events and eventually became the worship leaders at Ignition college worship at the University of Central Oklahoma. The guys collaborated on their first album "Juniper" in the spring of 2004. Shortly thereafter band members began marrying, moving away and starting careers and families. Ryland felt a call to continue in the ministry with his music by taking a position at Highland Park Baptist Church in Edmond and continuing to lead worship and write his own music. He married his high school sweetheart , Mindy in 2005 and adopted three beautiful...puppies. He began working on his first solo project "Waking Up to Dream" in April 2007.  Ryland says that, "Waking Up to Dream is all about finding the miracles that God still does in our lives today and how we need to continue to worship him even when life's joys become life's grief. I think this project really reflects my eclectic taste in music using everything from hymns to banjos to give back to God in worship." Ryland's hope for his music is that someone will be able to listen to his music and find a word or a phrase that helps them express their feelings to God. "Our lives are our ultimate act of worship and my music is my way of surrendering my life every day."