“San Francisco, Morgantown, this is the story of my breakdown…”
Recorded in 2018-2019, delayed by the pandemic, and finally released in the summer of 2021, Reforma tells the story of a deeply personal breakdown in between cultures, through an original mixture of Americana instrumentation, poetic storytelling in English and Spanish, a hit song from Algeria, and a touch of beginner’s luck.
You only get to make a first album once
I like songs that get you with the truth. Reforma’s got a few of these, pitched between a ready-or-not vibe and a bunch of terrific performances from the friends who helped me make it. I feel like I can hear myself learning on this record, and I know “learning” is not a typical producer’s choice, but I do love the sound.
Ryan Milov-Córdoba and Andrew Oedel at Ghost Hit Recording, Holyoke Massachusetts, 2018
Credits for Reforma
Produced by Ryan Milov-Córdoba
Additional Production by Andrew Oedel
Recorded and Mixed by Andrew Oedel at Ghost Hit Recording
Mastered by Brian Lucey
Vocals by Ryan Milov-Córdoba, Lillie Rebecca McDonough, and Melissa Kaitlyn Carter
Guitars by Ryan Milov-Córdoba
B3 and Piano by Darby Wolf
Pump Organ and Hammond L133 by Ryan Milov-Córdoba
Trumpet, Trombone, and French Horn by Bobby Spellman
Harmonica by Ryan Milov-Córdoba
Bass by Steve Burke
Drums and Percussion by Sean Croteau
Chorus (“No More Guns”) by Emily Mure, Emery Major, Elijah Guo, Megan Stollsteimer, Lillie Rebecca McDonough, Melissa Kaitlyn Carter, Taylor Grant-Knight
Stomp and Clap (“Miss Daisy”) by Alex Van Gils, Alexander Rodriguez, Leslie Quiroz, Lillie Rebecca McDonough, Melissa Kaitlyn Carter, Taylor Grant-Knight, Olympia Quinn, Henry Aronofsky , Ellie Powell, Nira , Sonia Pauley-Gulati, Hazel Zalman, Felix Crary, Ryan Eliasburg, Mac Motz, Tommy Corsiglia, and Lyla Butler
Additional Percussion Ideas by Lina Diaz
Additional Tracking by Pinch Recording with E. Scott Lindner and by Grand Street Recording with Jake Lummus and Gintas Norvila
Additional Musical Direction by Alex Van Gils
“Graceland” originally by Paul Simon (1986)
“Zina” originally by Babylone (2013)
All Songs except “Graceland” and “Zina” written by Ryan Milov-Córdoba
Special Thanks to Saint Ann’s School
All Covers Licensed and All Sound Recordings and Original Musical Compositions Registered with US Copyright Office