Dean and Riley announce debut EP release

Kyle Dean and Amelia Riley Thornton’s partnership is built on love.

Love of Montana’s big sky, love of music, and the love of life’s highs, lows and the connections between it all.

It’s a love story now shared with the release of the duo’s debut EP “Clouds Roll By.”

Dean is a guitarist and singer/songwriter originally from Mattoon, Illinois; Thornton is a classically trained violinist who was born and raised in Kalispell. Together they are Dean and Riley, a Whitefish-based duo on a mission to make music that connects to something deeper.

The pair (who are not a romantic couple) began playing together only a year ago, in August 2014. What started as an informal collaboration quickly became more.

“The first time we played together ... I thought this is exactly what it should sound like,” Dean said. “She gets it.”

Something about the depth and universal themes beneath Dean’s songwriting resonated naturally for Thornton.

“I connected with it and wanted to be part of it and share it,” Thornton said. “I was struggling through my own issues and identity [as a musician], and Kyle’s music brought me back.”

Thornton describes their music as “country folk music with rock, pop, bluegrass and Irish” influences.

The combination of Dean’s writing and Thornton’s drive has produced a unique powerhouse act. In a year’s time, Dean and Riley have performed to packed houses regionally and will release “Clouds Roll By” on Friday.

The making of “Clouds Roll By” was a growth process. When they decided to get serious about playing together, they knew they would need demos of their music. After experimenting with some home studio recording, the pair realized a demo wasn’t really what they were after.

“We have bigger dreams than that,” Thornton said.

They decided to record the debut effort at Whitefish’s SnowGhost Studio with producer and engineer Brett Allen. It was a learning process from the start.

“[Allen] really allowed us to stop apologizing for being us,” Thornton said. “We learned to embrace our sound as it was. There was power in it, in what we were doing already.”

To help off-set the costs, the pair turned to Kickstarter. It was an undertaking they both described as humbling.

“It was amazing to see how many people believed in us and our music,” Thornton said.

“It’s different when you’re playing live and people come out and see you and support you,” Dean said. “But when people were willing to donate money ... That’s when it got real.”

The pair reached the Kickstarter goal with time and money to spare. It allowed them to fully finance the recording and release of “Clouds Roll By.”

Moving forward, the duo is excited to celebrate the EP’s release, but also excited to keep working at making music.

“Music is important. It’s how we form connections,” Thornton said. “Music can take us anywhere.”

Dean and Riley’s CD release party will be Friday, Sept. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. on the patio of the Great Northern Bar and Grill in Whitefish. The Captain Wilson Conspiracy, a jazz trio out of Missoula, will open the show. The Conspiracy’s pianist, Keaton Wilson, is also featured on “Clouds Roll By,” and plans to join Dean and Riley for a few selections during their set.

“Clouds Roll By” will be on sale for $10 at the release party, and will also be available for digital download through various sites.

For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit www.deanandriley.com.

Entertainment Editor Stefanie Thompson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.