Ryan Traster

Low Mirada, the latest album by singer-songwriter Ryan Traster, opens with ‘The Night’s Got You,’ a mid-tempo number with guitars that oscillate seamlessly from jangle to fuzz, and a slacker vocal delivery that sounds erudite and dreamy all at once. The first half of the record keeps a buoyant energy before easing into duskier territories toward the middle, with tracks like ‘Seventh Daughter’ and ‘One Click Salvation.’

There is an aesthetic sensibility that persists throughout the album, Traster swapping the acoustic-leaning instrumentation of his earlier albums for Rickenbackers and more space and fuzz.

This latest offering of songs has a reason, a place, a tradition. Based in Joshua Tree, Traster is concerned with pinning down the milieu of his home and situating his stories in the rich lineage of Cosmic American music pioneers, the likes of The Byrds, Crazy Horse, and Gram Parsons (who left this mortal coil a few blocks away from where Traster lives).

As for the new sonic direction, Traster himself sums it up succinctly: “For this record I was really into the '80s West Coast sound of the Paisley Underground, which pulled in more jangling guitars, keys, and expanded production ideas that felt slightly more contemporary.” This pivot too is grounded in a musical tradition; Traster is an artist and a scholar, leaving us artifacts for both wonderment and posterity.

Low Mirada was released on Sep 30, 2022 on Los Angeles-based Black Bird Record Label. It was recorded by Kris Johnson at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis, MN, mostly with a live band, which gives this effort a more urgent velocity than previous records. It also features keyboards and mixing by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Pinegrove).

Says Traster of Walla’s involvement in the project: “I’m a longtime admirer of Chris Walla and his unique approach to creating soundscapes. It was a dream collaboration for me and he was an integral part of pushing this album further out into the cosmos and realizing its true sonic space.”

Traster slows it down on the closing track, ‘Home Again,’ while also showing us what he’s best at: stories that sit with you like half-memories and half-dreams, wrapped up and delivered in effortless grooves and smartly cool croons.

But Peter Jesperson (Twin Tone Records, New West Records) gives us perhaps the best summation of Low Mirada: “Ryan Traster has an enviable, naturalistic way with his music, exuding feel and craft in equal measure. In essence it’s thoughtful, melodic rock with rootsy underpinnings, but Ryan seems unconcerned with what genre he’s writing in and just gets on with it. These are songs that will stand the test of time.”

Past Shows


Apr
13
th
2023
Turf Club
Apr
13
th
2023
Turf Club

Ryan Traster and NEWSKI

with Long Range Hustle
Jul
6
th
2019
Turf Club
Jul
6
th
2019
Turf Club

Ryan Traster

with PETER M (of We Are The Willows) and Savannah Smith
May
26
th
2018
7th St Entry
May
26
th
2018
7th St Entry

Red Wanting Blue

with Liz Brasher and Ryan Traster
May
30
th
2017
7th St Entry
May
30
th
2017
7th St Entry

Chris Pureka

with Ryan Traster
Feb
21
st
2017
7th St Entry
Feb
21
st
2017
7th St Entry

Whitney Rose

with Ryan Traster
Jan
24
th
2017
Turf Club
Jan
24
th
2017
Turf Club

Kyle Craft

with Ryan Traster
Sep
5
th
2015
Turf Club
Sep
5
th
2015
Turf Club

Luke Wade

with Ryan Traster
Jun
30
th
2015
Turf Club
Jun
30
th
2015
Turf Club

Brian Wheat

with Little Fevers and Ryan Traster
Jun
17
th
2015
7th St Entry
Jun
17
th
2015
7th St Entry

Futurebirds

with Ryan Traster
Apr
28
th
2015
Turf Club
Apr
28
th
2015
Turf Club

Ryan Traster and Chris Pureka

with A Piano In Every Home
May
21
st
2014
7th St Entry
May
21
st
2014
7th St Entry

Ryan Traster

with MOONMASTER and JULIA READ
Nov
12
th
2013
Fine Line
Nov
12
th
2013
Fine Line

Old 97's

with TRAPPER SCHOEPP & THE SHADES and Ryan Traster
Jul
28
th
2012
7th St Entry
Jul
28
th
2012
7th St Entry

Scattered Trees

with Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts and Ryan Traster
Jul
31
st
2011
7th St Entry
Jul
31
st
2011
7th St Entry

Ryan Traster

with Sleep Study, The Shiny Lights and SWAMPBOOTS

More Shows

Jun
18
th
Turf Club

Nourished By Time

with urika's bedroom
Jun
28
th
Turf Club

The Koffin Kats

Jun
8
th
Turf Club

Arcwelder

with Products Band
Jun
19
th
7th St Entry

Queef Jerky