Ryan Traster is a Minneapolis-bred, New York-based songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work lives at the intersection of alt-country and free-folk. Over the past 15 years, he has released a steady stream of albums, EPs, and singles marked by warm melodies, dusty arrangements, and a restless creative spirit. Drawing inspiration from artists like The Jayhawks, Silver Jews, Judee Sill, and Leo Kottke, Traster’s music blends lyrical intimacy with wide-open sonic landscapes. Along the way, he’s collaborated with members of The Jayhawks, Death Cab for Cutie, and Weezer, and toured the world as a sideman for acclaimed songwriters such as Chris Pureka, Brad Byrd, and Brett Newski. His compositions have also been featured as the backdrop to numerous moments in 21st-century television.