Track Listing
- Little Town Big Heartache (focus track)
- Moonshine Smile
- Boots Full of Rain
- The Well (Not FCC Clean)
- Lifers
Key Highlights
- Over 20 film & TV placements across his career
- Produced by veteran hitmaker Kevin Bowe (Paul Westerberg, Jonny Lang)
- Collaborations with members of Death Cab for Cutie & The Jayhawks
- Backed by full live touring band, The Lowlights
RYAN TRASTER — LIFERS EP
Electronic Press Kit
Release Date: Summer 2026
Label: Dead Letter Records | Distribution: The Orchard
Format: Digital / Limited CD
Producer: Kevin Bowe (Paul Westerberg, Jonny Lang)
Focus Track: "Lifers"
RIYL: Tom Petty, Jakob Dylan, The Jayhawks, Kris Kristofferson
About the Release
Ryan Traster doesn't just write songs; he survives them. With a career spanning over two decades and nearly 20 film and television placements, the songwriter has built a reputation on melody, grit, and an unwavering commitment to the craft.
His new EP, Lifers, marks a definitive return to his roots. Produced by veteran songwriter Kevin Bowe, the record finds Traster stripping away the experimentalism of his recent lo-fi and jangle-pop outings to reveal a core of pure, high-stakes Americana. It is a "Heartland" record in the truest sense — splitting the difference between the gravelly storytelling of Kris Kristofferson, the melodic instincts of Jakob Dylan, and the anthemic hooks of Tom Petty.
"Splitting the difference between the gravelly storytelling of Kris Kristofferson, the melodic instincts of Jakob Dylan, and the anthemic hooks of Tom Petty." — Dead Letter Records
The road to Lifers wasn't a straight line. After several years spent in health recovery, Traster utilized the hiatus to sharpen his pen, eventually cutting demos at the request of BMG that would form the backbone of this new collection. Recorded with his band, The Lowlights, the EP moves seamlessly from driving heartland rockers to intimate, pedal-steel-drenched acoustic portraits of endurance and creative faith.
Traster's pedigree is deep, having collaborated with a "who's who" of indie royalty, including Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), Marc Perlman & Tim O'Reagan (The Jayhawks), and the late Ed Ackerson. While his DIY roots remain his moral compass, Lifers represents an ambitious new chapter — focused on the Nashville songwriting tradition and the universal power of a big hook delivered by a lived-in voice.
Contact
Label & Servicing: Dead Letter Records — info@deadletterrecords.com — deadletterrecords.com
Press & Radio: Elephants & Flowers Media - elephantsandflowersmedia@gmail.com