A Chat with Ryan Lester (14.07.26)
Embodying raw transformation with complete, brutal honesty, singer-songwriter Ryan Lester brings us the best (and worst) of human experience in moving melodies. We speak with the US-based artist about his album, Restraint, what music means to him, and much more.
OSR: Cliché as they come, but what drew you to music? How did Ryan Lester the musician come about
Lester: My whole family is from southern West Virginia, and they all play bluegrass and gospel music. Music was always present in my life because of this, so it felt very natural to play. I would say I was immediately intrigued once I started understanding song structure and how you could convey emotion in melody and words, and that has stuck for 20+ years now.
OSR: Looking at your debut album, Restraint, you mention that this is an album chronicling your personal transformation or evolution from alcoholism and fractured relationships to sobriety, marriage and fatherhood. Why did you choose to share this personal journey with audiences? What inspired the release?
Lester: Although most of my work is personal, I would say that this record is the most personal, and I think that’s good. It’s important for me to express these experiences as a way to psychologically unpack them. I have found that the naked truth and brutal honesty about myself often leads to the most dialogue with fans who’ve experienced similar things. Being so open and honest heals me and the audience.
OSR: I see you use a DIY approach to production, so everything from lyrics to mixing, mastering and production is done by you. What do you feel are the benefits and drawbacks of self-producing your work?
Lester: I would say that I’m as intrigued by the audio engineering and production aspect of music as I am songwriting. They can both be incredible puzzles to solve. The album is my favorite art form, and so I’m intrigued by everything that goes into making an album. The benefits are that I have complete creative control, so it’s my vision. One of the drawbacks is that it is sometimes difficult to see the forest through the trees. I used to play almost every instrument on my records, but I’ve found that collaborating with very talented musicians helps me see my songs from their perspective as well, and it adds enormous depth to the work.
OSR: As an album of evolution, what do you hope people take from Restraint, and what does it mean to you?
Lester: I think that many people, and especially young men, go through this phase in their twenties of trying to reconcile with their vices and moral compass. I hope people feel less alone in their struggles after listening to the record, and I hope that we can all be kinder to ourselves and forgive our current condition as we have so little control over our biology and circumstance.
OSR: Which do you find more challenging: melody or lyrics?
Lester: I would honestly say neither are incredibly difficult, but it’s difficult these days to make new and exciting melodies. I put an enormous effort into lyrics. I’m very careful to consider rhyme scheme, smilies, alliteration, and metaphor as well as the meaning and intention of songs.
OSR: Restraint is, what I believe, a true representation of you as a person and musician. If you had to introduce a listener to your music, which track would you recommend and why that track?
Lester: I would say ‘Midnight Drive’ and the title track ‘Restraint’ are what I would choose. I think they both stand as my strongest examples of what I can do as an artist. They both are very emotionally deep, lyrically dense, and rich in metaphor without the audience losing the ability to understand what I’m talking about. I would say that sonically they are on the opposite ends of the spectrum that I have to offer.
OSR: If you could go back in time and speak to a young Ryan, what advice would you give him?
Lester: I would say that the title of the record is the moral of the story, which is that I needed to show restraint in all of these aspects of my life, and the record itself is a cautionary tale of what happens when you let your vices and gluttonous tendencies guide you.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Lester: I would say music is an incredible coping medicine for the pain and suffering in our lives.
OSR: What can we expect from you in the future? Any new material or gigs coming up?
Lester: I’ve started the writing process for whatever record comes next. I have a very loose conceptual framework for the next album. I’m still very early in the writing process, but I’ve been writing and posting a new song every week as part of the process. I generally write a lot. So I might stop around 100 songs to narrow down to 8 or 10 good songs. I also plan on pressing Restraint on vinyl and making merch for the record. I’ve only just barely started thinking about booking shows as well.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Lester: The only message I have is peace, love, and understanding.
Many thanks to Ryan Lester for speaking with us. Find out more about Ryan Lester on his Bandcamp, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
