Los Angeles-based musician Ryan Richter discusses his unique 20-minute album, gear choices, LA guitar scene, working with Mason Stoops, and the creative process behind his music. The podcast also delves into collaboration with fellow artists, exploring gear setup for live shows, the influence of open strings in guitar playing, and memories of a misrepresented birthday party.
Ryan Richter shares his journey from a touring guitarist to a solo artist with a unique 20-minute track.
Richter's album 'As Good a Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)' features a blend of celebration and sorrow, showcasing his lap steel skills.
The album was recorded organically, highlighting Richter's Jazzmaster guitar, minimal reverb effects, and personal album cover story.
Deep dives
Ryan Richter's Journey in Music and Collaboration
Ryan Richter discusses his musical journey, starting as a guitarist for Freeport Journal in Seattle, leading him to collaborate with various artists like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ryan Beatty, and Dijon. Richter's diverse experiences have shaped his musical style and approach, showcasing his talent as a lap steel player and guitarist.
Innovative Music Project: 'Number One'
Richter reveals his recent music project, 'Number One,' a single 20-minute track titled 'As Good a Place as Any No Hard Feelings.' The track, available on various streaming platforms, presents a mostly instrumental suite featuring Richter's signature use of the open B string as a central motif, reflecting a blend of sorrow and celebration.
Recording Process and Equipment Used
The album, 'As Good a Place as Any No Hard Feelings,' was recorded organically using Richter's Jazzmaster guitar and a Tweed Deluxe amplifier. The simplicity of the recording setup allowed for an authentic and expressive sound, complimented by Tyler Nuffer's pedal steel contributions and minimal use of reverb effects.
Album Cover Story: A Touch of Humor
The album cover features a photo of Richter's father at his '40th' birthday party, where he was actually 42 but chose to represent a younger age. This humorous anecdote adds a personal and light-hearted touch to the album's visuals, showcasing Richter's connection to his family history.
Live Performances and Future Plans
Richter hints at upcoming live performances of his album, including a potential show at the Fretboard Summit in Chicago. Despite the busy schedule with Lizzie McAlpine and Ryan Beatty, Richter expresses a desire to bring his chamber-inspired music to live audiences, continuing his exploration of extended musical formats.
For the last several years, Los Angeles-based musician Ryan Richter has served as a touring guitarist for Dijon, Ryan Beatty, Lizzy McAlpine and others. Years ago, he was also one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest employees. Ryan recently released his first solo project - a fascinating one-track, 20-minute long album called "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" - and on this week's podcast, we hear all about it.
Ryan tells us about how this multifaceted composition came to be (with a little help from a rolling capo ad on social media), the gear that he used on it, his touring rig with Ryan Beatty, the LA guitar scene today, working with Mason Stoops, the perils of hot vocal mics, and so much more. "As Good A Place As Any (No Hard Feelings)" is a beautiful and unique debut project and we hope you'll check it out. Ryan's album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3K291dCwsQ9OJeCyv0VK4u?si=3e18abbab2ab4d32
Love the podcast and want to support it? We have a Patreon page just for Fretboard Journal fans and loaded with bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/Fretboard_Journal
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