Bio
“Music can convey something that the spoken word has a harder time scratching the surface of. A certain sound or combination of notes can impact your life in seconds.”
Spiritual seeker and folk artist Ryan Herrick has journeyed from the countryside of New England to the heart of Chicago, carrying his guitar as both compass and companion. Rooted in mysticism, improvisation, and open tunings, Herrick blends intricate fingerstyle guitar with soulful songwriting to create what Music Crowns calls “a masterclass in sonic blending.”
He first emerged with a trilogy of instrumental EPs — Of Land, Of Sea, and Of Sky — meditative works that fused his music with his meditation practice. With Watercolors (July 2025), Herrick expanded that vision, weaving lyric-driven songs into his instrumental world. Produced by Grammy-nominated Duane Lundy (Ringo Starr, The Lumineers/Daniel Rodriguez, Sturgill Simpson, Jim James), the album moves seamlessly between atmospheric soundscapes and folk-rooted storytelling. Praised by Jammerzine as “sonic endearment” and by Big Takeover as “a swirl of intricate fingerpicking, steel-slide textures, and ambient soundscapes,” Watercolors confirmed Herrick’s ability to craft music that is both intimate and expansive.
Now, Herrick pushes forward with “Cut Them Cards” (Sept. 26, 2025), the kickoff single from his forthcoming album Blaze (February/March 2026), set to debut on Americana Highways. Teaming up with longtime friend and collaborator John Abbey of Kingsize Soundlabs — dubbed the “Ryan Whisperer” by peers — Herrick leans into a roots-rock sound shaped by live band energy. Joined by beloved Chicago songwriter-drummer Gerald Dowd, the sessions captured the immediacy of honest, performance-based tracking while layering rich textures on top.
Written in response to the fallout of the January 6th Insurrection, “Cut Them Cards” channels the imagery of the Wild West to reflect on the dysfunction of American democracy. “The idea of being stuck with the cards one has been dealt,” Herrick explains, “felt like a poignant way to highlight the design of the political long-game and the collateral damages faced by the people of a government who could care less about its constituents.” With Blaze, Herrick embraces rebirth as a singer-songwriter, moving from his instrumental sojourn into a bold new chapter of roots-driven folk rock — music that invites listeners to slow down, reflect, and reconnect.
