Ryan Edward Kotler

Ryan Edward Kotler writes songs drawn directly from his own lives. His work deals with loss, mistakes, starting over, and the pressure of living through difficult times. He writes in a straightforward way that focuses on honesty over polish—while still painting the sky with sly, consistent poetic devices as if they have always lived there. His music moves freely between folk, blues, Americana, and country/bluegrass; but the rock ‘n’ roll blood coursing through the veins of his back catalog cannot be mistaken. You’ll find hints of Leadbelly in the same line as a watercolor impressionistic dream inspired by Bob Dylan or Townes Van Zandt; scents of the simple-spoken love songs of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash mixed with the cheery disposition of Elliott Smith; or a taste of the life lessons Kotler cherishes from John Prine or Simon & Garfunkel, followed by a vaudeville ditty to play him off with his $20 gold piece and John B. Stetson hat. Truthfully, he writes music to survive—and he left his job as a commercial litigator in 2024 to write full-time. He writes songs he wants to hear. “Music means more to me than anything in this world, and I’m not selling plastic.” At its core, his music is about connection. Connection is the reason we are here. Official site: RyanEdwardKotler.com