Ryan Toomin releases debut album

Ryan Toomin is an indie rock artist based in Lexington, Kentucky, who’s been charming listeners with his thoughtful blend of nostalgia and reflection. With a profound appreciation for classic rock legends and modern indie influences, his sound bridges the timeless with the current, distilling the spirit of 60s and 70s rock while instilling his songs with the reflective storytelling of artists like Elliott Smith.

Raised in Los Angeles, his earliest musical memories were filled with the sounds of his parents covering songs by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead. These influences would go on to inform his own music and he later found himself drawn to the timeless songwriting of artists like Radiohead, Elliott Smith and Wilco.

Inspired by a spectrum of musicians from Laura Nyro and Wilco to The War on Drugs, Ryan writes with a rare honesty, exploring themes of misspent youth, love and personal growth. He first unveiled his sound in May with his first single “Bruises,” which he followed up with a string of tracks in the build up to his debut album, Disarray, a heartfelt nine-track journey into the complexities of life transitions and the bittersweet nature of rediscovery. Through his multi-instrumental and self-produced approach, he showcases his versatility as an artist, crafting a sound that’s at once expansive and intimate.

His journey from the energy of Los Angeles to the quiet landscapes of Kentucky plays a central role in Disarray. The move, which came in 2015, offered the aritst a renewed perspective on life and music. In Lexington, he embarked on a new path, setting up a garden design business by day and dedicating his nights to music. Finding himself alone in rural Kentucky, Ryan was able to focus on his music, capturing melodies and lyrics on his iPhone before gradually piecing together his own studio. He describes this period as one of solitude and self-reflection, where songs emerged as a way to process his move and the “disarray” he felt along the way.

“Inspiration struck when I found myself living alone in the middle of a cow field with nothing but my iPhone to capture ideas,” he shares, reflecting on the album’s origins. From this solitude, he was able to fully immerse himself in the creative process, exploring themes of loss, loneliness and eventual self-renewal. Disarray reveals a wide emotional range, from the turbulence of leaving behind past relationships to the hopeful undertones of finding new love and stability. In building his own studio and recording every instrument himself, his album is a true labor of love, capturing his journey from uncertainty to self-discovery.

From the elegant piano-driven arrangement and gentle vocals of opening track “Can’t Look It In The Face” to the punchy country-tinged indie rock energy of his debut single “Bruises” to the shimmering and soulful pop vibes of the final track “Katie, You’re Killing Me,” Ryan Toomin’s first full-length record offers a charming listening experience brimming with exquisite musicianship, superb vocals and meaningful songwriting. Firmly planting himself on the map of must-watch songwriters able to channel a timeless sound for a modern audience, Ryan Toomin is most certainly an artist to look out for.

Listen to Disarray below