Ryley Walker is back with a new label and his first new music in five years. The singer-songwriter-guitarist has signed to AD 93, and today he announced the deal with a new song called “Carrier.” It’s his first release since the 2021 album Course in Fable, and it comes with a video directed by Kendra Calhoun.
The song arrives alongside Walker’s description of what inspired it. “I was thinking of people in my hometown of Rockford, Illinois,” he says. “Wearing SpongeBob pajama pants to a funeral-type heads. I imagined them screaming behind the wheel of a salvage-title Honda Civic with a lift kit.” He adds, “They inspire me every day.”
The Clock-Out Jam
Walker described “Carrier” in press materials as a “clock-out jam.” The song grew out of long shifts at his service industry gig in New York. That context gives the track a particular weight — a worker’s exhaustion turned into music.
The video pairs with the track, directed by Kendra Calhoun.
A Long Gap Between Records
Five years is a long stretch for any artist, and Walker has used the time productively. Since Course in Fable, he has kept busy working with other musicians. His resume reads like a who’s who of indie folk and experimental rock:
- Played guitar for James K
- Played guitar for Joanne Robertson
- Collaborated with Charles Rumback
- Collaborated with Steve Gunn
- Collaborated with Chris Corsano
- Collaborated with David Grubb
Those collaborations kept his creative muscles engaged even as his solo catalog stood still. Now the gap is closing, and the new material is finally surfacing.
The Tunes and the Video
“Carrier” is available now, along with the Calhoun-directed video. The combination of song and visual gives listeners a full sense of where Walker’s head is at.
The song itself is a return after five years. Walker’s description of his hometown friends suggests a warmth and humor that might not be obvious from the title alone. The image of screaming in a Civic with a lift kit is vivid and funny — exactly the kind of detail that makes his work memorable.
The Significance of the Return
Walker’s signing to AD 93 is notable in itself. The label represents a fresh chapter for the artist, and the new material confirms that the partnership is producing work.
The song’s title, “Carrier,” is open to interpretation. In Walker’s hands, it could mean a song that carries his voice back to listeners after a long absence. Or it could mean something entirely different, which is part of the appeal.
Either way, the announcement lands as a statement of intent. Walker is back, and he has new music to share.
What We Know So Far
The key facts are simple:
- Artist: Ryley Walker
- Label: AD 93
- New song: “Carrier”
- Video director: Kendra Calhoun
- Last album: Course in Fable (2021)
- Time between releases: five years
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Artist | Ryley Walker |
| Label | AD 93 |
| New song | “Carrier” |
| Video director | Kendra Calhoun |
| Last album | Course in Fable (2021) |
| Time between releases | five years |
Our View on the Announcement
This is a welcome return. Walker’s description of his hometown friends is vivid and funny, and the song itself arrives with a new label and a new video.
The gap between records was noticeable, and the new material has clearly been worth the wait. Walker has stayed productive behind the scenes, playing guitar for James K and Joanne Robertson and collaborating with Charles Rumback, Steve Gunn, Chris Corsano, and David Grubb.
Now the public gets to hear what he has been doing. The combination of song and image tells a complete story about where Walker’s head is at.
The announcement is a signal that Walker is moving forward again. The song is proof of that.
Walker’s announcement is a reminder that the wait was worth it. The song is out now, and the video is too. The new label is confirmed, and the creative partnerships continue.
Walker has made a statement with this announcement. The song is the evidence.
Source material: “Ryley Walker Signs to AD 93 and Unveils First Song in Five Years,” Pitchfork.
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