- Singer-songwriter and guitarist Ryley Walker has signed a recording deal with London-based independent record label AD 93.
- The signing coincides with the premiere of "Carrier," Walker’s first solo single in five years, accompanied by a music video directed by Kendra Calhoun.
- Walker maintains his live touring roster, continuing with ROAM for worldwide representation outside of Europe/UK, and SIGNAL & WAVE for Europe and the UK.
- The move marks an adventurous sonic pivot into digital processing, hardware loops, and experimental production following his 2021 solo LP Course in Fable.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso Ryley Walker has officially signed a worldwide recording deal with London-based independent label AD 93.
Celebrating the new partnership, Walker shared his new single, “Carrier,” his first solo music release in five years since his 2021 full-length album Course in Fable.
The single arrives with a music video directed by Kendra Calhoun. Constructed from pitched-down phone guitar loops and digital distortion crafted in software environments like Max/MSP and PPOOLL, “Carrier” showcases a stark, noisy pivot born from late-night writing sessions following shifts in New York City’s service industry. The track also follows his recent announcement that he joined the experimental electronic band Gift Horse.
Walker’s career path highlights a steady evolution across indie-rock, avant-garde folk, and progressive arrangements. He gained widespread acclaim through Dead Oceans, releasing celebrated studio albums including Primrose Green, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, and Deafman Glance, following an earlier stint with Tompkins Square.
While his recording catalog moves to a new label home, Walker’s touring apparatus remains unchanged. Ryan Farlow at ROAM continues to handle his live touring worldwide excluding the UK and Europe, while Nikita Lavrinenko at SIGNAL & WAVE manages his European and British bookings.
Under label founder Nic Tasker, AD 93 has established itself as a premier destination for adventurous artists, home to innovative experimentalists like Moin, Coby Sey, and James K.
Walker’s move mirrors a broader industry pattern where artists cross stylistic boundaries to partner with genre-defying imprints. In similar 2026 label moves, CHVRCHES signed with Futures Music Group to pursue independent creative equity, while multi-platinum songwriter Derrick Milano signed with Vitalize Records to anchor his headline solo career.
Takeaways
Ryley Walker’s partnership with AD 93 underscores an exciting creative trend: seasoned instrumentalists deliberately stepping out of traditional singer-songwriter circles to embrace underground electronic and ambient frameworks.
Rather than relying on familiar fingerstyle acoustic arrangements, Walker’s choice of an imprint known for leftfield dance and industrial textures proves that seasoned songwriters are embracing modern production tools without compromising their raw emotional weight.
For AD 93, welcoming a master guitarist broadens the label’s sonic perimeter, demonstrating that bold experimental curation thrives anywhere boundary-pushing artists are given complete aesthetic license.
How will Ryley Walker’s transition from acoustic fingerpicking to digital software synthesis influence the sound of his next full-length album? Do you foresee more indie folk and rock musicians teaming up with boutique electronic labels rather than traditional roots imprints?
