Tyler Ramsey

Tyler Ramsey, an earthy and poetic singer-songwriter from North Carolina, has assembled an extensive catalog grounded in folk and melodic indie rock. Solo work began for him in the early 2000s, though wider notice arrived in the latter half of the decade through his role as lead guitarist for Band of Horses, a position he held until 2017. He maintained his own output during those years, issuing the career highlight The Valley Wind in 2011. After leaving the group, he delivered the rustic-toned For the Morning in 2019. He later teamed with producer Phil Ek for the more rock-driven New Lost Ages, which appeared in 2024.

A gifted multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Ramsey refined his approach while based in the western mountains of North Carolina, absorbing local folk styles and drawing from the country-blues players who once traveled the region. He put out his self-titled debut LP independently in 2004. That collaborative spirit produced an opportunity when friend Bill Reynolds, bassist for Band of Horses, asked him to visit the band in South Carolina. After forming a bond with lead singer Ben Bridwell, Ramsey accepted an invitation both to open for the group on its fall tour and to join as lead guitarist. Despite the packed calendar, he kept writing and recording his own songs. His second album, A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea, came out in January 2008 on Echo Mountain Records. At the same time he contributed substantially to Band of Horses’ Grammy-nominated Infinite Arms (2010) as well as Mirage Rock (2012) and Why Are You OK (2016), each containing original Ramsey tracks. While the band’s schedule remained intense, he tracked his third solo album, The Valley Wind, for Fat Possum in 2011. In 2017 he announced his departure from Band of Horses and devoted the next year to writing and recording his fourth solo LP. The introspective and rootsy For the Morning appeared on Fantasy Records in early 2019.

Following a five-year pause, Ramsey rejoined former Band of Horses producer Phil Ek for his next project. Recorded in Washington as a power trio alongside bassist Morgan Henderson of Fleet Foxes and Sean Lane of Ann Wilson, the resulting fifth album, New Lost Ages, emerged in 2024 with a stronger rock emphasis.