Five years ago, Wryn’s world shifted. It rocked, it tumbled and it turned itself inside out as they looked inward, reassessed their trauma and began a new journey of self-discovery. What transpired was a moniker change to their last name, Wryn — a nod to their evolving sound but more pointedly their transformative relationship with gender. Wryn’s life began to embody a new shape. Their reinvention, in sound and spirit, became the ethos of their new album, aptly called ‘Shapes,’ released on Righteous Babe Records in 2025.
On ‘Shapes,’ Wryn found themself using music as a way to process their feelings of complex PTSD and trauma. “My music got better, more personal because I was able to look at myself more clearly and see myself as separate from my trauma. Once I could see myself separate I could see a lot,” they said. “It’s not just about gender. That’s just one of the things that came from this process.”
The origin of ‘Shapes’ began just as the world was emerging from lockdown. In July 2021, Wryn had the urge to record a record and reached out to Bella Blasko (The National, Feist, Big Red Machine) to help them produce and mix the project. When the world began opening up again, Wryn connected with drummer JT Bates (Bonny Light Horseman, Big Red Machine) & bassist/saxophonist Mike Lewis (Bon Iver) to add instrumentation. Over a year later, Blasko mixed the record and Heba Kadry mastered it. Through Blasko, Wryn met Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records and signed to the label this year.
“I love Wryn’s music, and hope you do too” says DiFranco on Wryn joining the label, releasing their debut album and then opening the April run of the ‘Unpredecedented Sh!t’ Tour.
To introduce ‘Shapes,’ Wryn shared “Steady,” a stirring number penned during the pandemic in 2020 as they returned to therapy to untangle their past and were grappling with survival amid the chaos. The song serves as a sweeping hymnal — a prayer — to navigate that period of their life. “Being alive in this body is / Heavy, heavy / Fill up my lungs and wish me to breathe / Steady, steady,” they sing with a syrupy lilt before slinking into a stunning crescendo of strings and harmonies.
On the second single “Snake,” Wryn channels the raspy intimacy of Sharon Van Etten as they process their righteous anger and the intense political and social upheaval of that period — specifically the Black Lives Matter movement, anti-trans legislation and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. With “Multitudes,” they found inspiration in a prompt that featured Big Thief’s 2017 track “Pretty Things,” which turned into something akin to a love letter to themself.
At the center of the record is its title track, “Shapes,” where Wryn recognizes they were fragmented before they embraced their gender identity. “Open me up / Open the flood / I’ve split myself in two / For too long,” they croon. Wryn tackles all-consuming loneliness on the somber folk cut “Coiled.” The album’s lush closer “Sticky” tackles the way that trauma has lingered in their body and haunted them in flashbacks: “Deep in my body / Deep in my womb / Memory lingers / That I cannot move.”
With their first album under their name Wryn, ‘Shapes’ feels like a debut. And they hope listeners can find connection, process their own emotions and release them if need be. “My songs were always emotional, that never changed,” they said. “Now I’m confronting the roots of the emotions.”
Press
“[Shapes] a distinct and powerful statement that solidifies their place within the contemporary avant folk world.” - Into Music
(KMUW, NPR)
“...while [Shapes] deserves a full listen, it’s “Snake” that continues to resonate for me, as here, Wryn
poured their full weight, and in turn, their innermost humanity, into a three-and-a-half minute song.” -
Atwood Magazine
“...equal parts dreamy and personally radical...”
Rainbow Rodeo Magazine
“...a winding folk confessional, centered on a warm vocal and acoustic melody,”
Under The Radar Magazine
“...lush atmospherics and steady drum patterns that build up in energy to match the passion and raw emotion of their storytelling and vocal delivery.”
Caesar Live N Loud
“‘Slow Down’ follows its titular advice to become more present within a moment, and thus more aware
and observant... From this centered beginning, the track blooms wider along with the songwriter’s
attention, expanding to capture the full magic of the simplest of moments.”
Various Small Flames
'Shapes' is one of those albums that will linger in my soul for a long time. A powerful debut under Wryn's new moniker, it's at its best in the slow-burning moments, where emotional urgency simmers just beneath the surface.
Grrrl Music
Other 2025 features
At The Barrier: 1/23 review of “Snake”
She Makes Music: 1/23 review of “Snake”
The Wild Is Calling: 1/24 "Best New Indie Folk" playlist add for "Snake"
The Indy Review: 1/24 “NMF” Spotify playlist add for “Snake”
Start Track: 1/24 review of “Snake” + playlist add
Up To Hear Music: 1/24 review of “Snake”
Music For All: 1/24 review of “Snake”
Roadie Music: 1/24 review “Snake”
GRRRL Music: 1/24 NMF Spotify playlist add for “Snake”
Global Pop Magazine: 1/25 “Snake” review + “INDIE POP” playlist add
Grateful Web: 1/26 posted press release for “Snake” single
We Love That / Sound: 1/27 blog post/review of “Snake” single
B-Side Guys: 1/27blog post/review of “Snake” single
Aipate: 1/29 blog post/review of “Snake” single
Various Small Flames: 1/28 blog post/review of “Snake” single
V13: 1/29 “Folk/Singer-Songwriter” playlist add for “Snake”
Unrecorded: 1/29 blog post/review + “Best New Tracks” Spotify/ Facebook / X share of “Snake” single
ParaPOP: 2/2 blog post/review + “Indie Rock: Something New Every Day” Spotify / YouTube /
Soundcloud playlist add of “Snake” single
Under The Radar Magazine: premiere for “Slow Down” video/single on 2/19
American Pancake: 2/20 blog post/review + Facebook post of “Snake” single
The Wild Is Calling: 2/20 added to “Best New Indie Folk 2024” spotify playlist for “Slow Down”
Various Small Flames: 2/20 blog post/review of “Slow Down”
Neon Music: 2/21 blog post/review of “Slow Down”
The Indy Review: 2/21 NMF playlist add for “Slow Down”
The Music Savage: 2/21 “Hot Takes” pick for “Slow Down” music video
Global Pop Magazine: 2/21 blog post/review + “Indie Pop” Spotify playlist + IG Post
Roadie Music: 2/24 a blog post/review + “King’s & Queen’s” Spotify playlist for “Slow Down”
Indie Dream: 2/24 blog post/review + Facebook share of "Slow Down"
GRRRL Music: 2/24 NMF playlist add for “Slow Down”
Last Day Deaf: 2/24 blog post/review, “Best New Indie” Spotify / YouTube / SoundCloud playlist +
Instagram Post / x.com / threads.net / Facebook social share of “Snake” single
Lefuture Wave: 2/24 blog post/review + “New Finds” Spotify playlist share for “Slow Down”
Start Track: 3/2 blog review + “Start The Track: Ride The Indie Waves” Spotify/AppleMusic/YouTube
playlist + “Our Writer’s Indie Diary” Spotify/AppleMusic/YouTube playlist for “Slow Down”
Music For All: confirmed blog post/review + “Pop Music For All” Spotify playlist for “Slow Down”
Rainbow Rodeo: 2/26 included review + playlist add of “Snake”
Mundane Magazine: feature published on 3/4
At The Barrier: review of “Slow Down” on 3/5
The Wild Is Calling: 3/13 “Best New Indie Folk” playlist add for “Only Thing”
Zone Nights: 3/13 blog post + "LA MUSIQUITA" Spotify playlist add for "Only Thing"
Up To Hear Music: 3/13 blog review + IG / Threads posts for “Only Thing”
Music For All: 3/13 blog review of “Only Thing”
Music & Fashion Blog: 3/13 blog review + IG story share of “Only Thing”
Caesar Live N Loud: 3/14 blog review of “Only Thing”
Grateful Web: 3/14 press release post of “Only Thing” + tour
GRRRL Music: 3/14 NMF add for “Only Thing”
American Pancake: 3/14 Facebook + X share of “Slow Down” video
The Indy Review: 3/14 NMF Spotify playlist for “Only Thing”
The Alternate Root: 3/16 video playlist + YouTube playlist add for “Only Thing”
LaunchLeft likes: 3/15 featured on IG account
Various Small Flames: 3/18 review/post of “Only Thing”
GRRRL Music: 3/20 published album review of Shapes
Showcase Daily: 3/21 published feature in app, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook. Blue Sky, and Threads
Ones To Watch: 3/21 #NowWatching spotify playlist add for “Slow Down”
B-Side Guys: 3/24 blog post/review of "Slow Down"
Rainbow Rodeo: 3/27 review of Shapes published
B-Side Guys: 3/27 blog post/review of “Only Thing”
NPR Music: NMF mention of album release + “Only Thing” in NMF Spotify playlist
At The Barrier: 4/1 review of Shapes published
Atwood Magazine: 4/1 album coverage focusing on “Snake” single + Weekly Roundup Spotify Playlist
Rockmommy: 4/3 feature Q&A published
Glasse Factory: 4/2 GFDaily Music pick for “Only Thing”
INTO Music (podcast): 4/9 episode is live
Heart Songs podcast: 4/18 episode is live, also on SPOTIFY, and BUZZSPROUT
Windy City Times: 4/25 feature published
Older Features
…When asked if there's a message they want to send to trans youth in a year when they've been particularly targeted, Wryn says: "Every day, these kids are waking up and they're seeing headlines and they're seeing news and they're seeing thinkpieces about them. But they're not objects — they're people. All of these adults are saying that they shouldn't exist; that they aren't real. The main thing I want to send to them is just another voice saying, 'No, you should not be the ones to change. The world should be changing for you.'"…
Idaho at Soho
Santa Barbara Independent
Charles Donelan
Wryn’s opening solo set showed a performer in the midst of a creative surge. Song after song poured out, evidence that recent studio time has been abundantly fertile. Summoning thoughts of Dry-era PJ Harvey, the sound was tough yet heartfelt, and loaded with potential. It will be interesting to see how these recent compositions evolve into more complete arrangements. In the meantime, Wryn demonstrated ample ability to hold the stage with just guitar and voice.
The Best 2021 Tiny Desk Contest Entries We Saw This Week: Volume 1
NPR Music // All Songs Considered
Marissa Lorusso
Pairs well with: Crying at the end of a great book; reading old diary entries
California songwriter Wryn says they wrote their 2021 entry song after a panic attack "and what felt like a very long winter," in a period of trying to untangle the patterns in which they felt trapped.
Wryn is making ‘Shapes’ with an Indie Gogo Campaign
Santa Barbara Independent
Charles Donelan
Their music explores some of the same territory as such recent underground sensations as Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief) and Phil Elverum (The Microphones). Introspective, acoustic guitar driven, and lyrically sincere yet sophisticated, Wryn’s songs tackle complex thoughts and feelings. The result is compelling and absorbing music that invites multiple listens.
The Early-Bird Tiny Desk Contest Entries We Love
NPR Music // All Songs Considered
Marissa Lorusso
Wryn sings with a poignant weariness that evokes Sharon Van Etten or Angel Olsen. Her Tiny Desk Contest entry, "Quiet," recognizes the power old wounds can hold over us, and the bravery it takes to move past them.