Ryder Lee

---

By By Peter Cronin

Ryder Lee and Lost Trailers’ Double-Wide Musical Vision

The Lost Trailers seemed to come out of nowhere last year, gaining more spins at country radio than any of the countless other breakout acts of the period. With a rowdy Top 10 sophomore single, “Holler Back,” heating up the airwaves, things definitely started happening quickly for this Atlanta-based quintet. But what came on like an overnight rise was actually seven hard-touring years in the making. According to lead singer and SESAC affiliate Ryder Lee, that’s one of the main reasons for the Lost Trailers’ success.

“A lot of bands go through the growing pains after they’ve gotten into the label world and they can lose their identity,” Lee says. “If you get in too early before you find yourself, they’re going to try to turn you into something you’re not. We’ve had the chance to zero in on our sound.”

The Lost Trailers started crafting that sound back in high school in North Carolina, commandeering a local church for their early rehearsals. After graduation, they hit the road, touring constantly and establishing a new home base in Atlanta, where they fell into the same scene that nurtured Jennifer Nettles and Sugarland. 

Lee is currently collaborating with a wide range of songwriters, from Nashville’s biggest hitmakers to cutting edge Atlanta hip-hoppers. He recently sat down to write with another SESAC affiliate, songwriter/producer Kendrick Dean who has written and/or produced hits for the likes of Tony Braxton, Chris Brown, Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland, and Mary J. Blige.  

With two solid hit singles, Holler Back, the Lost Trailers’ sophomore major label release, is still gaining momentum. And with a third single on the way (the sultry-and-soulful “All This Love”) and a new album on the horizon, Lee and the Lost Trailers are just hitting their stride.

“The best advice I ever got was from my father,” Lee says. “He told me, ‘Do what gives you goose bumps every day and you’ll be happy.’ And every time I get onstage or finish a song, I get excited. No matter what you do, if you can do that every day, you’re blessed.”

Back to Articles