Ryker Hall is an artist from Fort Worth, TX with a unique sound. He says it’s “Texas Emo. It’s basically just punk rock with some Texas twang every now and then. I’m not that country, really, nor claiming to be. I just love pedal steels and banjos, and incorporating yeehaw noises into the sound sometimes is fun. It’s all just rock n roll. “

Ryker got started playing music early in life, telling me, “I was 10 years old, watching the band at church and figuring out what the Vans Warped Tour was, which sparked interest in music for me. 2 very different, but very similar things. My stepdad had an acoustic lying around the house that I picked up and started noodling on. He said if I practiced for a year, I could get an electric guitar for Christmas that year. Needless to say, I fulfilled my part of the bargain.”

Who and/or what inspired Ryker to start making music? Well, he said, “A kid in my 5th-grade class wore a Kurt Cobain shirt, and he told me about Nirvana, the movie School of Rock, the Vans Warped Tour 2003 soundtrack, being too fat to be good at skateboarding, and finding something that allowed me to express myself wholeheartedly at a young age.” But who are some artists that have influenced Ryker the most? He says, “Blink-182, Bright Eyes, Curren$y, From First To Last, Deftones, Waylon Jennings, Say Anything, Miles Davis, and far too many more to list.”

What’s been Ryker’s favorite show or venue to play so far? He told me, “I got to do an acoustic emo/Christmas set with some friends this past December (2025) at The Studio at The Bomb Factory in Dallas. I played guitar and sang; my friend Hayden played keys and sang; my pal Tyler ripped on the pedal steel; and my friend Bri rocked the cello! That was a bucket list thing for sure, and it sold out, which was even crazier!” Now what’s his dream venue to play at? Ryker told me, “Red Rocks is the pinnacle. There is a list of venues in my phone in TX and OK that I want to make happen over the next few years. I’d love to play the Songwriter fest in Key West someday.”

What has been a major turning point in Ryker’s career so far? He said, “I play music full-time currently. That’s given me time to lock in and start mapping out this craziness that is a career in the music industry. I’m 100% DIY. I’m the band, the booking agent, the tour manager, the marketing team, the bank, etc. I’m working my ass off every day to reach that turning point.” What’s something about him that people might not expect? Ryker said, “I used to be a DJ on the radio of a pop station.”

So what does Ryker hope people feel or take away when they hear his music? He told me, “I just want more folks to hear it. If it makes you feel, that rules. Being at the mercy of an algorithm on streaming/social media kind of sucks.” Now, what does success look like for him in music? Well, Ryker told me, “Bills paid. Doing cool tours. Recording full-length albums. Playing festivals. Writing with dope artists in multiple genres. Producing records.”
 
How does Ryker balance music with the rest of his life? He said, “Take time to exercise, sleep, and check in with yourself. This industry is cutthroat, and it’ll destroy your mental health.” Now, what’s one piece of advice Ryker would give to someone just starting out in music? He says, “Write all the bad songs that you can until a good one shows up. Be a good hang. Help people when you can. Avoid cocaine.”
 
Now, for the reason we are dropping on Sunday. When talking with Ryker,, I asked if he had any upcoming releases or projectsheecouldo talk abou.. He told me, “I’m dropping a single called ‘I Lost My Ever Lovin’ Mind’ on 4/20/26.” Which is tomorrow! You can pre-save it on Apple and Spotify, so go check it out! You can follow Ryker and stay up-to-date with him at IG/Threads: rykerhorrorpictureshow,  TikTok: rykerhorrorpictureshow, or his website https://rykerhall.com/

---

Thank you for reading todays artist spotlight! I hope you enjoyed getting to know who Ryker Hall is behind his music. Go check him out, and go catch him at a show. As always, be good to yourself, stay western, and stay tuned!

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an article or interview, and if you feel like it, share this article on social media!