Tristen Gaspadarek

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Tristen
Tristen (cropped).jpg
Tristen performing in Cambridge, Massachusetts in March 2017
Background information
Birth nameTristen Gaspadarek
Born (1983-11-23) November 23, 1983 (age 41)
Lansing, Illinois, US [1]
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, performance artist
Instrument(s)vocal, guitar, keyboard
Years active2000–present
LabelsPUPsnake Records, Modern Outsider
Website www.tristen.com

Tristen (born Tristen Gaspadarek, November 23, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has released five albums: Teardrops and Lollipops (2008), Charlatans at the Garden Gate (2011), C A V E S (2013), Sneaker Waves (2017), and Aquatic Flowers (2021). She also performed as a member of Jenny Lewis's live band in 2015.

Contents

Biography

After graduating from De Paul University in 2007, where she studied relational group and organizational theories of communication, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to immerse herself in its music scene.

Tristen's first EP was an independent release, a collection of lo-fi demos titled Teardrops and Lollipops that was completed in 2008. She recorded the homemade EP in her Nashville apartment, burning the CD's herself and packaging them in unique, hand-sewn felt sleeves to sell at her shows. [2]

In February 2011 she released her label debut Charlatans at the Garden Gate, which Rolling Stone magazine praised for its "catchy refrains with multiple meanings," and "ear-tugging melodies with hidden hooks." They interpreted the album's sound as "vintage rockabilly and girl group pop" and called Tristen "an artist worth watching." [3] Slant Magazine reviewed Charlatans at the Garden Gate, stating that "the basic mastery of these songs, the way they skip between styles and voices, while maintaining a strict level of lyrical and vocal quality, is a great accomplishment in itself, especially on a debut." [4] The album was also recognized favorably by NPR, [5] Spin Magazine, [6] The A.V. Club, [7] and Paste Magazine, [8] among others.

Her follow-up, C A V E S, was released in October 2013. Stylistically the album differed from the prominent folk sound of Charlatans with the new addition of drum machines and synths. American Songwriter said Tristen had "evolved her sound ... cranking up the complexity, craft and drama; mixing futuristic moments with quirky lullabies and the same biting tongue, sacrificing folk references for ’80s touch points." [9] It was recorded partly in Nashville by Battle Tapes Recording engineer Jeremy Ferguson, partly in Omaha, Nebraska by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, M Ward) and was mixed by synth-pop pioneer Stephen Hague (New Order, Pet Shop Boys). [10] Just like her previous album, C A V E S was named "Best Local Album of 2013". [11] by the Nashville Scene Critic's Poll and in the "Top 50 Albums of 2013" by American Songwriter. [12] SPIN Magazine said the sound of C A V E S had recast the songwriter as "a synth pop siren." [13]

Tristen's fourth album, Sneaker Waves, was released in July 2017. The title was taken from the name of a large, powerful coastal wave known to appear without warning, periodically sweeping innocent bystanders out to sea. Tristen said she found the phenomenon of the sneaker wave to feel like a metaphor for life and death and a suitable album title. [14] In making the album, Tristen and her husband and collaborator Buddy Hughen decided to record at their home studio in Nashville, handling nearly everything but the rhythm section and orchestral accompaniment. [15] The songs on Sneaker Waves were described by Charleston City Paper as showing "traces of twang but more often than not seem to take the ambitious arrangements on C A V E S and filter them through a rich, timeless blend of garage rock, atmospheric country, [and] '60s girl group flourishes." [16] Sneaker Waves was well received by critics, described by Rolling Stone as having "Nilsson-worthy power balladry," [17] while NPR's Ann Powers put it in her list of "Top 10 Underheard Albums Of 2017" and called it "bursting with great melodies and hooky arrangements that tickle the ear and won’t leave your brain alone." [18]

Since the release of Charlatans at the Garden Gate Tristen has toured North America with artists including Those Darlins, The Elected, Justin Townes Earle, Ezra Furman and the Harpoons, and Vanessa Carlton. In March 2014, she opened for Television in Nashville.

In 2015, Tristen was featured in the documentary The Moment: Bonnaroo , about the music festival.

In 2016, Tristen released a chap book of poetry, Saturnine. [19]

Tristen announced her fifth album, Aquatic Flowers, would be released June 4, 2021 by Mama Bird Recording Co. [20]

Discography

Albums

YearTitleLabelTracksFormats
2008Teardrops and LollipopsTristen Self-Release9CD, Download
2011 Charlatans at the Garden Gate American Myth Recordings11LP, CD, Download
2013C A V E SPUPsnake Records11LP/clear vinyl, CD, Download
2017Sneaker Waves Modern Outsider 11LP clear vinyl, CD, Download
2021Aquatic FlowersMama Bird Recording Co.11LP/blue vinyl, CD, Download

EPs

YearTitleLabelTracksFormats
2009Deceivers Are AchieversTristen Self-Release5CD
2010Eager For Your LoveAmerican Myth Recordings37", Download
2011Tristen Decks the HallsTristen Self-Release37" red vinyl, Download
2019Tristen Decks the Halls (re-issue)Tristen Self-Release37" pink vinyl [21]
2019Tristen Decks the Halls (with bonus tracks)Tristen Self-Release6Download [22]
2025ZenithPUPsnake Records/Well Kept Secret37", Download [23]

Singles

YearTitleB-Side/NotesLabelFormatsAlbum
2011Eager For Your LoveBaby DrugsAmerican Myth RecordingsDownload / streamingCharlatans at the Garden Gate
2013No One's Gonna KnowPUPsnake RecordsC A V E S
Gold Star [24]
2014 Forever Yours note: Carl Perkins coverYouTube streamingNon-album track
See No Evil note: Television cover
2016In Winter BluesDownload / streaming
2017 Peaceful Easy Feeling note: Eagles coverInstant Records
Got SomeGlass Jar (Feat. Jenny Lewis)Modern Outsider7" Ltd. Ed. / streamingSneaker Waves
Crying on Christmas Daynote: proceeds go to Doctors without borders PUPsnake RecordsDownload / streamingNon-album track
2019Dream Within a DreamRed LavaThis Man Records7" / 7" Ltd. Ed. handmade cover / download / streaming
A Case of You note: Joni Mitchell coverPUPsnake Records/Modern OutsiderDownload/streaming
2020Can't Walk That BackTristen Self-Release
Salty TearsModern Outsider
Just Like Heaven2659174 Records DK
2021CheatinAmerican Myth RecordingsEager For Your Love EP
ComplexMama Bird Recording Co.Aquatic Flowers
2022Harold the KingPUPsnake RecordsNon-album track
Dance Me to the End of LoveMama Bird Recording Co.
2023The Lee ShoreTristen Self-Release

[25] [26] [27]

Collaborations

YearMain ArtistAlbumSongsContribution
2009The Non-Commissioned Officers Make-out with Violence (OST)"Radar Heart (Rody Please)"Vocals
2010 Caitlin Rose Own Side Now"New York"Writer, backing vocals
2011 Jonny Corndawg Down on the Bikini LineVarious tracksPerformer
2012 Wanda Jackson Unfinished Business Tracks 4, 6 and 7 [28] Backing vocals
JEFF the Brotherhood Dark Energy (Single)"Dark Energy" (Tristen Vocal)Vocals
2015 Quichenight Quichenight Presents... Quichebeat 2015 (Feat. Tristen and John Hendrickson)"There Is a Time"
War on Christmas EP"Silent Night"
2017 Steelism ism"Shake Your Heel"
All Them Witches Sleeping Through the War4 tracks
And The RelativesGreen Machinery"Hammer Down" / "Siamese"
2018 Kacey Musgraves Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin "Roy Rogers"Backing vocals
2020 Vanessa Carlton Love is an Art Various tracksWriter, backing vocals

[25]

Videography

YearTitleDirectorFormatsAlbum
2009Matchstick Murder Jeff Wyatt Wilson Vimeo/YouTubeCharlatans at the Garden Gate
Baby Drugs! (Live Version)Seth PomeroyVimeo
2011Baby DrugsJustin MitchellVimeo/YouTube
2013No One's Gonna KnowBernadine Shout & Danny Buday YouTubeC A V E S
2014CatalystSeth PomeroyVimeo/YouTube/Vevo/iTunes
Gold StarTristenYouTube
2016A Dream Within A Dream (Live)Saturnine (poetry book)
Eight People on a Golf Course and One Bird of Freedom Flying OverBekah CopeAudio Poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1988)
2017Glass Jar (Feat. Jenny Lewis) [29] Casey PierceVevo/YouTubeSneaker Waves
Got SomeTristenYouTube
2018Partyin' is Such Sweet SorrowTristen + Seth Pomeroy
2019Dream Within A DreamTristen/Shane Tutmarc Non-album single
2021ComplexTristenAquatic Flowers
Matchstick Murder (Live from the 5 Spot)Anniversary ShowCharlatans at the Garden Gate
AthenaTristenAquatic Flowers
Wrong With YouJoshua Shoemaker
Cool BlueJimmy Teru Murakami
Complex (Live at Tight Squeeze)Tristen
2022Dance Me to the End of LoveNon-album single
2025New Punching BagJimmy Teru MurakamiZenith EP

[30] [31] [32] [33]

Film and television

SongProgramFormatEpisode
Baby Drugs Better Living Through Chemistry [34] Film
After Everything [35]
DoomsdayFive Star Day [36]
Baby Drugs Enlightened [37] TelevisionS1:E4
Teen Mom 2 [38] S3:E12
Matchstick Murder The Office [39]
Special Kind of Fear Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll [40] S1:E8
Catalyst Neighbours 7242–7265
Home and Away 6131–6150
Easy Out6091–6110
Gold StarTeen Mom 2 [41] S5:E10
Catfish: The TV Show S3:E6
Home and Away6131–6150
House of War Finding Carter [42] S2:E7
Home and Away6111–6130
Monster6091–6130
No One's Gonna Know
Glass Jar SEAL Team [43]
Miracle Workers [44] S1:E4

Books

YearTitleEditionForeword ByPublisher
2016SaturninePocket Poetry Series: Volume One (2 pressings) [45] Ezra Furman Cosmic Thug Records & Press

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References

  1. ↑ Hopper, Jessica (June 30, 2011). "Tristen returns to her roots". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  2. ↑ Monger, Timothy. "Apple Music Preview: About Tristen". Apple iTunes. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ Hermes, Will (March 3, 2011). "Tristen – Charlatans At the Garden Gate". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  4. ↑ Cataldo, Jesse (January 30, 2011). "Review: Tristen, Charlatans at the Garden Gate". Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  5. ↑ Moon, Tom. "Pop Hooks And Pure Inspiration". NPR. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ Goodman, Billy. "25 Must Hear Artists At Bonnaroo 2011". Spin Magazine. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ Williams, Christian (February 2011). "Tristen – Charlatans At The Garden Gate". The A.V. Club . Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ Reevers, China. "Tristen – Charlatans At The Garden Gate" . Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ Moss, Marissa (October 15, 2013). "Tristen: C A V E S" . Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Tristen Announces CAVES Kickstarter Campaign". The Nashville Scene.
  11. ↑ "Diarrhea Planet leads the local charge in a year full of powerful releases and big developments". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  12. ↑ American Songwriter's Top 50 Albums Of 2013, American Songwriter
  13. ↑ "Stream Tristen's Synth-Lined 'C A V E S':Nashville-based talent abandons folk tradition for '80s-tinged sophomore LP". SPIN Magazine.
  14. ↑ Lovegood, Lisa. "Tristen". Indievidualist.de. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ Hight, Jewly. "Review: Tristen, 'Sneaker Waves'". NPR. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  16. ↑ Petersen, Kyle (April 2, 2018). "Tristen ventures into garage rock, '60s girl group, Nillsonesque pop territory on Sneaker Waves". Charleston City Paper.
  17. ↑ Crawford, Robert (August 8, 2017). "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: August 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  18. ↑ Powers, Ann. "Ann Powers' Top 10 Underheard Albums Of 2017". NPR. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  19. ↑ "SATURNINE BY TRISTEN GASPADAREK IS VOLUME ONE !! AVAILABLE TODAY!". Cosmicthugrecords.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Tristen Announces New Album 'Aquatic Flowers'". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Tristen – Decks The Halls". Discogs.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Decks the Halls re-release with bonus tracks". Tristen.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Zenith by Tristen". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  25. 1 2 "Tristen". Discogs.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Tristen". Apple Music . Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Tristen". Bandcamp . Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Wanda Jackson - Unfinished Business". Discogs.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Tristen – "Glass Jar" (Feat. Jenny Lewis) Video". Stereogum.com. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  30. ↑ "TRISTEN". YouTube . Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  31. ↑ "TristenVEVO". YouTube . Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Tristen". Vimeo . Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Tristen". Apple Music . Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Better Living Through Chemistry Soundtrack List". Soundtrackmania.net. March 11, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Music from After Everything". Tunefind.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Five Star Day (2010) Soundtrack". RingosTrack.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Music from Enlightened S1E04". Tunefind.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  38. ↑ Team, MTV CMI (February 4, 2013). "Music from the Teen Mom 2 Season 3 Finale". Soundtrack.mtv.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Sync Licensing". Terrorbird.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  40. ↑ ""Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" Don't Wanna Die Anonymous (TV Episode 2015)". IMDb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Music from Teen Mom 2 S5E10". Tunefind.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Music from Finding Carter S2E07". Tunefind.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Music from SEAL Team S2E16". Tunefind.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Heaven, Inc. Required Listening (Miracle Workers) by TBS". Music.apple.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  45. ↑ "SOLD OUT!! TRISTEN GASPADAREK'S SATURNINE Volume One of CTR Press' Pocket Poetry Series 2nd Printing w/foreword by Ezra Furman from COSMIC THUG RECORDS & PRESS". Cosmicthugrecords.bandcamp.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
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