John Ralston

In the artist’s words: Describe one of your earliest musical memories in detail. My 1st LP Needle Bed, released by Vagrant in 2006. Miami Herald said: "recalls Brian Wilson’s manic-depressive songs for the Beach Boys, or Nick Drake-if he had fronted the Beatles.” Harp likened it to “Brian Wilson’s teenage basement demos to God." What are your top 3 all-time favorite albums on Apple Music, and why? Why did you choose these three albums in particular? Brian Eno, Ambient 1: Music for Airports Neil Young, Harvest The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds Pet Sounds is my favorite record of all time. The harmonies, the production, the songwriting - has it all. A magical album. I can listen to Music for Airports and instantly everything is ok. And Uncle Neil has been with me forever. Find a song of yours on Apple Music that you love and tell us what makes it special. Tell us why you chose this song. “This Summer” Recorded with David Vandervelde, Michael Seaman, and Ben Roberts in New Orleans. I love the vibe of this track and it immediately transports me back to Listen Up! studios. What’s one of the most memorable moments in your career so far? I've played just about every venue in North America, including even CBGB before it closed its doors. I got to play Radio City Music Hall and the Ryman Auditorium. But for me, the studio is where I love to be. So, I would say, every recording session. Is there anything left on your bucket list as an artist or band? The Lawns of Dawn comes out October 28, 2024. Recorded with jazz drummer Deric Dickens and featuring a bunch of cameos, I think it is my best record yet. 100 copies are being pressed on vinyl as I type!