Transplant LP

The Transplant LP marks Ryan Lawson’s first full-length album since 2011, featuring songs written between 2011 and 2024. In the fall of 2023, as Ryan faced an allogeneic bone marrow transplant for chronic leukemia, he realized time was running out to complete the album. He connected with recording engineer Brandon Isaak at ToneStack Studio, and together they produced the twelve-song LP.

Over the course of a year, Ryan and Brandon meticulously crafted the album’s sound. They wrote multiple guitar parts, layering rhythm and lead sections to create a rich, textured sound. Ryan also invited longtime friend and musician, Aaron Tackett, to write slide guitar parts for some of the songs. For the bass guitar, they focused on creating grooves that complemented the guitar lines while adding depth to the tracks. Percussive elements were carefully arranged to enhance the dynamics of some songs including castanets, a frog-shaped guiro rasp, and a kick-drum.

The collaborative effort ensured that every instrumental part was thoughtfully integrated, resulting in a cohesive and compelling album, completed just in time for its November 2024 release.