Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: provided via artist
Acclaimed artist/musician Tristan Tritt recently unleashed his own exploration and blend of different styles including Southern rock, country, blues and alternative in his new single “Wannabe”. Which plays like both a love letter to his roots, his father
Grammy-winning country artist Travis Tritt and a bold step into wider sonic territory.
Tristan Tritt is a storyteller of the American experience, a believer in the power of simplicity, and an artist who never stops moving forward. The musician and singer-songwriter is embracing who he truly is, along with the influences that shaped him. A proud Southerner, the Georgia native is unleashing his own exploration and blend of different styles including Southern rock, country, blues and alternative. This blurring the lines of genre recalls the spirit of his musical heroes, The Black Crows, Koe Wetzel, Colter Wall, and Tom Petty but with a fresh and modern edge.
Born with music in his blood, his father is Grammy-winning country artist Travis Tritt, a young Tristan picked up his first Fender Stratocaster at age 11 and never put it down. He mastered grunge and alt rock staples like Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” and Foo Fighters’ “Monkey Wrench”, soon turning that passion into writing original songs. Furthering his craft, he learned recording engineering in a school in Arizona and surrounded himself with other creatives in California. He devoted every spare moment to the recording studio and performing live, through countless shows, growing a dedicated fanbase.
In 2022, he released his first batch of singles “Oblivion” and “Right On Time”, introducing his hard-hitting rock sound to the masses. His contemplation on the obsessiveness of social media with “No Filter”, led to praise from American Songwriter among others, while his 2024 single “Sick of It” has racked up nearly two hundred thousand plays.
Now, Tristan Tritt is entering a new chapter—a musical rebirth. Teaming up with collaborators Chris Ayer and Jerry Fuentes, Tristan is now leaving his own unique stamp on rock music. With tight musicianship, a whiskey-soaked voice that’s both gritty and soulful, and storytelling that cuts deep, his newest material is his most authentic yet.
I had the opportunity to chat with Tristan about his new single, his musical journey so far, and what’s next.
Kat: “Wannabe” weaves Greek mythology into a Southern rock landscape, what sparked the idea to connect Icarus with your personal story, and were there any other myths you explored in the process?
Tristan: I’ve always been obsessed with mythology, specifically Greek. I think so many of the stories can be relatable to our daily trials and tribulations. Sisyphus is definitely a story I’ve tapped into for “stop the ride” as well. It’s a good way to at least build a foundation for a story, to then turn into a song down the line.
Kat: You’ve described “Stop the Ride” as autobiographical. Was there a specific moment or experience that made you sit down and write it, or did it build over time like pressure in a bottle?
Tristan: I was writing with Chris Ayer’s over zoom, when the conversation started about the monotony and loneliness of touring (especially in the beginning of your career) came it. We both had plenty of knowledge in that topic, so “Stop the Ride” came to be fairly easy.
Kat: Your transition from ‘90s alt-rock into a more roots-driven Southern blend is compelling. Was there a moment that felt like a musical ‘homecoming’, when you knew this sound was truly yours?
Tristan: I think I just stopped caring about what I “should be writing” from a commercial aspect, I instead just started to incorporate the southern styles I grew up on into my music, without it sounding forced. Southern Rock is still rock, just with a country flare to it. “Y’allternative” is what I like to call it (I did not coin the phrase).
Kat: What’s something you’ve learned about yourself through songwriting that surprised you, something you didn’t expect to surface?
Tristan: I’m essentially a goofball 24/7 and I thrive on making people laugh, however there seems to be this melancholy inside me that tends to show its face in my lyrics.
Kat: You mentioned the importance of the father-son dynamic in “Wannabe.” Beyond your own family ties, how do you see that theme showing up culturally in Southern music and storytelling?
Tristan: I think it’s more of a feel than anything. You don’t necessarily have to spoon feed the listener that you’re from the south. Small inflections, guitar tonality, and the occasional southern vernacular can paint a pretty vivid picture of my Georgian roots.
Kat: Your music blurs genre lines with intention. If genres were treated more like emotions than categories, which ‘emotions’ would your current sound be made of?
Tristan: I’m not sure if it’s an emotion exactly, but I guess it would be a controlled anger (or controlled chaos). Rock is very raw and energetic, while country is 3 chords and the truth. Raw truth is a mighty weapon.
Kat: You’ve played live countless times, is there a particular venue, crowd, or night that felt like a turning point in your connection with your audience?
Tristan: Anytime I see or hear people in the audience singing back my words it’s the best show ever. I wish I was just being cheesy, but it’s the God’s honest truth.
Kat: Social media played a role in “No Filter”. How do you personally stay grounded and creative in an industry that constantly asks for visibility and validation online?
Tristan: I stay off it, unless it is absolutely necessary to be on it. I fail to do that A Lot, but it keeps me in the moment, not listening to the constant noise that is social media.
Kat: Who are some modern artists (perhaps outside your genre) that you think are pushing boundaries in ways you admire or even feel inspired by?
Tristan: Koe Wetzel, Dexter and The Moonrocks, Sturgill Simpson, just to name a few. They all are very different sonically, but all have a unique rawness to their sound. Genre-wise, I can get behind anything, as long as it is authentic. Even if I don’t like it, they have my respect.
Kat: Your songs often tap into longing, identity, and rebellion, if you weren’t expressing those through music, how else do you think they’d show up in your life?
Tristan: Probably in some type of entrepreneurial endeavor. I love business, and I love artistic expression. Building a good business can be as much of a creative undertaking as writing a song or painting. If done correctly, you can touch the lives of a lot of people, just like a live performance or a recording. more of my songs. A dream of mine has always been to release a full album, so that’s a goal I’m excited to work towards.
Connect With Tristan
https://www.tiktok.com/@tristantritt13
https://www.instagram.com/tristantritt