Tristen Gaspadarek

Tristen (born Tristen Gaspadarek, November 23, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has released six albums: Teardrops and Lollipops, Charlatans at the Garden Gate (2011), C A V E S (2013), Sneaker Waves (2017), Aquatic Flowers (2021), and Unpopular Music (2025). She also performed as a member of Jenny Lewis's live band in 2015.

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.

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." 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." The album was also recognized favorably by NPR, Spin Magazine, The A.V. Club, and Paste Magazine, 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." 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). Just like her previous album, C A V E S was named "Best Local Album of 2013". by the Nashville Scene Critic's Poll and in the "Top 50 Albums of 2013" by American Songwriter. SPIN Magazine said the sound of C A V E S had recast the songwriter as "a synth pop siren."

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. 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. 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." Sneaker Waves was well received by critics, described by Rolling Stone as having "Nilsson-worthy power balladry," 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."

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.

Tristen's fifth album, Aquatic Flowers, was released June 4, 2021, by Mama Bird Recording Co.

Tristen's sixth album, Unpopular Music, was released in 2025.

Discography Albums

EPs

Singles Year Title B-side/notes Label Formats Album 2011 "Eager for Your Love" "Baby Drugs" American Myth Recordings Download / streaming Charlatans at the Garden Gate2013 "No One's Gonna Know" PUPsnake Records C A V E S "Gold Star" 2014 "Forever Yours" Carl Perkins cover YouTube streaming Non-album track "See No Evil" Television cover 2016 "In Winter Blues" Download / streaming 2017 "Peaceful Easy Feeling" Eagles cover Instant Records "Got Some" "Glass Jar" (feat. Jenny Lewis) Modern Outsider 7" Ltd. Ed. / streaming Sneaker Waves "Crying on Christmas Day" Proceeds go to Doctors without borders PUPsnake Records Download / streaming Non-album track 2019 "Dream Within a Dream" "Red Lava" This Man Records 7" / 7" Ltd. Ed. handmade cover / download / streaming "A Case of You" Joni Mitchell cover PUPsnake Records/Modern Outsider Download/streaming 2020 "Can't Walk That Back" Self-release "Salty Tears" Modern Outsider "Just Like Heaven" The Cure cover 2021 "Cheatin" American Myth Recordings Eager for Your Love EP "Complex" Mama Bird Recording Co. Aquatic Flowers 2022 "Harold the King" PUPsnake Records Non-album track "Dance Me to the End of Love" Leonard Cohen cover Mama Bird Recording Co. 2023 "The Lee Shore" Self-release 2025 "Skin of Our Teeth" PUPsnake Records/Well Kept Secret Unpopular Music

Collaborations Year Main Artist Album Songs Contribution 2009 The 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 Line Various tracks Performer2012 Wanda Jackson Unfinished Business Tracks 4, 6 and 7 Backing vocals JEFF the Brotherhood "Dark Energy" (single) "Dark Energy" Vocals2015 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 War 4 tracks And the Relatives Green 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 tracks Writer, backing vocals 2025 Phiz (duo with Cortney Tidwell) "i lost my fkn mind" (single) "i lost my fkn mind"/"If I Had Known" Writer, vocals, performance 2026 Vanessa Carlton Veils Various tracks Writer Casey Pierce Vevo/YouTube

Got Some Tristen

2018 Partyin' is Such Sweet Sorrow Tristen + Seth Pomeroy 2019 Dream Within A Dream Tristen/Shane Tutmarc Non-album single

Complex Tristen Aquatic Flowers Matchstick Murder (Live from the 5 Spot) Anniversary Show Charlatans at the Garden Gate Athena Tristen

Wrong With You Joshua Shoemaker Cool Blue Jimmy Teru Murakami Complex (Live at Tight Squeeze)

2022 Dance Me to the End of Love Non-album single 2025 New Punching Bag Jimmy Teru Murakami Zenith EP

Film and television Song Program Format Episode Baby Drugs Better Living Through Chemistry Film After Everything Doomsday Five Star Day Baby Drugs Enlightened Television S1:E4 Teen Mom 2 S3:E12 Matchstick Murder The Office Special Kind of Fear Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll S1:E8 Catalyst Neighbours 7242–7265 Home and Away 6131–6150 Easy Out 6091–6110 Gold Star Teen Mom 2 S5:E10 Catfish: The TV Show S3:E6 Home and Away 6131–6150 House of War Finding Carter S2:E7 Home and Away 6111–6130 Monster 6091–6130 No One's Gonna Know Glass Jar SEAL Team Miracle Workers S1:E4

Books Year Title Edition Foreword By Publisher 2016 Saturnine Pocket Poetry Series: Volume One (2 pressings) Ezra Furman Cosmic Thug Records & Press