We recently connected with Bryan Rader and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Bryan with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
A lot of it comes from my dad, Scott Rader. I was adopted at 18 months, and I grew up watching him work incredibly hard. His jobs often took him away from home, but he always found a way to stay connected—like being on the phone with my mom during my middle school band concert so he could still hear it.
I remember watching him build a two-story shed in our backyard on his day off. He’d mow the lawn and then eventually taught me how to do it too. By the time I was 15, I was the primary lawn mower. He bought me my first push mower and weed eater and told me I could pay him back. So, I started walking around the neighborhood looking for lawns to cut. I didn’t always love it—honestly, I would’ve rather been riding my dirt bike or skateboarding—but looking back, I really admire the work ethic he was passing on. He showed me that you can make your own money through hard work and initiative.
He also taught me practical skills—how to change oil, spark plugs, brakes, tires—you name it. He helped me get my first truck, a 1990 F-250, and because of what he taught me, I was able to do a lot of the maintenance on it myself. I still remember one morning he woke me up and asked if I knew how to drive stick. I said no, and he said, “Well, you’re gonna learn today,” because he needed me to follow him in his manual transmission car. That’s how I learned.
Later on, I got a 1980 280ZX and customized the sound system—because every teenager with a sports car needs a sound system, right? I’m not sure he totally agreed with that part, but he respected the effort.
To this day, my dad still works a full-time job, a weekend job, and just finished building another shed. The man does not quit. He’s given me big shoes to fill, but he’s always made sure I know that I can fill them. That mindset—that drive—stuck with me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a songwriter, singer, and frontman for the band Rader and the River Rats. What we do lives somewhere between folk-Americana and alternative rock—with a raw, emotional core that’s always rooted in storytelling. One night we might be covering Bill Withers and The Killers, and the next we’re sharing original songs that dive into themes like identity, redemption, and the road we travel—both literally and metaphorically.
The most exciting part of what I do is getting to connect with people. There’s something sacred about sharing a story on stage and seeing it resonate with someone in the crowd, whether they’re hearing it for the first time or singing along. It’s that exchange of energy that keeps me doing this.
One thing I think sets us apart is how versatile our live shows are. You might hear banjo, harmonica, and layered harmonies on one song, then synths and gritty pop energy on the next. We’re not afraid to blend genres if it tells the right story.
Right now, we’re continuing a monthly series with the Texas Farmers Market, and we just wrapped up our fifth year playing the Watermelon Thump, which is always a highlight. I’m also hosting a monthly open mic at The Vegan Nom, curating a benefit show for Emancipet, and getting ready to play a Killers cover set at Bandera Brewery. We’ve also got new recordings in the works and more shows lining up for the fall.
One of my biggest goals is to make sure everyone feels welcome at our shows. Music should be a safe and inclusive space for all kinds of people—except for racists or anyone spreading hate. There’s no room for that in our audience or our art.
Whether it’s a small-town benefit or a big outdoor stage, we just want to make music that moves people—and maybe gets them dancing a little along the way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the biggest things that got me where I am were being resourceful, being honest in my art, and just showing up—no matter what.
Resourcefulness was something I learned from my dad. We didn’t have everything, but we had tools, and we figured stuff out. I learned how to fix trucks, mow lawns for money, build what I needed. That carried over into music—figuring out how to run sound, record on a budget, patch gear together, book shows with nothing but a phone and some hustle. If you’re just starting out, don’t wait for the perfect setup. Use what you have, ask for help when you need it, and trust that you’ll get better as you go.
Being honest in what I create has always mattered to me. I try to write about real stuff—things I’ve lived through or still wrestle with. I don’t care about being perfect on stage, I care about being real. I think people connect with that more than anything. If you’re trying to get into this, don’t write what you think people want to hear. Write what you need to say. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s vulnerable. That’s what people remember.
Showing up has probably been the most important thing. There’ve been plenty of nights where I didn’t feel like playing, or where barely anyone was there. Nights I was sick, tired, going through it—but I still showed up and gave it what I had. Every one of those nights taught me something. If you’re just getting started, my advice is simple: keep showing up. That’s how you get better. That’s how you build something real.
You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to care enough to keep going.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
There are a lot of people who’ve helped me grow and get through the hard stuff, but it really starts with my parents.
My mom taught me to be honest and true to who I am. She never let my ADHD or my adoption be something that defined me or made me feel “other.” She made sure I knew I belonged, that I was capable, and that I was seen. She showed up for the stuff that mattered—sports games, tough moments, hard conversations—and when things got overwhelming, she was always a solid foundation. I remember calling her after landing a big corporate gig where we got paid more than I ever imagined, and I didn’t feel like I deserved to be there. She reminded me that ever since I was a baby, I’d been gifted with music, and that I’d earned it. Both her and my dad reminded me of how hard I’ve worked to get here.
And my dad—he led by example. Taught me how to work hard, fix things, show up, and follow through. A lot of the practical tools I lean on, I learned from him.
I also owe a lot to the people who saw something in me early on. My teacher, Mr. Randolph, let me work on music in his computer class and told me at the end of the year, “Keep doing music.” That meant a lot. My friends Clay, Dokken, and Colton in North Texas always pushed me to keep going, even when I was second-guessing myself. My homie Jake has been ride-or-die—coming to shows, watching livestreams with me during COVID, and making sure I’d actually get to gigs even if I’d partied a little too hard the night before.
I’m also super grateful for folks like Kayla Jane and Kelany Brent—artists doing big things who still show up with support. My brother Daniel has always encouraged me. And my fiancée—she keeps me steady, helps me grow, and reminds me of what really matters.
It’s taken a whole village to get me here—and I’m lucky to have one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bryanrader.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryanrader_music/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bryanrader
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bryan-rader
Image Credits
https://www.azariahreese.com/
https://www.instagram.com/iamc_rose.foto/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
