Athens, Ohio’s Rylee Bapst Band mix folk, blues, country and classic rock on ‘Winter Blues’, a song about getting through the colder months with a little humour and the occasional case of beer.

There had been a fresh snowfall when Rylee Bapst decided to photograph the cover of ‘Winter Blues’. A friend’s hillside, his favourite chair and a case of beer were all he needed. The song has much the same easygoing spirit, with acoustic guitar, pedal steel, organ and horns accompanying lyrics about winter boredom, money troubles and waiting for warmer days.

Bapst has a particular fondness for the music of the ’70s, and his band draws freely from those records without trying to recreate them. ‘Winter Blues’ now opens ‘Unprofessional’, released in June 2026. The band also appeared on ‘Mountain Stage’ earlier this year, while Bapst is due to open for Jorma Kaukonen and John Hurlbut in Athens on 14 November.

We spoke with Rylee about the song, his love of older music, the guitars he plays and the artists who have inspired him.

“I don’t try to be anything I’m not, and I am absolutely not made for the corporate world.”

You’ve clearly spent a lot of time listening to older records. What keeps drawing you back to that music, and how do you bring those influences into your own songs?

I listen and study a lot of older music, and I feel like most of the best combinations of sounds, chords, lyrics and melodies were already made in the ’70s. There are so many people like me that didn’t get to grow up in that era that have discovered the old-school music through all the avenues we have available to us, and being able to give those folks an outlet to feel it is what it’s all about for me… not to mention how much I love playing it! The groundwork that the musicians before me laid out left me all the tools I needed to package the stories of my own life experience in the perfect way. There’s so many ways to expand on those building blocks and turn it into my own thing.

One thing I never could’ve expected is how much the people who did grow up with that kind of music enjoy my band and what we’re doing. I’m grateful to have fans of all ages so early on!

How did you come up with the cover photo for ‘Winter Blues’?

Well, I wanted to set up a picture that showed the loose and unprofessional nature that I live by, and I feel contributed to my ability to make a song that sounds so free. I don’t try to be anything I’m not, and I am absolutely not made for the corporate world. It had just snowed, and my buddy’s house had a great hill, my favorite chair, plus a case of beer ready to go! My friend Mattes Brown took it – she’s a great photographer and has shot other covers and photos for me in the past. I’m sure you can tell how good of a time we had shooting the cover by how it turned out! Lilah Watson did the words and let me write my signature on her iPad to put on there.

<a href="https://ryleebapst.bandcamp.com/album/unprofessional">Unprofessional by Rylee Bapst Band</a>

What guitars and other instruments did you use on ‘Winter Blues’?

I used my 2021 Martin D-28 with 13-gauge strings – I like heavy-gauge strings. Also had Athens legend John Borchard play the pedal steel which added so much to the tune.

I have to ask, is ‘Pick up one last case of winter blues’ actually a beer joke?

Absolutely is a beer joke… not much else to do in a college town on winter break!

Which is worse, the winter blues or the dog days of summer?

Winter Blues is worse, but I do hate the bug bites that come from summer. The bugs have always loved me unfortunately.

You’ve been working on your singing since last year’s ‘Afraid of the Change’ EP. What have you been concentrating on, and has your approach changed much?

I have actually put a lot of effort into my voice and the intentionality behind every word. I had been winging it for a long time, but started going to voice lessons in the last year. It’s made a big difference in the way I sing and how I approach specific phrases. I’d say I’ve put the most focus on enunciation and not singing full blast when I don’t need to be. Also trying to capture the attitude I perform with at live shows in the studio. Even when writing the song, it’s important to know what kind of emotion you’re looking to convey with every syllable.

Are there any artists outside music whose work particularly inspires you?

Eva Whittenburg! She’s made lots of posters for my bands in the past, as well as the Rylee Bapst Band logo that’s on all of our merch. Her style is so whimsical, and you can really feel it in every piece. I think it lines up with our vibe too, which is a big reason I’ve continued to work with her over multiple years. @_fraev is her Instagram! Also anyone who can build a beautiful back porch or sunroom.

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