Ryan Hamilton’s New Album is Rooted In Authenticity And Craftsmanship

“Haunted By American Dreams” Arrives July 3 via Wicked Cool Records

Ryan Hamilton is set to return with his most reflective and compelling work to date, “Haunted by American Dreams,” arriving July 3rd via Wicked Cool Records. This new record finds Hamilton blending heartland rock and power pop with a deeply personal narrative, examining the often-unspoken costs of pursuing a life shaped by the expectations of others.

Chasing the “Save Me” promise

The album is written from the perspective of someone looking back at the roads traveled and the heavy weight of identity and ambition. Hamilton describes the core of the record as “chasing something you were told would save you—and realizing it doesn’t”. He draws on the imagery of “small-town promises” and “late-night highways,” confronting the ghosts of who he once thought he would become. Rather than aiming for a polished, “perfect” record, Hamilton sought to create an honest one, even if that honesty “rattles a little”.

“Dreaming Screaming”

The follow up single to his compelling and thought provoking, “The Come To Jesus Moment” is another sharp-witted, hook-driven track and video, “Dreaming Screaming”. The song serves as a thematic anchor for the record, exploring the darker side of ambition and the disorientation of getting lost in the pursuit of “something bigger”. However, even amid the noise of the struggle, Hamilton’s songwriting finds essential moments of clarity and hope.

Growing older, not cynical

“Haunted by American Dreams” captures a unique balance of hope and disillusionment. Throughout the album, Hamilton manages to confront uncertainty and disappointment without losing the warmth, humor, and melodic instincts that have defined his career. It is a record about finding meaning in the space between who we were and who we are becoming, proving that it is possible to grow older without surrendering to cynicism.

This release marks a bold step forward for Hamilton, pushing his creative boundaries while remaining firmly rooted in the authenticity and craftsmanship that have earned him a devoted international audience.

A voice for hard truths

This album begins a new chapter for Hamilton—one that “embraces hard truths” while remaining connected to deep human experiences. This commitment to reality is mirrored in Hamilton’s personal advocacy.

Beyond the music, Hamilton has used his platform to speak out for those impacted by restrictive healthcare policies. This week marks the fourth anniversary of the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. Inspired by his YouTube videos we found articles in Ms. Magazine and CBS News, where Hamilton shared the harrowing story of his wife being denied life-saving care in Texas during an incomplete miscarriage. By going public with this “healthcare nightmare,” Hamilton has highlighted the human cost of these policies, stating: “My wife almost bled out in our toilet – it can’t be the same for my daughter.” It is so important in this time to speak truth to power and Ryan Hamilton does just that.

Hamilton’s lived experience adds significant weight to the album’s mission of “confronting reality without surrendering optimism”. It suggests that the “American Dreams” haunting this record are not just professional ambitions or “small-town promises,” but the fundamental safety and future of musicians exploited at an often staggering cost by an indifferent industry, for women and girls who have lost their right to life or death healthcare, for families and the nation as a whole. As our nation prepares for its 250th year we wonder, whose American Dream is it now?

Buy this album!

“Haunted by American Dreams” will be available on all digital platforms on July 3rd via Wicked Cool Records. We recommend you buy the album, grab some of his merch and spread the word. Support the artists that tell our stories through their own thus feeding our hearts and minds, we are so grateful for them.

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