Caleb Trask is, among other things, the creative alter ego of Los Angeles singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chad Richard. Drinking deep from the desert folk-rock traditions of the American west, and with one ear on the present and another on past and future memories, Trask seems to inhabit the space between here and home.

Across the Water, a debut EP produced in 2017 (Moosecat Records) with Cole Petersen (production/drums) and Mark Montgomery (mixing/engineering), was written during a year on the Amazon delta in northern Brazil. It features the unmatched voice of Natalie Nicoles (The Wild Reeds, Branches) along with several other friend and family contributors.

“Lungs,” co-written with Mike Taylor (and featuring both he and Kesha Shantrell on vocals), was written in the wake of Philando Castile’s death and released in the wake of that of George Floyd. It’s a gospel-soaked protest that marches through its final choruses with a massive choir three generations deep. The first studio album from Caleb Trask, All Fall Down, was recorded at BIG EGO Studios with producer Chris Schlarb (Psychic Temple) and is projected for a 2022 release.

Apart from writing and performing as Caleb Trask, Richard also often lends guitars and harmonies to groups such as Dustbowl Revival and their new power-duo side project, Patio Club. He has written and recorded with members of Mavis Staples, Lord Huron, Matt Kearney, and The Wild Reeds, and collaborates constantly with other local and touring acts.