Carriers is an American indie-rock project helmed by Cincinnati, Ohio’s singer-songwriter and musician, Curt Kiser. Since 2014, Carriers’ music can be described as honest, warm, and full of heart, like a late-night chat with a close friend. Stereogum says his music has a “hallucinatory heartland rock vibe” and that it’s “dreamy, Dylan-esque,” while New Commute says it’s “a raw and relatable kind of open-road Americana.”

Their latest album Every Time I Feel Afraid via Brassland invites listeners into moments of hope, struggle, and quiet resilience. Kiser’s joined by talented collaborators — Bryan Devendorf (The National), Dave Hartley (The War on Drugs), Ben Lanz (Beirut), Dave Nelson (David Byrne, St. Vincent, Mumford & Sons), and Peter Katis (Interpol, Kurt Vile).

The buzz around Carriers’ Every Time I Feel Afraid is electric, with critics and tastemakers piling on the praise for Kiser’s soulful vision. Featured in Rolling Stone for performing at Healing Appalachia (Tyler Childers’ festival), Consequence also hailed the album’s delicate songwriting that “keeps you coming back for more.” Bandcamp crowned it New & Notable, and PopMatters lauded Kiser’s “newfound confidence.”

Almost every song from the sophomore album has seen tastemaker radio play and playlisting from streaming platforms, from WXPN’s World Cafe, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, and Seattle’s KEXP, where music director Chris Sanley calls the album “a true triumph.”

Carriers have shared stages with heavyweights like Big Thief, Damien Jurado, Band of Horses, Fruit Bats, Heartless Bastards, Phosphorescent, and more. Kiser’s 2024 performance for 60,000 at a Cincinnati Bengals game cemented his hometown hero status, while his sound resonates far beyond the city limits and City Beat cover stories.

With props from peers like Sharon Van Etten, The National, Caamp, and The War on Drugs, Carriers are carving out a space all their own. Additionally, Kiser shares songwriting credits with other artists, recently with The National’s First Two Pages of Frankenstein — including the songs with Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, and more.

As Kiser puts it, “This album’s for anyone who’s been knocked down but keeps dreaming.” It’s a record that hits hard and lingers long after the music has stopped.