Johns Creek native Brett Ryder, 20, earns 11 music award nominations

Johns Creek native Brett Ryder, 20, has amassed 11 nominations across two major independent award shows for 2025, reinforcing his rise as an alternative rock artist in the Southeast. The nominations include seven at the International Singer Songwriter Awards and four at the Josie Music Awards.

The International Singer Songwriter Awards nominations were tied to the ceremony held Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the City Springs Performing Arts Center in Sandy Springs, Georgia, where Ryder was listed in seven categories. The Josie Music Awards calendar placed Ryder on the bill for Sunday, November 2, 2025 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, where he held four nominations. The nomination notices did not include the specific category names in the supplied post.

Ryder’s trajectory from local performer to regional nominee was described in a profile published March 9, 2026, which traces his path from childhood living-room performances to growing recognition across the Southeast as an alternative rock artist. Age details in reporting show Ryder as 19 during the 2025 nomination year and 20 at the time of the March 9, 2026 profile.

Musically, Ryder’s work has been framed as genre-blending, rooted in rock and alternative influences, with attention for its emotional depth and radio-ready production. His recent single "Down Down" is listed as being out on all streaming platforms July 18th, and the artist has been working with producer Michael Cummings of Cumming, Georgia, who is associated with 1980s band McQueen Street. The nomination post credits a growing global fan base around those releases.

Ryder addressed the year’s momentum directly: "This year has been stellar," said Ryder. "I’ve poured so much of myself into my music, and to be recognized by both the ISSA and Josie Music Awards is incredibly meaningful. I’m honored to represent Georgia on these big stages." The same reporting noted plans tied to the awards season, with the August and November 2025 dates anchoring his independent-award run.

The nominations and profile details appeared in a community-contributed post focused on Johns Creek events; that post carried the notice that the views expressed were the author’s own. Ryder lists his public presence under the handle @brettrydermusic across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify, and operates a website at brettryder.com for further information. As Ryder moves from local rooms to regional stages, the 11 nominations from 2025 mark a measurable step in his emerging career.