Tristen Gaspadarek, known professionally as Tristen, was born on November 23, 1983, in Lansing, Illinois. She began singing at a young age and performed in local talent shows as a child. After graduating from DePaul University in 2007, Tristen moved to Nashville to pursue her music career. She released her debut album Teardrops and Lollipops in August 2008. Her label debut, Charlatans at the Garden Gate, was released in February 2011 and received critical acclaim, being included in American Songwriter's "Top 50 Albums of 2011." She toured with various indie bands following its release. Her subsequent albums include Caves (October 2013) and Sneaker Waves (2017). In 2021, she released Aquatic Flowers, which features the song "Julian," inspired by her son.
