Meet Ryan Ramirez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Ramirez.

Ryan, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Growing up, I was always surrounded by music because my dad was a drummer and played in a lot of bands. This gave me a unique appreciation for music and led me to admire the biggest artists in the world from a very young age. The first artist that caught my attention was Michael Jackson; something about the way he performed and carried himself resonated with me.

Throughout elementary and middle school, I followed in my dad’s footsteps as a drummer and played in a few rock bands. The musical turning point was when I entered Show Choir during my freshman year of high school. That’s where my focus began to shift – I became more interested in Pop and R&B vocalists/performers like Usher, Justin Bieber, and Chris Brown than rock music.

I was a pretty small dude in high school and didn’t have much confidence, but music gave me an outlet where I felt confident and comfortable with myself. Towards the end of high school, I began to study Pop music artists like One Direction and Justin Bieber to try to understand their musicality. I felt a little out of place knowing that I was one of the few guys at my school listening to what people thought was “girls music”, but something about their melodies and the way those artists portrayed confidence piqued my interest.

By the end of high school, I grew the confidence to start posting cover videos on YouTube. After that, I began to focus on writing my own songs and studying the art of songwriting. I then started working with producers and began figuring out how to make the best records I could, and figuring out what it means to be a recording artist. I spent the next two years studying how to make great songs that I liked but that could also resonate with large groups of people. This required critical feedback from mentors I’ve had that broke me down and also built me up to be the artist I am today.

In 2016, I moved to LA to pursue my career as a music artist and got a full-time job to support myself. Ultimately, the constant grind on both my music and full-time job burned me out and I fell into a pretty severe depression. After that, I realized it’s not where you’re at but what you’re doing that matters most. I made the move back to Orange County with the notion in mind that there was a better path for me. Once back home in OC, my mom let me live in her RV in our driveway and use that as my home studio.

After working on my own for a few months, I reconnected with my childhood best friend Jacob Moore who offered to help with the business side of my music. Jacob and I played in a few bands growing up and he has a really thorough music and formal business background, so it was a great match. He started off helping me put out fliers, film music videos, and take pictures. One day he gave me a call and said “Yo I’ve been thinking… I want to be your manager”.

After that, Jacob started his management company Density, and we began to learn what it takes to get to the top. Since then I’ve been formally managed under Density, and I’ve put out one full-length project, two EPs, and various singles. My most recent release was the “Right Now” EP which encompasses my take on contemporary pop styles.

We’d love to hear more about your music. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I strive to make records that I enjoy and that also resonate with a diverse group of people. There’s no better feeling than seeing a song of mine connect to different people in different ways. I create my songs as a way to express myself to others in hopes that they’ll be able to see a reflection of themselves in it. My artwork will never reflect something that isn’t authentic, what you hear is what I feel. I like to convey the message that no matter what your circumstance, you can find a way to be successful at what you’re truly passionate about. You’re only limited by your own discipline and work ethic. It’s easy to feel like the underdog when you don’t have money, resources, or certain connections, but you can use your creativity to your advantage and find innovative ways to make progress in your career and passion.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
From working with Density, I’ve come to realize that the barriers to enter into the music industry as an artist are extremely low. We live in a very special time where access to electronic technology has optimized an artist’s ability to put their music in front of large audiences. This is a huge advantage, but the downside is that there are tons of people doing it, leaving the industry very saturated. Differentiating yourself is becoming harder and harder, and that’s where having an amazing team and allowing yourself to be unrestricted and creative comes in handy. The best advice I have for up-and-coming artists is to work with a very dedicated team who is willing to think outside of the box and bring your music to an audience in a very innovative way. Getting your music in front of people has never been easier but getting them to listen to it has never been harder. To encourage and help art and artists thrive, cities like LA can continue to bring artists to the forefront of listeners just like VoyageLA is doing.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
All of my music is available on Spotify and Apple Music, and my music videos are available on my YouTube channel “Ryan Ramirez”. The best way to support my work is to share it with those around you and stay engaged with me via my social media. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook @ryanramirezofficial, and on Twitter @ryryramirez.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanramirezofficial/

Image Credit:
Candise Howe

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