Daily Inspiration: Meet Ryan Hahn

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

Hi Ryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in a small town on a tobacco farm, where my parents surrounded me with music. Predominately country, classic rock, and gospel music. When I decided I wanted to play guitar at 14, my mom gave me my brother’s old guitar that he never learned to play and my dad bought me a Credence Clearwater Revival chord book. That was the beginning of it all.

I then went on to play in church and with a couple of bands until my band at 17, Poor Man’s Riches got signed to our first record deal. After high school, I toured the country with 165 shows in 2004. At the end of that year, I decided I was done with the Christian music world and wanted to explore what else was out there. That’s when I decided to load up a Uhaul trailer on the back of my Ford truck and move out to Los Angeles.

My first several years in LA were full of amazing experiences and quite a few struggles. Throughout my twenties, I played guitar in R&B groups, hardcore/metal bands, and everything in between. I even spent a few years playing bass in a couple of rock and roll/punk bands and a year and a half making custom Commercial music for many brands.

After spending my energy on other people’s music in my twenties, I decided it was time to focus on my own story. A story I was beginning to figure out how to tell. The classic tale of a kid from a small town coming to the “big city” to do something bigger with their life. That’s when the idea of The Believers started, and this has been my focus the last five years.

Since then, We have opened for artists like Charley Crockett and Billy Bob Thornton, started my Small Town Friday Nights residency at Lucky Strike (which showcased the best Americana/country/roots Rock talent In LA), We released our first EP, Farmer’s Son” in September 2019, the same night we opened for Robby Krieger at The Whisky A Go Go, etc. We also began work on our 2nd EP with acclaimed engineer/producer Michael Dumas (Dwight Yoakum, Lucinda Williams, Robby Krieger, etc.) which will be coming out in spring 2022.

Since the aftermath of the pandemic, we have moved my Small Town Friday Nights residency to The Silverlake Lounge where I am now doing Production Management and helping to book.

The future is bright here in LA, and I am looking forward to what it brings to the roots music scene in Los Angeles!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I have encountered struggles all along the way. The simple issue of affording to live in Los Angeles for 16 years was a challenge for much of the time. Most of us have to find backup plans, alternate careers, and sometimes more shady ways to stay here in such an expensive city.

But it’s all about persistence and being resilient. I was lucky to have some skills in design and product development and have been able to make a career in the fashion industry to help keep my mortgage paid and keep money coming in to help support my band. But that’s a challenge in itself balancing a high-stress career with my high-stress dream of playing music. At the end of the day, you’re willing to do what it takes, or you’re not.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think I’m most proud of the simple fact I was willing to leave my little town in Kentucky to come 2500 miles west to try and build a new life. That’s what makes this city beautiful. So much of this town is filled with people that had the guts to leave their “norm” for something new and exciting. To challenge themselves to be something more. That’s what sets many of the people in LA apart. I am no different than any other Transplant in this city… we all came here for some kind of dream.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My biggest cheerleaders throughout my life have been my family. From my mom, dad, siblings, my many aunts, uncles, and cousins to my lady of 14 years, Fafa. Coming from a close family, they have all been rooting for me since the beginning.

And also all the amazing talented friends who’ve believed in and played this music over the last few years, Charlie McCord, Lee Mayeux/Anderson, David Hildreth, Jonathan Baker, Mike Hewitt, Nathan Briner, Dominic Thiroux, Ryan Stuber, Kevin Hollinger, Dusty Schaller, etc.

And lastly, my producers, Michael Dumas and Shayna Adler who have believed enough to help me build the future of this band.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.ryanhahnandthebelievers.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/ryanhahnandthebelievers
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ryanhahnandthebelievers

Image Credits:
Miles Terry, Paola Ibern