Meet Ryan Ebaugh | Saxophonist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Ebaugh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always loved music and remember using limewire to get albums like “Live at Folsom Prison” when I was around 9-10 years old. Turning 14 I started going to local shows in San Diego and that’s when I realized I wanted to play music and perform live. I’ve had several phases growing up such as skating, dancing, etc but I was really bad at all of them. When I started to perform, even though I was nervous as hell, It sorta clicked with me and now I’m grateful to say I’m still doing it! Even if it is for 3 people on a Wednesday night and I’ve made no money, it is one of the best feelings in the world for me to play music.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I really love to play the saxophone, I play everyday and I am always trying to get better. I’m not sure how to answer what sets me apart but I know there are players now and back then who constantly humble me and make me wanna always get better.

I’m the most proud of the fact that I’m still able to play and to have traveled the country to do what I love. I firmly believe nothing in this life that’s worth doing is easy. I think persistence is key even if there is no visible direction into where you are going, just doing it because you have to. I met this artist named Aaron Demuth who told me the success is just going out there and doing it which is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year. Getting rid of notions of external ideas of success and just taking pride that even though this country just wants you to go to work and go home and buy things, I’m still able to be around amazing people and playing music is the greatest gift.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Plaza Bonita Mall or Parkway Plaza

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s been so many people who’ve supported me and helped me in ways I wouldn’t have imagined. First off id like to thank Nathan Berlinguette/Daft Alliance for his complete support in me and providing outlets to play and meet amazing players. I’m in a band called “VCU” with him and Cameron Presley who are among the few people who really gave me fuel to keep going when I was seriously down and out. Of course my family has been supportive of what I do and thats a blessing. My partner Rebecca has been with me since the beginning of me picking up the saxophone and it’s sorta beautiful to have someone who has been there since essentially day 1.
Of course I have to thank everyone in San Diego who’s allowed me to play with them or in their spaces that include Brown Building, Tower bar, Casbah, and many others. Big love for Ali Mehraban Ramirez who shares the same love I have for this music and someone I can truly trust in this world. Thank you to Zane Alexander SB as well for the many opportunities he’s given me to perform with him or at an event he’s put together, going on tour with him in 2023 was definitely a core memory of mine.

I could write endlessly about the support I’ve been lucky to have but that might start to get boring so here are my shoutouts to people who are in the front of my mind at the moment who I love.
Shoutout to Mike Meanstreetz, Haydee Jimenez, FIM, God, My Grandma Lucia, and many many more.

Website: https://ebaugh.bandcamp.com/album/ymsd739

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.ebaugh/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Image Credits
COVER PHOTO BY WILD DON LEWIS

PHOTOS BY REBECCA HENSHAW, MYSELF, AND MIKE MEANSTREETZ