Welcome to organizing an accident
About nine years ago, I was born again. A fanatic. Uncompromising.
It was in that moment, around the beginning of 2015, that I chose to let it happen—to let my ideas live.
My name is Ryan Egan, I’m an American artist, songwriter and music producer living in Paris, France.
Some background: For the entirety of my teenage years and into my twenties, I was consumed by the ravenous pursuit of Life in a Band, yet I somehow never had a grasp on what I considered to be the fundamental component of the whole affair: song.
Over the past decade, I have set about remedying this problem by writing at least one song every week—no excuses—and I’ve found that I am indeed a religious man. In time, my once-cautious creative temperament was transformed into a radical acceptance and that inner voice of crippling self-doubt started sounding a lot more like Maria Callas.
The worst weeks have seen me producing GarageBand demos on my phone in the airport or pulling my flu-stricken body from bed to write against the clock. But the best weeks—oh, those treasured bouts of mania and epiphanic finesse—weeks of fragile sleep, ceaseless creative flow, and a daily outpouring of songs, have turned me into a believer. Hallelujah.
I love writing songs. While I’ve only released a fraction of them since launching a solo career in 2015, my expanding back catalog consists of hundreds, and so it’s due time that I let ‘em air out a bit. The creative process often feels like organizing an accident. Like trying to methodize chance. Both in the present, as we explore new ideas in real time, and retrospectively, as periods of output begin to reveal their true intentions or connectedness.
From acoustic voice memos to fleshed-out productions, my hard drive (and my heart) is full. This space will be dedicated to making sense of it all by sharing musical works-in-progress alongside reflections on a creative life, and much, much more…
People have said some lovely things about my music:
"Ryan Egan shines." - Billboard
"Love it. Where did that falsetto even come from?" - Noisey/VICE
"Egan finds his muse somewhere in the middle of gutsy experimentation and hook-obsessed pop." - DIY
"Spacious, soft-spoken vocals that draw you in with heart-on-sleeve emotion and spine-tingling production." - Neon Gold
So, here goes nothing.
Free subscribers can expect :
A new song every Wednesday + dispatches on music life in Paris
Essays, lyrics, poetry, and any new format I’m experimenting with
Why go paid?
If you have the means, the best way to support my work is by becoming a paid subscriber. Here’s why:
One of the most meaningful ways to support independent artists is by becoming a patron. Your generous contributions allow me to focus full-time on my music, this newsletter, and all projects that fall under the umbrella of my work as songwriter and artist.
So…all paid subscribers can expect :
High quality audio downloads of my entire release catalog including my debut album Soft Power, EPs, and all singles (~30 songs)
Exclusive cover versions, live performance videos, and more
Full access to every post in the Substack archive.
If you want a subscription but can’t afford one, please email me at thisryanegan@gmail.com and I’ll comp you, no questions asked.
Find me elsewhere:
Check out my debut LP Soft Power
Find my entire release catalog on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and anywhere you listen to music.
Stalk me on socials @thisryanegan
Let’s work together: thisryanegan@gmail.com
About me:
Ryan Egan is an American artist and songwriter living in Paris, France. With the release of his EPs Fever & Bloom and Postures, along with a slew of self-produced singles, Ryan has garnered critical acclaim from outlets like Billboard, Noisey, DIY, Clash and more, as well as accumulating millions of streams across platforms. His debut, full-length album, Soft Power, is out now.
