Beacher Hayden Ryann’s upcoming EP showcases the highs and lows of growing up

By JOSHUA McGINNIS

For fans of local music, attention should be on Hayden Ryann and her upcoming untitled EP, scheduled for release in late July or August.

Ryann, an up-and-coming musician who has called the Beach home since she was young, recently sat down with Beach Metro Community News to reflect on what makes the neighbourhood special, her creative process, who she is as a musician and what led to the creation of her debut record.

“I’ve grown up in Toronto pretty much my whole life. I started writing music when I was seven or eight years old. It was my way of communicating. I was a shy and quiet kid growing up, so when I was little, music was a way of communicating for me, of telling people how I felt,” said Ryann.

She describes her sound as a mix of country, folk rock, and pop music, crediting artists such as Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Miranda Lambert, and Kacey Musgraves as influences on her voice and songwriting.

Growing up in the Beach, Ryann said she finds the Boardwalk to be a place of inspiration and clarity.

“Me and my family growing up, we did a lot of family walks with the dog and stuff like that along the Boardwalk. That’s definitely a place for me where I feel I can kind of reset,” she said.

The upcoming EP showcases the highs and lows of growing up and the changes that accompany them.

“It’s a lot about growing up, becoming an adult, heartbreak, relationships, and finding yourself,” said Ryann. “It’s something that a lot of people are going to be able to connect and relate to.”

According to Ryann, the project has been years in the making, with an emphasis on authenticity.

“When I was working on this, I wanted people to feel like they were going through the same thing that I was,” she said.

Despite not having a formal musical background, Ryann’s passion drove her to learn guitar and songwriting.

“I knew nothing, like absolutely nothing, when I started doing music. Over time, meeting people and collaborating has helped me tremendously,” she said.

Ryann also extended her thanks to those who have supported her along the way.

“I would love to shout out the Locker Boys because they have been incredible friends with me. They have really shown support with my music and myself as an artist, helping me along the way with certain things,” she said.

“I would also love to shout out Bruce from Semi Media because he has just been with me, guiding me and helping me with music. He’s the one that is making this release happen.”

The EP is expected to be released this summer.

For more on Hayden Ryann, info on her upcoming performance on July 2 in Toronto, and to hear some of her most recent releases, visit https://www.i-am-hayden.com/