Philadelphia-based artist Ryan Yingst challenges the idea that popularity determines artistic value on new single ‘Ordinary Means’.
The track grew from conversations with his friends and peers, gathering together the frustrations of artists who devote huge portions of their lives to creating while frequently struggling for recognition. Its perspective stretches beyond his own experiences, instead addressing a familiar reality for independent musicians, writers and creatives whose work can easily disappear beneath numbers, algorithms and limited funding.
Originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania, the singer-songwriter studied jazz guitar and audio engineering before moving through Pittsburgh, Nashville and eventually Philadelphia, developing a catalogue spanning folk and several neighbouring styles along the way.
‘Ordinary Means’ now introduces his forthcoming EP 'A Nice Neighborhood to Have Bad Habits In', arriving on the 12th September. Named after a Raymond Chandler quote, the project follows Ryan Yingst's self-produced 'All Dressed Up for the End of the World' and live-recorded folk ballad ‘U-Haul’.
Have a listen to 'Ordinary Means' in the player below.