Today we’d like to introduce you to Aidan Ewald.
Hi Aidan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Arnold, MD, in a household filled with music, which I look back on very fondly. My father is a very successful career musician, who I respect and look up to a great deal, and have been inspired by for as long as I can remember. With my mother being a huge fan and appreciator of music as well, I was raised with both parents educating and exposing me to great music.
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a musician for a living, and my upbringing was filled with encouragement and proof of how it can be achieved . Not to say that there is no hard work or hustle to be put into the career, (my dad is probably the hardest working person I know), but it is quite encouraging to have a successful blueprint to follow, while still working hard to make a name for myself in this business.
I first picked up the drums at age 11, which then quickly became my primary instrument and what I ended up studying in college. A few years later I picked up the guitar, which I always had wanted my initial instrument to be, having grown up watching my dad play the guitar so often.
I started playing music professionally, having my first professional music experience at age 13, playing drums with a few of my father’s bands. I continued to perform for a living throughout college, earning a Bachelors Degree in the Arts, (Jazz/Commercial Drum Performance), from Towson University. In my senior year of college I joined a band led by former Crack The Sky bassist Carey Ziegler, where I sang lead and played drums for just over 2 years. I continued living in Towson for about year post graduation, but moved to Downtown Annapolis in June of 2025. Back to where I first started playing shows a decade ago. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to support myself and make a living simply by playing music or recording music, which I cannot be more grateful for.
My schedule varies week to week, but as of now, I play a lot of solo acoustic gigs, or hired gigs on the drums to pay the bills. I’ve been able to fill my weekly schedule pretty consistently since I’ve moved back to Annapolis, and in this business, consistency is incredibly important. I actually enjoy the fact that not every week is the same schedule for me, though. I love the fact that I am able to play with different bands or artists, or fill in with musicians I’ve never played with before. It’s such a great way to meet new people in such a networking heavy area of work. I have already been able to perform alongside and/or collaborate with so many of incredible artists and performers, as well as perform in legendary venues or stages that allow me to experience new places.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have worked very hard to get to where I am now, and while I have managed to settle into the flow of things, there are still lots of things I have to adjust or adapt to depending on the different situations this business puts me in. There is a lot of hard work surrounding self promotion in this business, which is something I’ve had to get used to doing.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a growing musician, was getting used to my college setting. I am a self taught multi instrumentalist, as well as a first generation college student, so when I ended up at Towson University, I was surrounded by students who had musical training in completely different ways. My peers grew up taking lessons, reading music, and eventually performing jazz, while my background was playing drums or bass at bar gigs with my friends during high school. While this was very stressful at first, I was able to work with my professors to try and utilize my own strengths to grow as a musician in a setting that might not have been the most comfortable at first. I ended up enjoying my four years of college way more than I thought I ever would. During my senior year, my close friends and I played a sold out Monday night show at the legendary Blues Alley jazz club in Washington DC. I also got to perform in the backing band for the renowned jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato, with a small group of my classmates.
To say that I never faced any challenges with my career would be a lie, but I am extremely lucky to have a job that is centered around my greatest passion.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a career musician. I perform solo and with bands for a living, as well as hired session work for other people. I consider myself a multi instrumentalist, while I primarily sing, play drums, and play guitar, or occasionally the bass.
I’m in an original band with four of my closest friends (Graham Furniss, Nate Stanley, and Patrick Dayney-Smith), called The Candy Rocks, and we write Power Pop music very reminiscent of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. We have played a number of places throughout the East Coast, playing festivals or co headlining with other touring bands. We also have opened for amazing bands like The Lemon Twigs, who are another one of our biggest inspirations. While we play a bit infrequently due to schedules, we hope to get into the studio soon to record and release more original music, as well as hopefully a small tour sometime in the near future.
About a year and a half ago, I was also invited to join the board of the Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians (AMFM), a very special nonprofit organization based in Annapolis that provides some financial relief to musicians that cannot work due to illness or other circumstances in which they aren’t able to perform.
I say yes to any opportunity I am able to take, and it has allowed me to grow not only as a musician, but as a person. Whether I am playing a show with my band, a hired slot at a festival, a small private gathering, or a weeknight bar gig, I am proud to be able to do what I love and make it a career.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I have learned that this is a wild ride of a career, and it’s always in a state of change, so I am constantly learning new things. The most important thing I’ve learned, though, is that you never have to navigate this career alone. This can be a very stressful way to make a living, and one of the things that has helped me the most has been the support of the Annapolis music scene, but also my family and friends. Networking is such a crucial aspect of this business, and in the Annapolis/Baltimore/DC area, we are so lucky to have such a strong and supportive music scene. I have made so many connections and friendships with other musicians in this area, which have helped solidify my career in a number of ways. This is so important because these could be the people who could refer you for another gig, ask you to fill in if they can’t make a show, or even simply get together and create music with you. So much of my career stems from the connections I’ve made, and the support I’ve gotten along the way. Since starting my solo career, I now have some regulars who come to see my solo acoustic shows weekly. I have met some of my closest friends through music, whether it’s people around town, or friends I made back in school. I also have my family, who have provided me with endless love and support, and I am forever grateful for them. I do not take any of my career for granted, and I appreciate every person who has come to see me play, hired me, or done anything to support me in any way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aidanewald.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidan_ewald?stkn=MXUwZHNqcnJvcGdtZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
