Meet Evan Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Miller. 

Hi Evan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Born and raised in Colorado, I started playing drums at age 12. Not long after getting my first drum set, I knew that this was a passion I would pursue for the rest of my life. I went on to play with several bands around Denver and eventually studied classical percussion and jazz drums up at UNC in Greeley. Since leaving school, I’ve really tried to slow down and un-cut corners in my playing that I’ve neglected over the years. That is to say, I’ve been hyper-focusing on the fundamentals and really trying to develop my ear. I think if you lead anything with passion, the rest follows. My wife Lauren and I settled down in Lakewood and very recently welcomed our son, Miles. He seems to enjoy quiet percussion instruments so far! 

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’m trying not to dwell too much on challenges in life, other than to reflect on what I learned. I know that last almost two years have presented different challenges for everyone, but I think it’s an opportunity to feel some sympathy for other people. It’s super easy to get frustrated at strangers during a pandemic, so sympathy might be more important than ever right now. I find being disconnected from community can perpetuate feelings of isolation, and something like reaching out to an old friend or going to a concert/jam session can remind you that folks do care to see or hear from your ugly mug. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I made the move back down to Denver in 2017 and worked in restaurants for about six months before realizing that I needed a change. I needed my 9 to 5 to incorporate music in some capacity, so I started looking at job openings around town. Rupp’s Drums was actually one of the first places I looked. After almost 40 years in business, they had cemented themselves as the best drum shop in town. I took a sales associate position in late 2017, flash forward almost four years and the shop continues to grow and flourish thanks to our awesome team under the guidance of the shop’s owner, Alex Simpson. We do our best to not only succeed at the store but also within the community. In a normal year(pre-pandemic), we host around 8-12 educational events with world-class drummers and percussionists. We are starting to bring back such events, and we’re already starting to book some incredible artists for 2022. I know I ended up in the right place because instrument sales is only really part of our day-to-day operations. Community engagement is really what drives us here, it’s the fuel for everything we do. As an avid musician, it’s really awesome to work at a place that runs parallel to my passion. I definitely feel more connected to the local music scene after working with so many of its members. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I definitely recommend Questlove’s “Creative Quest” for anyone who likes to make anything in the most general sense. Most people would get some great insight from this book, but I found it particularly relatable as a musician. Also, I can’t not recommend some good listening, and trust me when I say that you are missing out if you haven’t listened to Hiatus Kaiyote’s “Mood Valiant” released earlier this year. 

Contact Info:

• Email: rupp@ruppsdrums.com
• Website: https://www.ruppsdrums.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruppsdrums/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruppsdrums/?ref=page_internal

Image Credits:
Josh Neitzel