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What's your name?
Rodger Stanley Ruzanka Jr.
Although nobody needs to know this.
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Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Louisville Kentucky USA.
The city was a very interesting place growing up. Smack in the middle of the bible belt, it was an oasis for eccentric artists and musicians that didn't seem to fit anywhere else nearby. When growing up I was exposed to a lot of great indie and punk music.
Not very much electronic music though. At the time, my friend Keado and I were the only ones making music with electronics that we knew of. This was a blessing as a disguise as we didn't have a preconception of what electronic music "should" sound like. We thought it should sound pretty crazy.
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How long have you been producing?
I have been making electronic music for about 15 years now. I have always been enamored by the songs heard in video games and the synthesizers found in the pop music of the 1980s. As a teenager, I lacked the resources to make this kind of music until I was handed a floppy disk with a copy of Scream Tracker on it. This blew away my world, and became nothing less of an obsession. I would spend countless hours using the computers of neighbors and staying late at the school's computer lab making a world of bizarre music that few would ever hear. The thought of being a producer or even making music for other people to listen to never crossed my mind. It started out much like a secret journal that I could not stop pouring myself into. Over time, computer software made leaps and bounds and my music improved with it. It wasn't until around 1997 that I started to try to share the music with other people and began to become a real producer. By 2001 I completed 3 unreleased albums. I didn't enjoy making them as much as I do individual tracks, so I have not made any since. Although I am working on one to be released sometime this year.
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Any background in music? Schooling? Self-taught?
I began with the violin in 1986. I was trained by the public schools with the Suzuki method, which in retrospect might have crippled my music theory early on. However, what I did gain was a very good ear and an ability to improvise which I feel has been my biggest asset as a producer and composer. This is why my music to this day is very melodic. I try to make a melody that is easy to remember and even hum, and then build the chord structure around that. When I was in high school, I taught myself bass guitar. I had always planed on learning piano to use for midi recording. However as time passed, it became evident that tracking would always be easier and faster for composition. I can often track a melody faster than it takes for me to learn and play it.
Everything about electronic music I had to teach myself from trial and error. I simply did not know anyone making any music with electronics at the time. During those years, very few people in my city were doing this sort of thing. Now, I am lucky to have met quite a few extremely talented colleagues that have contributed new techniques and ideas.
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Other projects? Anything you want to plug?
One of the most beneficial projects to my growth is Iron Chef of Music. It is a phenomenon that began in Pittsburgh with friends from
Kracfive Records.
It became an instant success in terms of fun and great music. When I moved to Chicago I made an effort to turn the project into a simultaneous local and worldwide event with the help and participation of artists around the world.
In a nut shell, it is a producer's battle that focuses on the creation of music from the limitations of only a single mystery "ingredient" sound, and two hours. The Chicago event also acts as a forum for musicians from all skill levels to get together and share techniques as well as hang out. The secret beauty of ICOM is it's abilty to hone ones production skills tenfold.
Currently the online project still continues, but the local event is currently on hiatus until a new venue is found. Online worldwide events can be found on
www.ironchefofmusic.com
We are always happy to help others who want to start an Ironchef of Music chapter in their city!
As my day job, I am a freelance creative. I get a lot of opportunity to make really fun music and other things such as animations, web pages, and more. One of my favorite clients is a toy invention studio located here in Chicago. I have music and other work inside several toys that are sold worldwide. Can you find them? I do not publicize the toys I work on because unfortunately I do not get 100% creative control over them. Or royalties for that matter! However, there are ipaghost toys in the distant horizon. The ones I make now are for friends only!
I also am eager to connect with video game designers who are making "old school" style games in need of music and art that is both reminiscent of the 8-bit era mixed with the contemporary. They need to contact me ASAP.
My friend Protman has put up a new booking system on his web page. Anyone in the Midwest can now book Protman and myself as a team with great ease. http://www. protman. com/content/book-protman
I love playing live shows, and would love to get booked other places. I hope to one day get shows from other countries as well. France is currently on the top of my wish list!
Currently, I am working on Floaty World. It is an interactive site where Floatyboy and Whale live with many other cute friends. There is no release date for this yet.
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influences?
The list of influences is extremely long. I try to glean as much as possible from things that I listen to, even if they are not in the same genre as my own. Obviously, video games have been a big influence. However other influences span from classical to electro. My current biggest influence is Gangpol Und Mit, followed by Dat Politics, and Ilkae. Aphex Twin's album Richard D. James was also big influence early on.
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How would you describe your sound?
It is a comprehensive blend of happy beeps and quizzical boops, with the occasional meow for good measure. It is music for the adventurous ear and is reminiscent of our continuing childhood which wishes not to be forgotten. Occasionally it sounds like the dreams of the mischievous monsters that make faces behind your back.
Thanks for the interview!
-ipa
=^-^=
