We had a chance to catch up with alt-country star Ruston Kelly! He's smashed his way into the alt-country forefront with his critically acclaimed album Dying Star and hasn't looked back. Check out what he had to say with us below!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"Music has always been there. My Dad was a musician, since I was 6 years old that's been it. We also had a lot of records when I young, I just seemed to absorb it. I made my first record on Microsoft Voice."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"The writing and creating process can be different every time. Sometimes it's a streamlined like a stream a consciousness. Sometimes I splice things together and other times I'll just make stuff up on the spot and write it down later."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"Kurt Cobain, Eminem, Bob Dylan, and Jackson Browne would probably be my top artists."
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"I'm not so much of a gear guy. I was given a custom Gibson Hummingbird from Gibson that's baby pink and has black tuners. I also have a Santa Cruz Baritone guitar that I keep tuned in what I call 'Maria Tuning'. I also have a Daion L999 that I keep open. I just covered a Taylor Swift song with Amazon and borrowed a buddy's Fender Stratocaster and enjoyed that."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"The live show is what I would want to hear. The songs feel more alive, they have more grit, more realness, and are louder. We have had shows that are giant singalongs and had shows in quiet theaters, both are great."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"It's honest, nothing contrived, and something I would want to hear."
7. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
"We're doing the Taylor Swift cover with Amazon and announcing the Dying Star Fall Tour where we'll be playing a lot of the same cities as our last tour but in bigger venues."