Daily Inspiration: Meet Jay Ruston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Ruston.

Hi Jay, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my music career in Canada, working under different music producers such as Leslie Howe and Jack Richardson. In 2002 I had the opportunity to relocate to Los Angeles and run a studio in Studio City. There I had the opportunity to work under producers such as Desmond Child and Peter Asher. Using the skills and knowledge from these great mentors, I became a freelance record producer, and have been making records in Los Angeles and around the world ever since. I now own my own studio in Sherman Oaks.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve been pretty lucky in my career to always have great mentors and clients. Some struggles have been getting better work, more notable clients, and building a resume has certainly helped that. Th music industry is fickle, and you have to constantly evolve and keep up with trends and technology, which can be very challenging.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a record producer and mixer. I’ve worked with a large group of diverse clients such as Meatloaf, Diana Ross, Anthrax, Billy Ray Cyrus, Air Supply, Stone Sour and Avatar. I’m mostly known for producing rock and metal, but I’ve also worked in almost every genre of music. I’ve had quite a few number 1 radio songs which is a great achievement in these times. I try and be unique in my approach to making records, keeping the sound of the artist and not creating their sound for them in a computer. I tend to gravitate to bands that are great musicians and have an excellent live shows. They tend to find me as well.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is hugely important. I took my first major risk moving from Canada to Los Angeles and it certainly paid off. The only way moving forward is to take risks. I’m often working on a project for weeks or months at time, which can be highly stressful. It’s a risk in itself as it puts an enormous amount of pressure for success, especially when you’re spending someone else’s money to make a record.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jayruston.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jayruston
• Twitter: twitter.com/jayruston

Image Credits
Photos by Dan Virchow and Wombat Fire