Rising Stars: Meet Jack Ritter of Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Ritter.

Hi Jack, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started out obsessing over rock and metal bands in middle and high school, mostly from the 90s and early 2000s. Bands like Deftones, Korn, and Slipknot inspired me to start taking my guitar playing more seriously, and to start paying more attention to production value in songs. This led me to pursue a degree in audio engineering from Indiana University, which sparked my interest in becoming a full-time music producer. Since graduating in May 2020, I’ve been dead set on making awesome records with the best artists I can find!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I doubt any journey worth taking is a smooth road. I’ve had my fair share of struggles just like anyone else in creative fields. I’d say one challenge I’ve faced is trying to produce a variety of genres. I find it more satisfying and fulfilling to work on a variety of styles, but it’s also a lot more difficult to wrap my head around the nuances. Every genre/style has its own stylistic tendencies and priorities, which can obviously be fun to disregard/break the rules of. But you have to learn the rules to break them!

I’d say another struggle I’ve faced, that I’m sure lots of music producers deal with, is visibility. We’re often in the background, toiling away on tracks, without much time to present ourselves on social media and such like that (we’re often allergic to social media, too). We generally just hope that the work we do will speak for itself, and that the artists we work with will spread our names around in one way or another. It’s not always the best strategy for getting in front of people, but I’ve always been a believer in putting the record above all else – and the rest will follow.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a music producer, specializing in rock and pop records. I’d say my specialty is crafting tracks that are engaging in as many ways as possible, regardless of genre. I like to make tracks that are sonically, musically, and lyrically engaging. We’ve all heard boring songs, but no one wants to listen to those! I love adding layers for complexity, adding ear candy and fun transitions, and catering these elements to the style of the track to fit the vibe. Whether it’s a chill indie songwriter track or a heavy metal one, the same principles apply in my mind. The elements of engagement need to be there for the track to feel cohesive.

In terms of what I’m most proud of, I’d say I’m proud of my ability to take a simple songwriting idea and translate it into a full song. I feel this is the key aspect to being a music producer, and the thing that separates the cream from the crop. It’s not always linear, and sometimes requires some trial and error and troubleshooting, but I generally am able to visualize a full production upon hearing a great songwriting idea (the key, too, is that it’s a great one and not a mediocre one!). The best songs come from great songwriting ideas with great production execution on those ideas. This marriage is one of the biggest focuses in my career. Whether that sets me apart from others, I don’t know – I’ve learned these things from my idols, so if anything, it brings me closer to them (I hope)!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I don’t think so!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sounds_like_jack

Image Credits
1+4 – Daze @daze.craft
2 – unknown
3 – George Willoughby @deadendstudiosca