Conversations with Ash Ruder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ash Ruder. 

Hi Ash, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’m Ash, a California native born and raised in the small town of Turlock. While the generation before me will say they grew up on a select stack of records, I grew up on Broadway cassette tapes and CDs–including the musicals The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady. At the age of three, family members recall my freakish ability to sing songs on the tracks word-for-word. Since then, my love for music has only continued to grow into what it is today. Post high school, I moved to Los Angeles for college where I studied for a Bachelor’s in music. During my time obtaining my degree, I was asked to compete on ABC’s 4th season of American Idol where I shared my family’s painful past with an addicted father and surprised my him with a song celebrating sobriety. My Nana’s bed was my first stage, from there I upgraded to her fire mantle; as of late, I’ve been lucky enough to sing my stories from stages such as Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre and in February, will be performing in one of Nashville’s most iconic listening rooms, The Bluebird Café. As for the upcoming months, you can expect to see my name on music streaming services (***hint, hint). 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The short and brief answer is ‘no’, it has not been a smooth road. What makes people so drawn to certain artists, I think, are the stories that they bring to the table. Speaking for myself and my path as a musician, most of my art is birthed out of extreme experiences of joy, sadness, passion, and deep introspection. Recently, my songwriting has been flooded with themes of soul-searching and why I am the way I am, be it due to nature or nurture–with a Country/Americana/Folk-flare, of course! 

One of the biggest struggles is the fear of being told “no”; by labels, by our role models, by listeners, etc… But our favorite artists blaring through our radio speakers today are the ones who took all those nos with a grain of salt and kept moving until they found their ‘yes’. I will keep going until I find my “yes”. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a country singer-songwriter living in Nashville, Tennessee! I have always had the tendency to make my life a glasshouse, I’m not afraid of expressing pain or happiness. In fact, I live for transparency and vulnerability and my music echoes the same sentiment. In addition to Broadway cassette tapes, the country radio raised me. The stories behind the speakers allowed me to process a lot my own life experiences. Because of it, I knew my family wasn’t the only one struggling with marriage tensions, addiction, heartbreak, not having money, or the small-town stuff. 

What I am most proud of is that I’m just a blink away from being on the other side of the speakers sharing stories for other little girls and boys, single moms, struggling fathers, or teens seeking radio therapy the same way I found it. 

What’s next?
In the near future, followers and friends can expect my first single release! All updates can be found on my social media platforms, via @ashruder! I’m looking forward to being on the road with friends sharing my music and giving the world a little more healing and hope. There is so much to be excited about!! Listeners can expect all things varying from curated artist merchandise, new music, videos, artwork, and of course lots of live music! 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/ashruder
• Facebook: facebook.com/ashruder
• Twitter: twitter.com/ashruder
• Youtube: youtube.com/ashruder

Image Credits
@camerabycameron
@Clybournstudios
@Spirinityproductions