Jim Blus, Jason Young, and John Dauer have been very close friends for over 12 years which is why when it comes to being in a band, traveling the country four times over with a fifth on its way, and almost three albums later there is no friction in their personal and artistic relationships. “Everyone has moments of disappointment but that’s when the other three members pick you up” says Jason. The fourth member and bass player of The Ruse, Mark Stolze, attended college with Jim at Vanderbilt and after playing in different bands at a showcase in Los Angeles, Jim cornered Mark at a party and told him he had to move from Atlanta to New York to complete the team. Mark did, and each member now knows that this is the group that together will make it.
Each member plays an equal and important roll. Jim, the creative anchor behind the songwriting and melodies, introduces tracks to John who will write the lyrics and complete the hooks. Mark and Jason fill in the rhythm section and are instrumental in booking, the business element, and production of all their previous records. But there is no formula to how The Ruse composes their music. “Everything Comes With A Price” was a song written in ten minutes when Jim experimented with a guitar lick and John sang the lyrics all the way through the very first time. This track was later featured in “Peel; The Peru Project”. a documentary shot by the legendary surf film making Brown family responsible for “The Endless Summer I & II”. “Sit Down Stare Out” was the first song Jim brought to the band and has been recorded now five times, the fifth time by producer and mixer, Danny Saber responsible for recording the tracks on “Bridges to Babylon” by the Rolling Stones along with mixing U2 and Bowie.
Talking to Jason about the recording sessions with Saber I could tell it was a completely new yet very positive experience for him. “For the past few records I’ve done all the production, and letting our creativity go in new directions has been tough, but that’s what we wanted and that’s why we’re with Danny.” Saber is pushing The Ruse in a completely new direction in order to define their sound and test the boundaries of their creativity. “We hope to go as far as possible in this initial recording phase” before they start their tour of 25 national dates on April 5th. They plan on playing their songs not how they have currently recorded with Saber but the way they have always performed but this could be the last time. When The Ruse return to finish the record, they will hone in on where the record is heading and focus on the new sound that Saber guided them to.
Whatever direction The Ruse choose, it will no doubt be a positive one. They have the experience of playing in front of 4000 people and opening for bands like “Third Eye Blind.” They have gotten the national exposure from shows like MTV’s “The Hills” and ABC’s “20/20” and they plan on doing what they have always done before, make the best record they can and do whatever it takes to get it out there.
The Ruse at the Viper Room, April 5th
