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Takes A Breakup 2:570:00/2:57
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Feels Like Yesterday 3:240:00/3:24
BIO
“Chris Ruediger is ready to take the country music scene by storm.”
- People Magazine
Turns out that in the case of Chris Ruediger there just might be some truth in old sayings. The Nashville artist and entrepreneur means it when he says, “I’m doing what I love so it doesn’t feel like work.” Between selling out venues with his irresistible pop-flecked country and co-launching the meteoric creative content incubator “The 615 House” (3.5M followers and growing across all platforms), the man drinks a lot of coffee. And here’s the thing - with a team of likeminded folks on his side and a contagious passion for everything he does, Chris Ruediger is just getting started.
Growing up in a small town outside of Boston, MA, Ruediger’s childhood was steeped in music. His dad had a deep and broad playlist – everything from rock to pop to country – and there was little doubt that the kids would be music fans as well. Guitar lessons and non-stop writing came along with school, and he moved to Nashville in 2017 after being accepted into Vanderbilt University, majoring in economics.
Working with Nashville producers Frank Legeay and Eric Torres, he released single “Kissing Me Back,” an emotional breakup song hailed for its deeply honest storytelling. In February of 2020, he made his debut showcasing at Whiskey Jam, followed by a sold-out show at the High Watt. Shortly thereafter, the COVID pandemic shut down, well, pretty much everything.
Like much of the world, Ruediger found solace and a sense of community in the online world. “At first I thought TikTok was really just for dancing and wild personalities,” he explains. “Then realized it was a way to share my music with the world.” Soon enough Ruediger had built himself a following, as had his friend Ashley Cooke. Plans were hatched to launch the first “talent house” in Nashville as a way to collaborate with other friends in town. They found a space, and The 615 House was launched in August of 2020.
With the hard-won success of the new endeavor, some folks might decide to focus fully on the new venture. Yet, Ruediger sees these two worlds as sides of the same coin. “I’ve always considered being an artist is a form of entrepreneurship” he explains, “but I did not expect the project to catapult as quickly as it did. As things caught steam and our community grew, I knew I needed to step into an executive role to keep the project moving forward.” Ruediger is thriving on the pressure, balancing his need to create music with the passion he has for the work The 615 House is doing. Since its launch, many artists have gone on to chart with their original Music, sell out national and international tours, and partner with major record labels.
In the fall of 2021, Ruediger released his debut EP, Kid Anymore. Filled with the relatable truth-telling for which he’s become known, the record moves through four different areas of the artist’s life as he matured into adulthood. Since then, he’s released a series of singles which will be compiled into “A Side” and “B Side” EPs. Written initially to stand on their own, upon reflection Ruediger realized that they all shared a common trait; they draw from his personal experiences and the stories he has lived. “We are consuming music so rapidly; it is definitely a single driven world” says Ruediger. “My hope is that these songs each have their own moment, but when taken together I think they stand as a great introduction to my work.”
Ruediger writes from the heart, and as such his tales of nostalgia, love, heartbreak, adversity, maturity, and the passing of time ring true. “I hope people connect with the stories I share” he tells. “I hope people will connect with the stories I share, and all the creativity I poured into this music.” A journey through the past, meditation on the present, and filled with hope for the future, the straight-forward honesty of Chris Ruediger, combined with his deep passion for the work and relentless energy, come together to make the odds of that dream coming true pretty darn good indeed.