Ben Ruttenburg
New York City, New York, United States
Music
Press
CHICO - In his MySpace "Sounds Like" tag, Ben Ruttenburg describes his music as: "Dessert for your ears ... with a cherry on top. Two spoons."
And that seems just about right. It's easy-on -the-ears, wholesome folk-pop that's light and sweet - a la Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson. - The Buzz
Chico has lost much of its theater talent to the lure of the Big Apple and its theater scene(s) over the years, and one of the more recent faces to take flight is Ben Ruttenburg, son of Chico Cabaret honchos Phil and Sue Ruttenburg. The young Rutt hasn't been in the city long, but almost immediately upon his arrival he's made his mark, but not in theater ... in music. With a run of solo-acoustic shows at clubs all over Manhattan in his wake, and his first CD in hand, Ben is making his way to Chico this week for an EP-release party at the Cabaret Sunday, Feb. 1. - Chico News & Review
Singer/Songwriter Ben Ruttenburg, a 21-year-old Chico local, embarked upon a journey to the East Coast two years ago in hopes to further his musical career in Brooklyn, NY.
In a fresh city Ruttenburg thought he could express his creativity through a new outlet, he said.
Getting out on stage is not a new feeling for Ruttenburg. He has held a passion for performance for years within the realm of theater.
He loves being on the stage, and his quest to bring music to the world is something that comes from his soul, he said.
In preparation for his performances, he plays guitar every day.
"It's like having a pet," Ruttenburg said. "I just see my guitar sitting there, and I naturally want to play with it."
Ruttenburg is most happy playing for an audience, yet he also has a sincere passion for song writing.
"That's why I do it," Ruttenburg said. "It's cool to see people that are really into it." - The Orion
Discography
Ruttenburg's debut EP entitled "Where Ever Open Ears Are Found" was released at New York City's 169 Bar on January 22nd, 2009 and then again in Chico, California at the Chico Cabaret on February 1st, 2009.
Photos
Bio
It's almost impossible to be a solo artist without being stereotyped
as the usual guitar-armed singer-songwriter, full of failed love
stories told over acoustic back-up. But what separates Ben Ruttenburg
from the countless other men bellowing over the sound of wood and
strings, is the simple truth he gives in song. His melodic tone is
catchy and light, while his lyrical tone carries the weight of
Ruttenburg's experiences with the trial-and-error of becoming an
adult. A listener would be lucky to hear it, especially considering
the fact he was far too shy to share his music until somewhat
recently.
Ruttenburg began to create music in high school. He started to write
and sing whatever he was too nervous to say, whether it be feelings he
couldn't pin point, situations he couldn't take back or wants he
couldn't make tangible. Due to these highly revealing lyrics, the
bashful adolescent wouldn't sing a note outside the walls of his
bedroom. He, in fact, wouldn't start playing for crowds until he was a
healthy few thousand miles from his hometown, moving from California
to New York, where no one could trace lyrics back to faces. "It's
so much easier to write a song when you have the mindset that
no one will ever hear it," says Ruttenburg. Without
the fear of exposing all of his insides to his friends, Ruttenburg
became more comfortable with performing, and began to receive praise
from intrigued crowds. Over the past couple years, Ruttenburg's
writing has continued to mature, and as he's grown more comfortable
with the stage, he's maintained that honest quality within his music.
From the chipper
instrumentation, a listener might be reminded of such popular soloists
as Jason Mraz and Eric Hutchinson, but an intrigued ear would hear
the honesty in his lyrics and see there isn't a comparison to be made.
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