It’s been a remarkable musical journey for pianist Ruslan, one that started out in the very much censored socialist state of the USSR, where it was difficult to come by any music at all. The Ukraine-born artist didn’t have immediate access to music from the states or even Europe… unless bought for large sums of cash on the black market. Luckily for Ruslan, that’s exactly what his father did, exposing Ruslan to sounds that would transform his life, assisted by a musical teacher that was banished from all musical institutions in the USSR! Censorship at its finest!
The risks Ruslan’s father took paid off, his son eventually being accepted on a full ride toBoston’s prestigious Berklee School of Music. There, he learned how to develop pieces that would eventually garner him a Grammy as part of the Stanley Clark Band. Today, Ruslan has a self-titled release of his own for your own Grammy consideration, a collection where Ruslan “made a point of allowing himself full self expression.” He continues, “My music is just a pallet of emotions, like I am. Transmitting directly from one's emotions and experiences is the way to go. It does, however, make it a little tricky to put into words. But I find this approach to be far more honest than trying to define oneself or trying to fit into a style or a particular sound. When music is honest it often transcends the definitions of style, genre or any other such limitation.” Check out the self-titled record and look into Ruslan’s schedule – he’ll be busy playing as many gigs as possible. For now, read on for all the answers to the XXQ’s.PEV: How would you describe your sound and what do you feel makes you stand out over the others?XXQs: Ruslan
PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would yo describe your sound?
Ruslan: My music? Well my music is just a pallet of emotions, like I am. Transmitting directly from one's emotions and experiences is the way to go. It does, however, make it a little tricky to put into words. But I find this approach to be far more honest than trying to define oneself or trying to fit into a style or a particular sound. When music is honest it often transcends te definitions of style, genre or any other such limitation. It's also not a coincidence that people like songs, not genres. Why? Because we all have a wide emotional spectrum inside us, hence we emotionally respond to different colors and different atmospheres in music. I acknowledge this in myself and others. At our core we are all happy and sad and curious and cheerful and afraid and hopeful and playful and everything else. That's the way we all are, even if we don't show it. That's the way I am too and that's the way my music sounds!
PEV: Born in Uman, in what is now Ukraine, and moving to Israel when you were ten, your musical heritage comes from a family rich with generations of musicians. With that, what kind of music where you into growing up? Was anyone your main influence?
Ruslan: I did grow up in a house hold filled with music. Both my grandfathers played by ear and my dad was a professional musician in Ukraine. As a kid I was influenced mostly by the local radio, music on TV and by the albums my father would play around the house. In my early childhood in USSR (at the time) it was very difficult to get a hold of American, British or any other Non Soviet music. It was only sold on the black market and musicians like my dad would hunt it down and buy it for amounts of money that would constitute half of their monthly salary. And then make copies of copies of copies of these forbidden records. So I remember my dad spinning a Beatles vinyl at home. It was almost ritualistic. I grew up hearing that and hearing my dad's band play every week. It was so special! I can only wish to preserve the level of excitement for music I experienced in those years (so far so good). Every rehearsal of my dad's band was a real important event for me! I was just so into it! And I was only 4-5 years old at the time. So for a while those were my main influences. At the age of six my father hired a music teacher. A guy who was a rebel and was banished from all musical institutions in USSR. He loved freedom and improvisation and spontaneity. He listened to American music and despised the limitations that the soviet regime imposed on his creativity. He dressed weird and was a free spirit. Me and him would sit on the floor barefoot and improvise music for hours upon hours. It was an important lesson I learned at a very crucial age. Lesson of musical freedom. It opened the door to endless creativity which I still harvest.
PEV: What was it like for you when you first started out in the music business and trying to make a name for yourself? Any “war stories” from those early years?
Ruslan: I'm a cultural mutt. I've spent large parts of my life in cultures radically different from one another. Arriving in USA, where I was going to make a name for myself, had its cultural differences and quite an adaptation period. though I must admit - music wins every war! Dues had to be paid but at the end of the day musicians share a common passion regardless of anything else that may set them apart. I was embraced by the local Boston scene of musicians most of whom could neither read music nor had any official training as musicians. I learned more from them than I could ever tell you. It was tough for me to adjust but I knew they possessed secrets I had to absorb. They were in essence street musicians, and all they had was feel. That was exactly what I needed then and I got an enormous amount of insight into music and myself in those years.
PEV: Do you remember the first time you thought to yourself – “I am really onto something!”?
Ruslan: Yes. I always felt that I loved music and that I'll be playing music for the rest of my life, but a defining moment for my musical identity came around the age of 14. I was practicing, figuring out some tune and something came over me. It was the first time inexperienced what musicians call "being in the zone". It was an unfamiliar experience. One (I later learned) I would be chasing for the rest of my life. It's when ur channeling music and it's going right through u and you just ecstatically observe it all happen. As if its not even you playing it... I'll never forget the first time it happened. I knew that no matter what -- "I have to feel this again!" and I knew that moment that I was up to something big, something real.
PEV: With that, what can fans expect from a live Ruslan performance?
Ruslan: See, that's exactly the thing. We have out biggest adventures when there is nothing that we expect. If I expect something then I am very likely to miss something else wonderful, if it doesn't fit into my expectations (which it often won't). In every moment-to-moment process it is best to allow ourselves to fully experience everything and anything, that is only possible if we come empty of expectations.
PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage to perform?
Ruslan: Depends. But whatever that thing happens to be --- I make sure to get rid of it as soon as possible. I can't play well with "things" on my mind. "Mind Blank" is the desirable state for creativity. Maybe that's one of the reasons I play music, it provides an opportunity to rest my overworked scull *laughs*
PEV: In Israel you continued your music studies and 17, he captured a prized scholarship to the Berklee School of Music, with personal assistance from legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton. Berklee has a great history of music greats and a wonderful environment for artists, so what was that time like for you?
Ruslan: In college I underwent a complete personal metamorphosis. I was fresh out of high school, full scholarship to Berklee. Very proud of myself, literally thinking the world rotates around me. Very quickly I found just how many amazing musicians there were around me and how much better than me some of them were. At first it crushed me and my self image but ultimately it turned out to be the best thing ever happened to me. My time at Berklee was the thing that eventually sent me back to the drawing board, re inventing myself all over. Except This time - it was for real. In Berklee I saw the missing elements in my playing and realized I was not nearly as good as I thought I was. It broke me to pieces mentally. My identity was shattered. I was crushed. It took me time to get 
back on the hoarse but this time I knew what I was doing. I was more mature. I was ready. Berklee was a reality check!
PEV: What was the underlining inspiration for your music? Where do get your best ideas for songs?
Ruslan: You know, the best music is that which sort of springs from the void... Just comes to me like a quiet dictation. One i have to really quiet my mind down to hear. That's why I never compose on piano! I just hear it in my mind as though i didn't even write it and only then I know it's true. Where from? I honestly have no idea.
PEV: Tell us about your latest work- what can fans expect from this work?
Ruslan: Hmm.... Do you know how first dates go? There are two kinds of people on first dates; ones that slowly and cautiously open themselves up, afraid to overwhelm or scare the other person. And then there are those who just let themselves be fully themselves from the get go. The "Love it or leave it" kind of deal. I'm somewhat like that with my music. This is my first album and I simply made a point of allowing myself full self expression. Allowing all of my experiences and emotions take shape in the form of music. What can you expect from this record? Honesty. And expect to find yourself somewhere in it, you probably will.
PEV: Do you ever find yourself getting writer’s block and if so, how do you get over that?
Ruslan: Of course I get writers block. How do I get over it? Well, creativity is this strange dance of inspiration on the one hand and hard work on the other. I feel that inspiration and hard work are the Yin and Yang of music/dance/painting etc. Effortless flow versus sweating out the details and hammering it out. These two elements complete each other, but more importantly - One ushers in the other! And so, when I feel stuck I just "go to work" and write/create anyway. Very often such an effort will eventually result in catching a creative flow (inspiration) and riding it. When the music just comes - great. When it doesn't - no problem. I'm a hard worker. I think the muse likes it.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about Ruslan?
Ruslan: Hmm, perhaps that I've watched every episode of "sex and the city"?
PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew you wanted one day for music was going to be a career for you?
Ruslan: You know, I think I was very fortunate to never even have this moment in my life. I never really considered anything other than music, for as long as I can remember. I feel very privileged in that sense. I've been into music from early childhood and was spared the self search many of us go through, in terms of career. I feel very lucky to have had this part of my life sorted out from the get go.
PEV: What one word best describes Ruslan?
Ruslan: Intense.
PEV: How is life on the road for you in the music world? Best and worst parts?
Ruslan: Best part is that you are playing consistently and get to really confront your music, psychology, performance curve etc.. on a "night to night" basis. Worst part? Depends on the tour. It can often be the early lobby calls. No one likes those *laughs*
PEV: Is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?
Ruslan: Brazil is wonderful I hear. I was so close, so many times.. Ireland is another place.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your career?
Ruslan: Everyone is very supportive. I think people for the most part enjoy to see their loves ones follow their heart and dreams. And those who don't - should. My family and friends have been behind me 100%.
PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
Ruslan: I'm into philosophy, sociology. YouTube is a great resource for these topics. You may find me watching a 1.5 hour long Harvard lectures in my spare time, or debates.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
Ruslan: There are so many, to be honest. A singer songwriter named SVOY is out there and is really happening. Aaron Parks is a young pianist who I'd recommend to check out. Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi are quite phenomenal too... Gosh there are so many. We live in the times when some of the best music ever is being made! It may not feel that way because it often drowns in some of the Worst music ever, which is also the product of our times. But none the less -- there is quite a bit of great, young music out there!
PEV: If you weren’t playing music now what do you think you would be doing as your career?
Ruslan: Funny, I somehow never asked
Myself that question. I'd probably be some sort of a writer. Or I'd have to find another alternative way to pore ideas into reality.
PEV: So, what is next for Ruslan?
Ruslan: What's next for me? Getting vulnerable in public or as we musicians like to call it "playing gigs"! I want to perform as much as possible and Share my music with other people. Lots of that coming up in the months ahead.
For more information on Ruslan, check out: www.ruslansirota.com and on Twitter: @ruslanpiano