[INTERVIEW] Rising House Sensation Ranger Trucco Discusses His Inspirations, Launching Range Records, + More

Never say that dreams are beyond your reach, especially when talking with on-the-verge house sensation, Ranger Trucco. With his electric energy and infectious basslines present throughout his deep house sound, Ranger has shredded decks across the nation.

Hailing from a small town in Michigan, he refused to let being four hours away from the nearest night-life venue and starting college diminish his true passion of becoming a producer. Ranger channels his creative freedom by exploring diverse house sounds, from tech-house to minimal deep house, with dubstep influences as well.

It is no surprise thathe caught widespread attention early on. Ranger skyrocketed his career when he was booked for the first time by Space Yacht for his Tech My House virtual tour in 2020. After moving to Los Angeles, he also made a name for himself within the EDM community through releases on imprints such as Noizu's Techne, Spinnin' Deep, Sink or Swim, and John Summit's Off The Grid Records.

Ranger has been so inspired to take charge of his own identiy and sound in the industry that he launched his own record label, Range, releasing two-track EPs called spring ‘23 and winter ‘23. He has remained motivated to solidify his authentic sound and create music that identifies him and not another record label.

With his most recent EP, Ranger tunes us in with his unique sound, incorporating original vocals throughout his groovy, facile lyricism. iEDM seized the opportunity at Ranger's debut performance at Splash House to discuss the star's musical roots, his songwriting process, and how Range is a label that embodies creative freedom.

Check out iEDM's exclusive interview with Ranger Trucco below!

iEDM: Can you share a little bit about your roots, coming from a small town in Michigan, and what influenced your love for dance music?

Ranger Trucco: I grew up in Traverse City, Michigan, which is four hours up north of any nightlife. We didn’t have a club or anything. I really found my passion in electronic dance music when I attended Lollapalooza in Chicago and Electric Forest with my brother. My first house show I saw was at Snow Globe Fest: Option4 in the igloo. It was so funny because I just met him in Denver, and it felt like a full circle moment.

I’ve had many OG influences over the years, but Skrillex really inspired me growing up. I remember listening to Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites and when “Bangarang” dropped. I had a middle school basketball game the day “Bangarang” released and I remember just going nuts.

I would listen to dubstep and riddim DJs because of my brother. I ventured into house music on my own, listening to Tchami and Malaa. I really love Chris Lake and is a big inspiration of mine. I think the longer that I'm in house music the more back in the history I go.

iEDM: With your inspirational story of moving to the unknown to chase the dream, what surprised you the most about living in Los Angeles compared to what you anticipated?

Ranger Trucco: One thing that surprised me was a lot of people had their own stories they tell about what it's like but in reality it's kind of whatever you make it. It doesn't have to be the way that people say it is, but there's a lot of lore. I think certain things people say about the Los Angeles scene are used to scare you off from it.

Another thing that surprised me the most is how much positive and negative I heard and what I made my route into. I think a producer or DJ's strength is being mentally tough enough to make their own path.

iEDM: In regard to producing music with your original vocals, what sets apart the songwriting process for house vocals compared to other genres?

Ranger Trucco: I guess it doesn’t have to be a completely different thing. You can kind of layer house drums under everything. A lot of times traditional house music vocals are very complimentary to the elements of the track. There are always mentioning house terminology, like the jag and the groove, while describing the song.

What I try to do is be a songwriter and create something brand-new and put house drums under it to create its own identity. It is a house song but if you don't listen to house music, you can hear the vocals and appreciate it. It can be either, and that's the beauty of vocals. Original vocals that doesn't exist yet can be whatever you want to be.

iEDM: How do you balance your artistic vision with the demands of your fans and the industry as your career progresses?

Ranger Trucco: I honestly do whatever I'm feeling and if that loses me some fans, so be it. I’m okay with that. I want to feel like I'm having creative freedom and being 100% me. I don't really listen to what people might want it to be.

I had an opportunity to really just continue to hammer this original vocal American tech-house sound but choose to pivot towards this deep house minimal sound. I love the sound and if it what’s going to get me out of bed in the morning than that’s what I’m going to do.

I'm okay with people having to adjust to the fact that the real fans of mine will come with me on this journey. That genre will always be there, and I just want people to see me doing my thing and respect that. I'm doing this for me, obviously all are always welcome.

iEDM: In the past couple of months you dropped your winter '23 and spring '23 EPs, how do these releases embody your identity as an artist and the direction you are heading in?

Ranger Trucco: I started the seasonal releasing so I could have a timeline of releasing music on a quarterly basis. This way people will know when new music is coming their way. I’ll have somewhat of a full length release schedule that will help me constantly keep a music flow.

I choose the seasonal titles to be like “alright guys, new music”. Releases come every season because I didn’t want to limit myself too much on the amount of time and if I don’t hit my deadline. Season’s are a pretty big window, and you can expect four self-releases this year.

iEDM: Can you explain the conceptual meaning behind the formatting of these two EPs? What do their titles symbolize to you and what led to the decision to make the songs all lower case with periods at the end?

Ranger Trucco: I have no idea! The idea behind it is if I could do as many symbols and symbolism in the label as possible you could recognize a pattern in my tracks. You associate it with Range! I like to use these unique lowercase and periods in my track titles to show three indicators that this is my track and make them stand out on their own.

Artists like Dennis Cruz were doing all lowercase and uppercase letters and I thought it was so much freedom. I could see them button-mashing it into the title and loved that. This was my own way of doing that. So if I made these 3 identities to the tracks it is my own.

iEDM: Your latest track, “cassie.”, on your spring ‘23 EP is a groovy masterpiece! What inspired your style for this track and paying tribute to the 2000s bop?

Ranger Trucco: The inspiration behind the melody, the bum-bum bum. I love one-shot melodies and use them in my tunes a lot. That was one melody I couldn’t get out of my head and I originally was going to release it without the vocals, but I kept listening to the instrumental version in my head. So I tried to chop it and pay a little homage but at the same time I think what hooks people is the motif of the dum-dum-dum.

iEDM: Since being praised by house DJ legends like John Summit and producing under Space Yacht, what valuable life lessons have you picked up from your collaborations?

Ranger Trucco: I’ve learned to trust myself and my creative process. I know I’m going to do something in the industry and I put power in the individual to be myself. Release what you want to release and do it your own way.

When business out weighs music, and it goes into this direction of finding the algorithm and hopping on the trend, I feel like there is no soul in that to me. Just make something that you're trying at and we will see that effort.This means more than anything to me and if I can inspire someone to really think about their release strategy and put more investment toward themselves instead of always banking on a label to make their music shine than I’ve done my job. I’m happy with that and I love what I’m doing!

iEDM: California Summer is in full approach, with trucker hats becoming a hot trend. Whether on-stage or just hanging out, what are some of your summer wardrobe essentials?

Ranger Trucco: It's my first Splash House, so super stoked! We have to see how the crowd is like when I get out there. I would say my summer wardrobe essentials would have to be a pair of crocs and my minion backpack!

iEDM: So far in 2023, you have hit major venues and festivals nationwide. During this time, what has been a surreal moment for you as a performer?

Ranger Trucco: Honestly just people coming up to me and telling me, “it's so cool what you're doing” and knowing my music. It’s the little things that really get to me. It has been amazing being able to travel to places and play my music.

The fact that I’m from northern Michigan and I can go to places like Philadelphia and Oregon and people know my music is incredible. The one thing I want to represent me more than anything is music people care about and are buying into. I didn’t think it was going to happen like this and has changed my life forever.

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iEDM: In more exciting news, you have launched your own imprint, Range Records! What sparked your desire to start this project, and what is your vision for the label?

Ranger Trucco: The label as we discussed was an outlet for me to do what I wanted. I was very tired of the notion that you had to fit into a box. I got a couple of label feedbacks that kind of made my skin crawl because it was naming other artists by name and giving me feedback like, “yeah this sounds okay, but can you make it sound more like this person.”

That wasn’t why I loved what I do. The label embodies having creative freedom and self release. Being able to make your own schedule, make your own sound, and taking risks. The Range obviously stands for my name but also showcases range — a range of different subgenres all put into one outlet. I want to bring Range into a party event space and create a brand to really grow on a larger scale. I want to inspire with original music all wrapped into one name.

iEDM: If you had a piece of advice to give to aspiring music producers, what would you tell them? Reflecting back on your rising career, what advice would you give to your younger self knowing what you know now?

Ranger Trucco: I hope I can inspire them to believe in themselves and invest in themselves. Being original and authentic as a producer is so important. People have been liking the originality behind my music and it’s so great to be able to be myself with my sound.

Don’t listen to what people say about what the industry has to be and what your path has to be. If you keep a clear mind and clear path than your path will be what you make it. You can get thrown off by people and their experiences. Be yourself and block out the negativity.

Photo Courtesy of Splash House