photo by Chloe Jakiela
John Rushlander, junior sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) major, won the Pioneer Star Award which allows him to record at Pioneer Records, a record label run by Point Park University and managed by the SAEM program. It is located at Red Caiman Media, a recording studio located in the uptown section of Pittsburgh.
Last semester, John Rushlander, a junior sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) major at Point Park, became the newest addition to the campus’ very own record label, Pioneer Records.
Rushlander, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, became immersed in the music scenes and live performance atmospheres of cities like Chicago and New Orleans after finishing his tour with the Army. He performed at various bars and venues in those cities prior to moving to Pittsburgh and being chosen as the Pioneer Star.
Rushlander, a Pittsburgh native, began playing guitar in high school with the sole intention of becoming a better player. Eventually, this led to Rushlander writing songs during his four-year stint in the Army.
Pioneer Star, Point Park’s annual contest, offers a Point Park student the opportunity to record with Pioneer Records’ experienced recording team and musicians at Red Caiman Studios located Downtown.
“We had about 25 finalists who submitted all kinds of music all from Point Park, but when it came down to it, he was unanimous,” said SAEM assistant professor Ed Traversari in an interview on the 11th floor of West Penn. Traversari was part of the Pioneer Star selection process and will also work with Rushlander in the recording process.
“[He’s] a singer-songwriter, still a little more bluesy. When he plays his acoustic guitar – I’ve never heard him play electric yet – he can also sound like a Stevie Ray Vaughn. It is kind of a folksy, funky blues. It’s a nice sound [that] he has,” said Traversari.
An innate guitarist, Rushlander credits the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Muddy Waters, Incubus and Alice in Chains as prominent influences, and describes his playing style as “bluesy.” He began performimg live as often as he could – a transition he described as a “kind of natural process.”
“I’ve already learned a lot,” said Rushlander in an interview in Lawrence Hall. “[Pioneer Star] is already kind of benefiting me, and that’s what I need is to learn more about the recording process and what it takes to get a sonic idea – the sound – and give it a professional sound,” Rushlander said. “Ultimately getting my songs and my music out there and broadcasted is what I want to get out of it. Hopefully make a fan base. With Pioneer Records, they’re able to showcase my music in ways that I’d be unable to.”
Rushlander admits that whenever he has been in the studio, the realization that this is where he belongs really hits him.
“I’m doing the right thing right now. It has been quite natural,” Rushlander said. “There really hasn’t been too many bumps with the guys in getting my stuff down, which is the one thing I was a bit worried about — going in there and being out of my element, because I’m used to playing live, but so far it has been very, very good.”
Rushlander will work with Traversari, Red Caiman Studio owner and producer Jesse Naus, and the rest of the Pioneer Records team to produce a 3-song EP. Impressed by the precision and professionalism of the Pioneer Records team, Rushlander had a difficult time picking a favorite on the upcoming album, but spoke highly of his track titled “Go Around, Come Around,” along with the experience of working with The Clarks’ bassist, Greg Joseph.
“I’ve never played with such professional musicians,” Rushlander said. “It’s been great. It’s been opening up opportunities for me that I probably wouldn’t have had without it.”
As grateful as Rushlander is for the opportunity that winning Pioneer Star has provided for him thus far, his current musical path is rather serendipitous. After his military tour and his Midwestern travels, he managed to make his way back home to his native Pittsburgh with plans of finishing his college education. As fate would have it, he landed himself back at Point Park University with the chance to enter in Pioneer Star.
“At first, I was a bit apprehensive of doing it. I didn’t know if it was for me,” Rushlander said. “I kind of submitted some things and ended up backing out of it because I didn’t think I wanted to go through with it, but I think it was some of my own insecurities and madness.”
Alongside Point Park staff and the young guitarist’s friends and family members, Rushlander has been encouraged to stick with it. Ultimately, he is beholden to them for directing him towards an experience that he has deemed “great.”
Rushlander’s EP will be released later this year. Until then, he will continue performing live at local venues in the city. His next live gig will be during the Strip District’s Music Festival on Saturday, Jan. 16. He’ll be performing at the Beer Hive on Penn Ave., Jan. 16 at 10 p.m. Point Park senior Hannah Jenkins, the first Pioneer Star winner, who Rushlander considers a trailblazer, will also be performing there at 5 p.m.
Point Park students are encouraged to visit and watch Rushlander during his Pioneer Records recording sessions. Session times and dates are listed on the bulletin board on the 11th floor in the West Penn Building.
