The 2017 Nash Next challenge is down to 10 finalists, and in the lead-up to the announcement of the champion on Nov. 1, NCD will be profiling each of the 10 finalists.
Today, we are getting to know finalist Mike Rut.
In May, Cumulus Media and Big Machine Label Group invited aspiring country artists and bands to participate in Nash Next 2017, a grassroots talent search and artist development program for country music. Sponsored nationally by Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, the winner of the competition will receive a recording contract with Nash Next Records under the Big Machine Label Group and garner substantial exposure, commensurate with a major-label release, on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.
The 10 finalists were selected by a panel of country radio professionals and will be judged in the finale by a group that includes Brooks & Dunnâs Kix Brooks and Scott Borchetta, president and CEO of Big Machine Label Group. The 10 finalists will perform at the 2017 Nash Next finale event at Nashvilleâs Wildhorse Saloon on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is open to the public.
Mike Rut
Market: Salt Lake City
Website: mikerut.com
Facebook: mikeroutledge96
How did you get started in music?
Growing up, my dad was always listening to music in the car. He loved The Four Freshmen, The Lettermen, Burt Bacharach, Mel Torme, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole and a ton more. I just acquired a love for good music. In the fifth grade, I was selected to be in the opera Carmen at the University of Michigan with about 10 kids from my elementary school. I loved it. I wasnât nervous at all. I thought it was pretty cool up there. I still feel that way, but I probably wonât be getting cast for any operas anytime soon.
At what age did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
16. I didnât even have a guitar yet, but my friend was a drummer and his band kept their equipment in his basement, so when the band wasnât there Iâd go over and jam with my friend. I got the bug right then and there, and I havenât stopped playing since.
Who are your musical influences?
Dan Huff. He is amazing and has the Midas touch. Everything heâs involved with seems to turn gold. So many of the country records I love have his fingerprints all over them, but so many rock and pop records do too. His guitar playing and singing is amazing, as is his talent for producing. I love to record and produce records, so I think what heâs already accomplished is crazy. Maybe he can work with me on the next Mike Rut record.
What three words describe you?
Insatiable. Diverse. Hardworking.
What is unique about your sound?
If youâre hearing it, thereâs a good chance Iâm playing and singing and recording it myself. The stories that I tell are coming from real-life experiences.
What three albums would you take with you to a deserted island?
Gretchen Goes to Nebraska by Kingâs X. White Album by the Beatles. Me and My Gang by Rascal Flatts.
Whatâs a song you wish you had written?
The first time I heard Rascal Flattsâ version of âI Know You Wonât.â I actually said to my wife, âI wish I had written that song.â Any song that tells a story so clearly that evokes an emotion and takes you on a journey where you can relate is a song I wish Iâd written.
What was the first concert you attended?
Not sure, but one of my favorites was Foreigner a couple weeks ago. They crushed it and I knew every single song.
Whatâs the last song you heard that blew you away?
Kelly Clarksonâs live acoustic performance of âPiece by Pieceâ on American Idol. Yep, Iâm a big fan. It was such a real moment. My heart broke and I sat there crying listening to it that night. My heart still breaks every time I hear to it. I have kids, so I get it. I love the pitch and wavering in her voice due to her raw emotion and the fact that she couldnât get through it without crying herself.
Who is the âKingâ of country music?
For me, the king has to be Johnny Cash. He did it his own way. He set his own rules and wrote what he wanted to. Heâs a legend.
Where is the most interesting place youâve performed?
Iâve done most of the usual placesâbasements, bars, clubs, churches, amusement parks, malls. The hardest place was performing at the funeral of the wife of one of my closest friends. While it was an honor to be asked, it was pretty tough.
Whatâs the first thing you do after a show?
I love getting a chance to talk with people and hangout whenever I can. When thatâs done, itâs usually figuring out how fast I can get packed up and on my way to whatâs next. Usually, I need some time to relax and slow down. Hulu, Netflix and Capân Crunch are usually willing to help with that.
Whatâs your favorite song to cover?
Currently I cover âKiss a Girlâ by Keith Urban because itâs a great song and has some fun solo work in it.
What was your reaction when you learned you were one of 10 Nash Next 2017 finalists?
Excited. My boys were standing there with me watching as we checked the site and scrolled through the finalistsâ pictures. When we saw mine, we all said something like âfor real?â and then turned and high-fived each other. My wife and daughter were already gone for the day, so we had a code figured out. The code was a text with a picture of me either wearing a cowboy hat or not wearing a cowboy hat. Wearing the hat meant we were going to Nashville.
What family member or friend has been most supportive of your musical career?
My wife and kids. Period.