Keny Ruyter has a lot of identities falling under the category of "Music Guy". He started playing Drumset at 17, and soon thereafter played in several Washington, DC area bands. His first full-length release was from his heavy metal band Self Inflicted titled "Excuse Me". He then continued to put out several demo CD's and soon recorded a second rock and roll album; Animal Pharm "Propaganda". Desiring musical diversity, Keny put out his third jazz and blues release, self titled, called Shake. The ever-present need for a bassist inspired him to pick up the instrument early on in his music career. Keny mastered his second instrument on his breaks while teaching drums at Victor Litz, the local music store. He recorded his fourth album, Nefrit El-Or "Maya Blue" where he played Bass and Drumset, as well as engineered and co produced the record.

       In 1997 East Coast Bands was formed. It was to be a general use name designed to be the front of whatever Keny was doing outside of his regular bands. East Coast Bands was initially used as a web portal, inspiring a network meeting place of local bands. After it's creation, Keny began developing his home recording studio. Here, he recorded his students' bands and began developing working relationships with many musicians. From this, Keny "the producer" was born. Producing bands was an inspiring direction for Keny because it connected his experience as a teacher with his musicianship.

       In order to become Keny "the producer", he needed to better develop his musical vocabulary. To round out his knowledge, Keny began studying Piano, Voice, and Guitar with several different teachers. Being able to interact with several instruments allows Keny to create soundscapes that enhance the artists he works with. In addition, the experience of hundreds of bands coming through his studio has brought his knowledge of what an instrument can do, where it belongs and how to bring it to new levels.

       Proving his diversity and ability, Keny's alter ego, Gunk, was born. Gunk is Keny's Solo project, as well as a blanket name for any other artistic venture that he may happen to be doing. Gunk was on the first episode of VH1's white rapper show, singing the title track off of his debut CD, Charlie Brown. Rap isn't all his CD has to offer though, as it funnels through just about every style available with style. With a Zappa-esque influence, Keny tends to be tasteful and writes compositions that are cohesive to themselves, but may be radically different from other pieces he wrote. There is, however, always an element of comedy in his art of music making.

       Keny's recent move to a giant, run down mansion in Potomac has opened the door for creating high sound quality in his private studio. In the studio, bands are able to focus on producing the highest quality product they can create, and are not restricted by things like the high costs of the "Big Studios". The location improves travel times for clients coming from Northern Virginia and DC. Not to completely cut out the big guys, Keny is equally adept at producing in other facilities for certain sounds like analog tape, or to use a real grand piano. Keny also collaborates with Bill Wolf on his high quality mastering jobs. Bill has helped Keny achieve new levels of technical ability and sound quality.

       Whether it be a remote location, a large studio, or back in his project studio, Keny is focused on producing as well as the long-term development of bands he works with. Keny focuses on the interaction between the musicians, their performance, improving their abilities over time, mentorship, sharing tricks of the trade, and generally getting the artists more prepared to take their endeavor wherever it may lead. Some projects are artsy, where commercial initiatives are not considered, while others are completely intended to present the client with a commercial sound.

       A lot of up and coming producers tend to find their success by honing in on a style and manufacturing similar projects on a consistent basis. Keny prefers that each of his projects be different, and caters to the needs of the artist before compromising their goals with secret hidden agendas or mass-produced sound. Then again, if that's the sound you want, he will be glad to take you there.

       The near future will bring about a couple things, the East Coast Bands website is going to change format to a web store that sells mp3s for instant download, as well as order by mail band related products. Keny will continue running his studio business and the official studio site will be located at kenyruyter.com.