We were lucky to catch up with Ruben Resendiz Jr. recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ruben, appreciate you joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

My idea was to start a band in Grand Rapids and to take it as far as I can in the music world. Music has always been my biggest passion and the most creative outlet for me. It’s helped me to express my feelings by sharing the experiences that have shaped me into who I am. So, I had written a few songs that I wanted to get recorded. I knew that I needed to get connected with the right people who were going to help me achieve that goal. I needed a band and a studio to record at.
I called up my old band mate Tom Nissen and the two of us started making music together again. Meanwhile, at my day job I met a young rapper/producer and the two of us collaborated on a song. We released the song together with me as the featured artist under the name “Ten Peso Version”.
Tom and I continued to rehearse our songs so that we could go out and play a gig. We were just a duo consisting of drums and guitar at this point.
I had started going into town to play at all the local open mic nights so that I could showcase my talent and also network. It was at one of these open mics that I met Ryan Jamgotch, a local producer with his own recording studio.
After meeting with him and checking out his space I knew I wanted to work with him. I just had to get a few more pieces
of the puzzle together.
Tom and I finally put together a set and put together a show with some other local bands, some personal friends of mine also in the music scene. At our second gig together as Ten Peso Version is where we met Collin Jones. After he watched our set, he introduced himself to me and offered to play bass for us. I met with him, and I could tell that he had the skills and was going to be a good fit.
Now, the three of us started playing more gigs, writing songs, and getting more recognition. We knew that next step was to release music so people could listen to us. So, we called up Ryan over at Electric Moon Studios and we began recording our first five songs together and compiled it into our debut EP ‘Forward’.
These events took place over the course of about two years! It’s been a lot of work, but we’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Ruben Resendiz Jr. and I love playing music! My passion is playing guitar and singing songs. I love to see people smile when they hear a beautiful song, or smile when they hear something cool and catchy, or when people start dancing to your grooves. So, that’s what I aim to do with my music. I want to make people smile and dance and have a good time! Music for me has always been my most creative outlet. It got me through some tough times in my teens. I was emotionally distraught and writing songs to channel those emotions helped me process what I was going through. I’m hoping that sharing my experiences through my lryics can also help other people feel heard and help them process what they’re going through as well.
My bandmates Tom Nissen and Collin Jones are also really kind people and that’s why I love making music with them. They are first and foremost very understanding and considerate people and that’s why we’re all good friends. And I think that helps us a lot when making music together because we understand each other and know how to compliment one another’s playing style. We’re all very distinguished from each other, but we reach the place where we intersect musically and creatively and that’s where we make magic!
When people try to describe the kind of band we are they list off bands and genres that are so different from one another and I think that’s what makes us different from most bands. We don’t just stick to one style; we play what we feel like playing and no matter what it’s fun and it’s “Ten Peso”.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of what I do is the part where I get to collaborate with other artists. I think that’s a big part of what drives me to be an artist in the first place is collaboration. No one ever did anything on their own. That’s a statement that I like to remind myself of from time to time. It’s something that I believe is true from studying/observing the history of all my inspirations. The reason I’m in a band is because I want to make music with others. I don’t want to do it alone.
In the time that I’ve started Ten Peso Version, I’ve starred in music videos, written/directed videos, composed music for a short film, met actors, supported local businesses, and that’s all a lot of fun for me.
Through those opportunities I’ve connected with so many other inspiring and creative people and to me that’s so rewarding. It’s rewarding to have connected with talented people and make art together for other to enjoy.
It’s also very rewarding to see how people react and connect with your art, but even if no one saw the art that I did or heard the music I made, I would still have the experience and memories to look back on.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are a couple books that I would say were very helpful in getting my mindset right and steering me in the right direction with this musical endeavor. The first book is The Indie Band Survival Guide by Randy Chertkow and the other book is Making Money with Music by Randy Chertkow.
The first book I mentioned helped me to understand what an indie band has to do be successful. You need to assemble a team if you’re going to make it in this business. You to need to know what resources are available to you and how to use them.
The other book I mentioned provides you with all these options for revenue streams to help your music business grow and be prosperous. I want my peers to know about these books because they will help tremendously put into perspective what you’re up against and how to prepare for it.
I haven’t completely read these books, but I’ve read enough to sort of know what I’m doing and also know what it’s going to take to make it big.
Aside from these books I just ask questions and share information with my peers and any creatives that I look up to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tenpesoversionband.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenpesotpv
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenPesoTPV/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tenpesoversion
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tenpesoversion

Image Credits

Adam Briggs. Omar Arredondo. Bryan Esler.