Ruzek

Don Ruzek is a Guitarist and Sound Designer currently creating Ambient/New Age music with the project "The Chill Collective". Also collaborating with local Detroit musicians on Post-Wave and Americana music. Don is currently with BMI and West Ray Publishing, and has music published with Ten/Virgin, Chrysalis, Rabien, and Luminol Record’s KY Publishing.

Don studied music at Berkeley School of Music and Virginia Commonwealth University studying Electronics in Music and Tape Manipulation, working with a large number of synthesizer modules. Don played guitar the University’s Jazz Orchestra.

Soon after college Don joined the band "Motivation" with Steve Garvey of "The Buzzcocks" on Nemperor Records, but soon after joined "Ten Ten" on guitar and keyboards landing a deal with Chrysalis Records in 1986. During the recording of the rock album “Walk On”, Don’s Ambient song “Silver Heaven” made it onto the release pushed by producer Stephen Street. This track drew attention from Rob Dean of the band Japan and resulted in a collaboration called “Ambling Orange” (which has been recently resurrected with Rob and in the works now). Other work included synthesizer programming and guitar session work for Dave Adams at Sarm West London on MCA records.

Since then, Don created numerous scores for video games and corporate promotions with Rabien Publishing in Stockholm. Most recently he released a solo progressive rock record “X Paths” on Luminol Records in 2021 with producer Neil Kernon. This was followed up by releasing an Ambient record “Solstice Doma” independently in 2022 under the artist name "Cloud Tape". in 2023 with his instrumental and ambient music attaining most streaming revenue, Don turned his focus to Ambient and New Age music, crafting new songs with guitar, synthesizer, piano, and other non-tradition instruments in his home studio and The Tempermill studio in Ferndale Michigan.