PM360 recently spoke to Justin Rauschkolb, Senior Manager, Digital Marketing at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, about his musical inspirations.
PM360: I understand you play multiple instruments. Why did you want to learn each one?
I’ve been playing guitar, bass guitar and drums since I was a young teenager. I started on guitar and used to record myself on an old 4-track. I wanted to enhance my recordings by adding bass and drums but didn’t really know anyone who played them, so I decided to learn for myself.
How long did it take you to master each instrument?
I wouldn’t call myself a master. I was lucky to start young because I didn’t really have anything better to do but to sit in my room and practice guitar. I’d say it took me a few years to get to a level where I was comfortable playing in front of others. Once you start playing with other folks you really start to accelerate your learning and take your playing to the next level. I’m still learning new things about my style and technique every time I play.
What kind of music do you enjoy playing the most?
I grew up listening to ’90s alternative rock so that will always hold a special place for me. I also enjoy playing punk and classic rock.
Do you have any musical inspirations?
I’ve loved the Beatles from a very early age and consider them a major influence. I also love ’90s alternative rock bands like Radiohead. Following their musical progression from a more traditional band to more of an electronic/experimental band has been great. The band, Fugazi, is my favorite and probably my biggest inspiration.
Do you have any favorite songs you like to play?
If I’m playing acoustic guitar I love playing anything by the Beatles. “Blackbird,” “I’m Only Sleeping” and “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” are some of my favorites. My band sometimes covers “Pump it Up” by Elvis Costello. That is always fun to play on bass.
What can you tell us about your band?
I play bass guitar in a band called The Play Trains, which is comprised of some people I used to work with. We mostly play original songs, but we will do some covers as well. I perform whenever I can, whether it’s informally, with friends or with The Play Trains—usually a few times a year.
What is the process like for writing your original songs?
The blue print of the song is usually written by our guitarist/singer. He will email a demo out to the band and we will get together and kind of fill in the blanks until it sounds right.
Do you have any other hobbies outside of music?
I love cooking and am an avid home chef. I learned to cook from my grandmother and mother, mostly Italian food. However, one of my favorite things to make is steak tacos.
