DARREN RUST
Darren, like his brother Allan, enjoyed a musical upbringing on a farm near Fargo, ND. His parents always injected music and song into the Rust’s way of life, but Darren's interest in music really sparked when he started taking guitar and piano lessons at the age of 9. Though he enjoyed both instruments, guitar won his attention, and soon, forming a band was all he could think about. His enthusiasm for music flourished in high school, where he participated in choral and jazz ensembles, as well as playing guitar and singing in garage bands outside of school. It wasn’t until his senior year in high school that he realized his singing potential, when his choral director told him that he could have a promising career as a singer.

From the end of high school and through college, Darren became enthralled with the production and engineering aspects of music...the "button pushing". Electronic Music and Production courses in college fueled this curiosity, and soon, he was hooked! The path was becoming clear now, but it wasn't until his third year at Moorhead State University that he realized he had to make music his primary focus. Changing his major from Mass Communications to Vocal Performance and Audio Production, Darren found his niche.

While being immersed in his musical journey in college, he began singing in a collegiate a-cappella group called Total Eclipse with 2 college buddies, and his younger brother Allan. For roughly a year and a half, the group performed locally and gained some local recognition. The group had enthusiasm and talent, but in the end, lacked the ability to stay the course, and soon disbanded. After his fourth year at MSU, he and friends Tim Kasper, Ryan Lance, and Paul Dunkirk (from Total Eclipse), started a new vocal group called The Blenders. This union proved to be strong enough to postpone a college degree. Writing, recording, and producing their own material, the group quickly established a strong local presence and respect that would soon have them performing and touring nationally and even appearing on national television shows. After losing Paul Dunkirk during the recording of their 1995 self-titled release, Darren was delighted to be reunited with his brother Allan when he joined the group.

Darren's love for audio production continued with the group, as he developed temporary home-studios in apartments and rental homes to produce The Blenders' music.  In 2000, Darren and his wife Gerri bought a house in Apple Valley, Minnesota, and built a permanent record studio in the lower level, and called it Skyland Studios, (Inspired by his son’s name, Skyler). There, he not only produced 6 of the Blenders later recordings, but produced dozens of albums for other artists locally, nationally, and even internationally.

During that time, Darren’s family began to grow. Now with 3 children, Skyler, Jordan, and Jaden, and an increasing amount of clientele, it was clear they needed to find some more space. In 2006, they found some land, and built a new home and recording studio from the ground up near Lakeville, Minnesota. Darren’s studio would now have multiple rooms, a parking lot, and even a separate entrance that would help keep work and home life separate. Darren continues to produce and record The Blenders’ music as well as artists from all parts of the country. For more information, visit www.skylandstudio.com.