Chris Ruediger (BA ‘20) has done a lot since appearing on Vanderbilt Hustler’s Tiny Dorm Concerts series. After graduating with a major in Economics at the end of 2020, he co-founded Nashville’s very own “hype house,” aptly named the 615 House.
A hype house is a house where many creators, may that be TikTokers, YouTubers or musicians, come together to collaborate and produce content. The main objective of a hype house is to promote each other’s brands and platforms in hopes of collectively growing their fan base.
Unlike other hype houses, the 615 House consists solely of Nashville artists and songwriters who work together to promote each other’s music and collaborate with each other. The other writers in the house include Ashley Cooke, Cooper Alan, Alexandra Kay, Tigirlily, Bonner Black, Sammy Arriaga and Thomas Mac.
“I think what’s unique about the 615 House is that it is centered in the songwriting of all its members,” Ruediger said. “Some other hype houses are rooted in dance or personality-based concepts, but ultimately, when you break the 615 House down, it’s about the music.”
The 615 House’s TikTok has grown to almost 700k followers in just 8 months.
“We have gotten really close to each other and like to show our personalities, but we try to be as real as possible with our followers,” Ruediger said.
In the house, Ruediger and the other artists have been creating music in the “modern pop country” genre.
“I am heavily influenced by artists like Sam Hunt, Brett Young and Jordan Davis. I try to combine pop melodies with honest storytelling and relatable lyrics,” Ruediger said.
Although Ruediger himself has been coming out with new music separately from the TikTok house as well, COVID-19 has impacted his musical journey as in-person concerts are currently on hold.
“It has been very difficult for us artists and our teams because we are not able to be on the road and play live music, which is where most of our income comes from,” Ruediger said. “I have tried to turn to Instagram and TikTok instead to continue connecting with my fan base. This way I can still play live virtual concerts and share new music.”
For now, Ruediger is looking forward to being able to perform live again, hopefully in the near future. He said he looks forward to live shows he has scheduled at Ole Red and The Listening Room Mar. 23 and 24, respectively. But for current students interested in pursuing musical careers, Ruediger stresses how they should take advantage of going to college in Music City.
“The beautiful part about Vanderbilt is its location. There are so many opportunities in Nashville to get involved in the music industry, whether that be through labels, publishing, booking, or management,” Ruediger said. “Don’t be afraid to reach out and apply for internships as those are the best ways to figure out if it’s a good fit for you long term.”
