"Range of Possibilities": Ranger Trucco Talks Labels, Minimal Grooves, and Building His Brand

Ranger Trucco, one of house music's breakthrough artists, has been steadily gaining attention for his shift from tech house to a more minimal, deep house sound. Growing up in Traverse City, Michigan, far from the typical nightlife hotspots, Ranger’s passion for electronic music was ignited at festivals like Electric Forest. This exposure to live music became the catalyst for his career, which really took off in 2020 when he was featured on Space Yacht’s Tech My House virtual tour.

Since then, Ranger has performed at well-known festivals and clubs across the U.S., building a reputation for sets at events like Club Space, Hangout Fest, Electric Forest (full circle moment), Experts Only, The Shrine, and many more. However, it’s not just his live performances that have garnered attention—Ranger has also made big moves in music production, label management, and organizing his own shows.

In 2022, Ranger launched range. Records as a platform to release his evolving sound and support other newcomers exploring creative directions. "Range was actually created because I wanted my sound to evolve but did not want to pivot on a dime and instead self-release some deeper cuts here and there to gauge if my fans and friends were feeling it," he explains.

Launching his own label gave him the space to test out his growing interest in deep tech and synth-heavy productions, a departure from the tech house sound he had become known for. "When I started receiving positive feedback on my more deep tech / synth-heavy production, it really got me excited because it was a new sound that had my interest," Ranger adds, noting that he didn't want to feel stuck in one genre.

One of the core principles behind range. Records is its emphasis on originality. For Ranger, it’s not about fitting a mold but bringing something new to the table. “Originality will always stand out—way, way out. Whether it’s original vocals, original production like real instruments or hardware, or even sound design you’ve trademarked, songs get signed when artists bring something new to a label, not when they try to fit in with what the label’s ‘sound’ is,” he says.

This approach has helped range. build a reputation for offering something fresh to the house music scene, signing names like Stef Davidse, Lunoize, and Riley, among others. The label's releases have been supported by major artists such as Dennis Cruz, PAWSA, and ALISHA. Additionally, range. has expanded into an event brand, hosting parties throughout the country. Though still relatively new, the brand has held fewer than ten shows in cities like Miami, Chicago, Denver, and Tempe.

Ranger’s willingness to travel and collaborate with international prospects has also shaped his view on the universality of music. "It’s pretty wild how similar we all are across countries and even language barriers," he says.

Whether in the U.S. or Europe, Ranger has found that artists share many of the same struggles—balancing imaginative pursuits with the demands of selling tickets and maintaining a social media presence. For Ranger, this realization has reinforced his belief that music is a "universal language."

Looking ahead, Ranger sees both range. and his own sound continuing to develop. He’s not one to stick with a formula if it doesn’t inspire him anymore, and he’s keen on seeing where his new interests take him next. "It felt like a second chapter to my project, and who knows where it will go next. I always think you should only produce if your heart's in it," he says. This openness to change, along with his focus on ingenuity, makes Ranger Trucco and his brand feel like a compass pointing toward the unexpected, constantly steering both himself and his audience into uncharted musical territory.