Interview: Getting to Know Open Window

Hard-hitting Thousand Oaks based rock act Open Window return with their stomping new single & music video for ‘Close Your Eyes’! In this interview we get to know them a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Hello! We formed in 2006, in Los Angeles, CA, when AMC recording artist, Daniel E. Bautista (Asa Cruz), initially set out to write and record new material for his publisher. The project quickly morphed from a one-off studio session into something much more. We were drawn together by a shared love of timeless rock, decided to keep the momentum going. We named the band “Open Window”—a nod to the lyrics of one of their songs—and took our music on the road, playing shows and developing a sound that would be uniquely their own. Ultimately, the band took a longer than intended hiatus. Then, in 2024, we found ourselves writing music together once again. What began as a few jam sessions soon snowballed into a collection of songs powerful enough to be the foundation for an album, which we recently recorded.

Daniel E. Bautista – Vocals; James S. Rutherford – Guitars; Wayne Rothstein – Bass & Backing Vocals; John Aponte – Drums. All songs written by Daniel, James, and Wayne.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

We are a Rock n’ Roll Band. To some we’re Hard Rock. To some we’re on the softer side of Rock. To others we are Alternative Rock, and so on. Open Window’s music is a blend of nostalgia and innovation—a celebration of rock’s golden era with the edge and honesty of the modern age. With no pretense, no gimmicks, and no flashy personas, we are four guys who have lived life and written songs that we feel matter. Our sound is reminiscent of rediscovered cassette tapes from the past, captured through a vintage lens but with a relevance that speaks to today.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

All of the above! We have recently released our music video for Close Your Eyes.

Spanning the past few months, we released our songs, Best Thing, Close Your Eyes, and One Track Mind. We plan to release one more track from our forthcoming LP before releasing the entire album in early 2026. We are currently putting together a U.S. tour for Spring 2026.

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

All of it!

5. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

For me (Daniel), creating something from nothing with my brothers, developing it, recording it, then sharing it with the World, has a medicinal effect on my mind, body, and soul.

6. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

Well, we wrote, rehearsed, and recorded this album largely using the same processes that we always have. So, in that sense, we did not find it – modern times or otherwise – to be unusually challenging. Once we emerged from the studio recordings in hand, we realized how much the music business landscape had changed in just the last decade. Adjusting to using social media platforms to promote our music was foreign to us at first. However, after some research and mentoring we seem to be heading in the right direction.

7. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

I feel like we are an adaptable group of guys. We somehow find a way. As I (Daniel) previously mentioned, it all seemed foreign to me/us at first. But I sort of just dove in and started learning, speaking to other artists, and observing. I believe we are starting to get that hang of it. Overall, it does not frustrate me. I sort of just roll with it.

8. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

I (Daniel) suppose seeing our numbers steadily increase correlates with at least some measure of success. At the very least, this number of people in the world seem to not be hating our music.

9. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

Downloading our music directly from Bandcamp is preferred. Bandcamp Link: https://tr.ee/Vvxbxvs8ua

However, our songs are also available on most streaming and download platforms.

You may also please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @openwindowrockband

Also please follow us on Instagram: @openwindowband; Instagram

And, of course, keep an eye and ear out for when we come to your area, so you can hear us live.

10. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

I (Daniel) find visiting with family and friends over a great meal to be very relaxing. I also enjoy cinema. It is an opportunity to check out of my life for 2-3 hours – very relaxing.

11. Where can people find you?

Probably the easiest way to reach us is via Instagram.
From there you can explore our LinkTree to various engagement.

Thank You!