After a longer than intended hiatus, Daniel E. Bautista – Vocals and James S. Rutherford – Guitar, began working together again. They sat down to their first writing session in some time. The session eventually spawned the impetus for ‘Close Your Eyes’. James presented his musical idea – a guitar riff – to Daniel. The “riff’ would ultimately become the introduction to the song.
Later, Daniel took their raw ideas home and began to woodshed the song. Several days later, Daniel emerged with verses and a chorus but felt the song was still far from complete. This is where Wayne Rothstein – Bass & Backing Vocals – came into the fold. Wayne’s musical ability to think and feel outside of the pop music box, helped to create the transitions between sections and the musical bridge giving the song its emotional lift. Lyrically – at its core – the song is about a person having to go away for a very long time, perhaps forever, but leaving someone they love behind.
Formed in 2006, Open Window emerged from the creative mind of AMC recording artist Daniel E. Bautista (Asa Cruz), who initially set out to write and record new material for his publisher. With James S. Rutherford on guitars, Wayne Rothstein on bass, and John Aponte on drums, the project quickly morphed from a one-off studio session into something much more.
The guys, drawn together by a shared love of timeless rock, decided to keep the momentum going. They named the band Open Window—a nod to the lyrics of one of their songs—and took their music on the road, playing shows and developing a sound that would be uniquely their own.
Over time the members found themselves pulled in different directions, each pursuing personal projects and new endeavours. What was never intended to be a permanent break, turned into a decade-long hiatus.
Then, in 2024, something clicked. After more than a decade apart, Daniel, James, and Wayne found themselves 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 a whole new album. Naturally, the trio reached out to their original drummer, John Aponte, to see if he would be interested in recording an album. His response? Simply put: “H*** yeah, count me in!” And just like that, the original lineup was reunited…
Open Window embraces this new era with open arms. True to their name, they are stepping into the future without preconceptions, ready to explore new opportunities, make new fans, and share their music with the world once again. 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.
‘Close Your Eyes’ is a powerful and fun celebration of the rock legends that came before them, and with this new single, Open Window very much have their eyes set on joining that same club!