Photo Credit: Ruth B PR
Meet Ruth B, the Ethiopian-Canadian singer and songwriter who made her way into the music industry after going viral on Vine with her 2015 hit-single “Lost Boy”. Her nostalgic soul melodies and alt-R&B lyricism set her apart from the content present in the comedy-centered application (back in the day), and allowed her to build a platform in which she could share her passion for music.
A passion that led her to reach 1.5 billion streams for her debut EP and album, and that after 6 years continues to surprise us with a constantly evolving career. The 25-years-old singer has since then released soothing songs with relatable stories, the kind one can’t help but fall in love with. And not only due to the stories told, which transmit a transparency that’s so often underrated in music, but also because of her vulnerable yet warm voice that allures the listener in.
We had the opportunity to chat with Ruth B, who told us everything about her latest release “Situation”, the production of her highly anticipated album “Moment In Between” and opened up about her journey in the music industry. Have a look below as we discuss with Ruth B the ‘ins and outs’ of her path in music.
How did you first discover music?
I grew up loving music. As a kid, I was always singing around the house and just like listening to whatever I could get my hands on.
I didn’t really anticipate a career in the music industry… I kind of just started posting little clips of myself singing on a social media app at the time called Vine. After that it just took off and that’s how I got my foot into the world of music.
How would you describe the importance of Vine in your career? And what was your relationship with it?
I’m from Edmonton, Alberta, where there’s not much of a music scene. So I don’t really know how so I would have gotten my voice out there without Vine. I attribute a lot of importance to it.
I actually started using Vine by accident, I was just fooling around on there. I would sing a little bit with my brother chiming in in the background, and afterwards I would just post it for my friends. I think I had around 12 followers at the time, I was in high school, and suddenly everyone started commenting and encouraging me to “keep on singing on there”. So at first, it seemed like a really weird concept to try to sing in six seconds, but eventually, it started to become really fun.
How has your music evolved since then?
Vining for me was the first time that I had really started experimenting and writing music. The first song I’d ever really written was “Lost Boy”. So ever since then I’ve fallen in love with writing and the creation of music all over again. I do hope that I’ve grown as a writer, and I think that has been one of the best parts of this; learning how to write and how to feel, and being able to put that into music.
How do your feelings transcribe into your music?
When people ask for songwriting advice I always tell them that the main thing to do is live life. Then it’s just about trying to take those experiences and put them into songs. That’s how it is for me, because I do think that the best songs are the ones that are derived from your own experiences and your own stories.
What other aspects of your life, besides your feelings, form part of your music and writing process?
I grew up in an Ethiopian household, and a lot of the music I listened to as a kid, and even now, is from back home – from Ethiopia. I’ve always tried to incorporate its rhythm and rich lyricism in my own songs, I think it plays an important role in the type of music I create.
When something is part of you it inevitably makes its way into your music. Growing up with Ethiopian parents, who made sure that my brother and I spoke the language and understood the culture, or simply travelling a lot to Ethiopia, both as a kid and as an adult, has influenced my music. When I sit down with different producers to make music I often try to incorporate the subtleness of Ethiopian music. But it’s definitely something I want to venture more into, eventually I would love to record a song in Amharic, the native language in Ethiopia.
In regards to your songs, which one would you say is your favourite one? And why?
I think my current favorite right now is probably my latest single which is called “Situation”. I’ve been sitting on this song for like a year and a half and I’ve been so excited for people to finally hear it. I think right now, as a songwriter, it’s my favorite song out of the ones I’ve written just because of its melodies, lyrics, and particularly its bridge. It’s a representative song, one that right now sums up as a writer very well.
What inspired you to write “Situation”?
The inspiration behind the song revolves around ‘situationships’. The song talks about this new type of relationships, when you’re together with someone but don’t really know what direction you’re moving on… Or what is even going on. It’s a very common theme, especially nowadays with the quarantine and Covid limitations. It’s a song about how it has become so hard to define and establish relationships.
The official music video for “Situation” has just been released. How was it bringing your lyrics to life through visuals?
The video was really fun to shoot, even if it was done remotely. The director was in Los Angeles directing us over a zoom call, it was a very different experience. But a cool one as well, since we were able to bring the song to life and give it beautiful visuals.
The video also includes a simulated 360 reality audio which I thought would be a fun immersive experience for listeners and viewers. I know for me, anytime a video is like that it’s always fun, so I thought it’d be a nice way to incorporate listeners in their own way.
What did it mean to write a song like “If I have a Son” in light of the Black Lives Matter movement? Would you say that your music tends to take a social stand? And is it something that you would like to continue pursuing in your future productions?
Writing this song was emotionally challenging, although when I was writing it I had no intention of putting it out. I was just so frustrated with everything that I was seeing… I felt scared, lost and just hopeless, and anytime I’m feeling some type of way I write about it.
Writing is my coping mechanism. So I came to my room and just wrote this song , it was hard to say those things and to recognise that so many people felt the same way. I wasn’t thinking about sharing this with the world, until I played it for my friends and family. They were the ones who kind of urged me to put it out.
Now it’s definitely something that I want to pursue. I think just the older I’ve gotten, the more mature I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realised that like having a platform does come with a responsibility and the desire to share your opinions and feelings for the betterment of society. “If I have a Son” was a song that I’d always wanted to write and always felt, but I just didn’t know that yet. At times I felt that it was too honest, and it probably is, but now I’ve learnt that using your platform to spread a message that you care about is too important. And it also just feels really good to do so.
What other challenges have you encountered throughout your career and how have you overcome them?
I really love making music and I’m so thankful that I get to do it, but just like anybody I struggle, whether it’s because of internal or external reasons it varies. It’s a very tough world to navigate for everyone, especially right now. So I do think that there’ll always be challenges here and there. But I think for me, it’s all about staying rooted in who I am and keeping those who really know me and love me close to me. That’s the approach that gets me through any turbulence.
On a more positive note, what would you say that are your biggest career accomplishments until now? And how have they built your perception of music and the music industry?
There’s been a few, like touring and being able to play live shows. Getting over my fear of being in front of people and putting on a live show has been like the greatest joy and such an accomplishment for me. When I first started this a couple years ago, the idea of being on stage was so horrifying, I hated it to the point that my managers had to hype me up to do it. Now it’s become something that I miss. It’s probably the best part of this job because it allows me to connect with people in real time, see their faces and even hear their stories. I think that will always be my favorite accomplishment, the ability to love and enjoy putting on a show.
I think this realisation and our current situation has really opened my eyes up and made me realise what’s important, how to consider the things that used to be taken for granted. I’m definitely excited to get back out there and perform, whenever everything will be safe.
Talking about performing and the limits imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, how do you think this will or has affected your career and the music industry as a whole?
Personally it’s had its ups and downs, but overall, I think it has actually benefited me a lot, creatively speaking. As a result of the current times I ended up learning more about production, music engineering and recording my own music. I even set up a little home studio, which I probably would not have done if it weren’t for this. It pushed me to challenge myself and learn how to do a lot of the recording aspect of this album on my own. So there have been positive outcomes, under a production aspect it has been really cool. Now I’m interested to see how it affects everyone as a whole. But I think for now, all I can really speak on is my own experience.
In the meantime, what projects are you looking forward to?
I’m getting ready to release an album which is so exciting, since it’s been a few years since my first one. I’m really excited for people to hear the last little bit of my journey, that’s where my focus is right now, all eyes on album number two.
What would you say differentiates this album from your previous releases? Will your listeners hear changes from your Vine days?
I think they will definitely hear a change in the production and in the writing. I would hope that people would hear that it’s better and sounds, you know, more grown up because I’ve gained a lot more experience with writing and in making this album. But with that being said, it’s similar to the first one considering that it’s still very much very honest and raw. For me, everything has always been about the story and the message, and that will remain as the forefront of the songs. So in that sense, not much has really changed.
Who would you say that are your biggest inspirations in the music industry? And who would you look forward to working with?
My dream collaboration would be with Chris Martin from Coldplay, my favorite group of all time. I just love his voice and the way in which he writes. I always say that if I could write with someone, it’d be Chris Martin… or Stevie Wonder, as he’s always been my hero, but that one seems too unrealistic.
While we wait for the release of “Moments In Time” expected on June 11, have a look at Ruth B navigate through “Situations” in her latest single and music video.
Words And Interview By Chiara Ferrari
