Ruth B. - Interview + Moments In Between (Album)

With the breakout success of her debut single “Lost Boy,” Ruth B. emerged as an immediately captivating artist who drifts between moody realism and a dreamworld of her own making. An occasional poet who created her own storybooks as a child, the Canadian-Ethiopian singer/songwriter/pianist infuses all her songs with a raw emotional honesty, even as she lets her imagination wander into fantastically charmed terrain. On her sophomore album Moments In Between, Ruth pushes that dynamic to a new level of boldness and sophistication, embracing her most beautifully strange impulses while delivering her most impactful work to date.

Executive-produced by Patrick Wimberly (Solange, Blood Orange, Ellie Goulding), Moments In Between arrives as the follow-up to Ruth’s gold-certified debut album Safe Haven (a critically acclaimed release featuring “Lost Boy,” a Peter Pan-inspired piano ballad that went viral in 2015). In a departure from the minimalist alt-pop of its predecessor, the album unfolds in a more elaborate and kaleidoscopic sound, yet never overshadows the understated power of Ruth’s vocal presence. A shining example of Moments In Between’s singular aesthetic, “Situation” channels her inner turmoil in hazy harmonies, shape-shifting textures, and a softly spellbinding vocal performance.

Ruth Sat down with Wordplay Magazine to talk about her music and her new album:

Wordplay Magazine: Can you tell me how it all began, what sparked your love for music?

Ruth B.: I have always sung, and every time I ask my parent’s they say that I was a musical kid, so I don’t remember a time when I wasn't, I'm just obsessed with music, telling stories, melodies, all of it.

WPM: Your new album is about to drop, what can we expect to hear?

R: Yeah, I've been working on this album for the past 4 years. It's cool because of that it has some different dynamics too. The first half I wrote when I moved out to New York for the first time, which was this crazy time in 2019, and the latter half of it I wrote in 2020 back in Canada during lockdown. So, it's really diverse and honest.

WPM: What problems did you face making and releasing music because of the pandemic?

R: It obviously has been so crazy, as an artist it was so hard because I went from being in New York, in studios and recording to coming back home. In a way it was a blessing in disguise as it brought me back to my routes and my writing, it was just me and my piano at home which reconnected me. Then learning new skills like setting up a home studio and zoom calls. Definitely at first, I thought this would be the worst thing, but now looking back, it was nice and good to have the time to reconnect with myself. I’m definitely looking forward to being back in the studio though, being in close proximity to other artists is a gift that I think I was taking for granted before, that human connection is a gift.

WPM: How would you describe your sound?

R: The main word I’d use is honest, although I don't know if honest is a sound, but when you listen to the music, you’ll just hear me. For the most part I write all my music and it's about my life, my friends and my emotions. I never try to over produce and cloud it. I try to keep it my voice and be honest.

WPM: What is your proudest moment to date as an artist?

R: I’ve had a few but something I was really proud of was my first EP I wrote and produced that myself. That was my first introduction to the world of music, and where a lot of people would first find and meet me. So, it became really important to me to release something for me and about me. Even if I listen to some of the songs now and think that could have been much better, I’m still very proud that at 19 I did that.

WPM: Your new single, ”Situation” is out now and doing the rounds, can you tell me a little bit about the story behind the song?

R: Situation is exactly what you said: frustration and not knowing where you stand in a relationship which I think is a pretty common theme for people. The term ‘situationship’ has been coined which is very real and when you try to figure out how you feel or how they feel. It's kind of about being confused.

WPM: Do you find that your Ethiopian Canadian routes influence your music?

R: I think subconsciously yes, I grew up listening to a lot of traditional music with my parents and a lot of that was melodically rich and tells stories in the songs, so I think that definitely finds its way into my music.

WPM: What albums have you got on heavy rotation on spotify currently?

R: Because I've been wrapping up making my own album, I usually listen to the same few albums that inspire me. So, things like the white album by the Beatles, Never Trust A Happy Song by Grouplove. I like to listen to my favourite albums of all time, because I want to make someone's favourite album of all time.

WPM: What do you like to do when you're not making music?

R: I'm pretty chilled out. I like to read books and hang out with friends. I love to travel and see different parts of the world so that was a big part of what I was doing before. When I finished an album or touring, I would book a trip with my best friend and go somewhere for a month. But on a daily basis I like to chill and watch movies.

WPM: Are you planning a tour when you can for the new album?

R: Definitely, currently we’re planning a live stream. But I’m definitely looking to get back on the road. It's funny because when you're touring it can be a really gruelling process and I can’t wait to get home. But thanks to all this I’m truly so excited and forever will see touring and making albums through a different lens. I’m really excited to get on the road and connect with people again.

WPM: Can you tell me 3 things you can’t live without in the studio?

R: Ooooo, Great question, Peppermint tea that always helps. Lip balm, for when you're singing to make sure I can sing properly. And one last thing, I’m pretty old fashioned so I always like to have a paper and pen with the lyrics in front of me, a lot of people use their phone but I like having them physically in front of me so I can scratch things out. I’m pretty sentimental so I keep every single lyric sheet I've ever had even if it's a shitty song.

WPM: Thank you so much for taking time out to chat to us, we really appreciate it and best of luck with the album.

Check out the Moments In Between virtual tour dates and ticket deets below.