EQUATE Meets Ruth B.
"I’ve learned over the past year that, ultimately, what really matters is love, friends and family. That’s all we really have at the end of the day."
It’s a Friday night and I’m across a call from Ruth B - who’s at home in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). We’re bonding over our shared love for the “Lost Boy” hit-makers country of heritage; Ethiopia. In between chatting nostalgically about the hustle and bustle of Addis Ababa - which we both have fond childhood memories of -, and the vast dynamism of traditional Ethiopian *qenet music, I ask if she feels her cultural background has had any impact on her musicality. “I think subconsciously it’s played a part in the kind of melodies I like and the subtle tonalities I capture when I’m singing” she replies. She’s right. Although the singer’s sound can categorically be described as pop, much like her fellow Canadian-Ethiopian musical counterpart The Weeknd, there’s an innate mastery to Ruth B’s vocal intonations that’s reminiscent of Ethiopia’s historical line of skilled vocalists.
It makes sense, if you know anything about the horn of Africa, you know that music is built into the fabric of the country’s culture as a whole. “Naturally, I love a lot of traditional Ethiopian music; it was always playing in the house when we grew up” the songstress tells me. So, I don’t feel I have to ask where her spark for musical innovations was ignited. Instead, the conversation shifts towards her upcoming sophomore album “Moments In Between”. Over the course of our inter-continental chat, the songstress speaks candidly with me about how the internet shaped her early career, how she’s evolved since her debut, and the journey through a global pandemic that ended up at her latest spell-binding body of work.
Read the full interview below…
Words by Tahirah Thomas
EQ: What’s happening with the pandemic situation over in Canada; are you guys allowed out yet?
R: It’s been hard – we’re actually in a lockdown again right now. I guess we’re all just going through the motions still.
EQ: It’s pretty similar over here in the UK. When was the last time you performed live; do you remember?
R: I wish I did – I actually can’t! It might have been at the very end of 2019; I had a show in Central Park (New York). I think that was the very last one…
EQ: Hopefully you’ll be able to do shows again soon! Thinking back to your childhood, was there anyone in particular who inspired you to start singing?
R: You know? Not really. I think I just always had a love for music – it was within me. There isn’t a time when I remember not being completely obsessed. It was just this thing that I kind of developed on my own; my own little world.
EQ: What kind of music have you been listening to during the lockdowns?
R: To be honest, for most of the lockdowns I’ve been working on my own album “Moments In Between”. I’ve been listening to it over and over again [laughs]. Although, when I’m working on music, I find myself going back to the classic albums that I grew up on; works by Lauryn Hill, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone. The way I see it, those artists made some of my favourite albums, and when I go into the process, I’m trying to make someone else’s favourite album, so it just makes sense in my mind that that’s what I listen to.
EQ: I got you. That’s interesting, especially with music having shifted so much in the digital age. As an artist who found your start on the internet, what’s your perspective on how much technology is interconnected with music right now?
R: I think it’s absolutely amazing - the internet makes everything so accessible. I remember when I was much younger and wanting to get into making music I would think, ‘how are people going to hear my voice, I’m just a girl from Alberta’. I mean, the internet and social media really made those goals feel reachable in my early career. I was able to get my sound out there and have people react in real time – which was life-changing for me. It obviously comes with its cons; being a young person I was pretty susceptible to negative comments, which was tough. I eventually figured out the balance though – it just took time for me to develop a thick skin. Outside of that I think the internet is an incredible tool when it comes to building a music career.
EQ: You were so young when you went viral on Vine; how did you learn to build up that thick skin you needed getting into the industry?
R: Oh, it was hard at first! I had to establish a pretty strong support system early on and then I just learned to find solace in knowing who I am. I always tell people, if you’re going to put yourself out there, make sure you know why you’re doing it – that way you’ll always have something to fall back on. Other people’s words stopped bothering me so much when I felt like I was happy with what I was doing, and that I was proud of what I was doing. I think the key is believing in yourself and ultimately loving yourself.
EQ: That’s very true. Can you tell me about the meaning behind the name of your new album “Moments in Between”?
R: So, “Moments In Between” is actually the last song that I wrote for the album. I guess that’s like a habit of mine now, where I always name the album after the last track I wrote for it. I did that with my first album “Safe Haven” too. It’s was a journey. Before the pandemic hit, I had just moved out on my own for the first time and was living in New York; it was this exciting world for me. I was recording out there and just living out this whole new chapter in my life. Coming back to Canada when the pandemic hit was kind of tough, you know? To go from that freedom, to being back home and not being able to get in the studio anymore – it was just weird. I’ve learned over the past year that, ultimately, what really matters is love, friends and family. That’s all we really have at the end of the day. Whilst at home, I started to notice that it was all these small things that meant the world to me. As fun as being in a big flashy city with lots of people is, it dawned on me that the real important stuff is being able to have moments with the people you love. So, “Moments In Between” was just me realising that the little things in our daily lives that we take for granted, that we let pass us by – those are the moments that make life rich and beautiful.
“For “Moments in Between” the process was very much on my terms, I had the freedom to explore, and that felt really cool. That translates into the music; I think you can hear it too.”
EQ: That’s a powerful message for sure! How do you think you’ve evolved as an artist over the four years between your debut and sophomore offerings?
R: I think I’ve grown as a person as well as an artist. When I made my first album, those were literally the first twelve songs I’d ever written. Now, I’ve written a bunch – too many to count, and learned a whole lot along the way. Also, I feel like I had more time to work on this one, I remember the process of recording the first album being really fast and hectic at times. Due to the whole viral atmosphere surrounding “Lost Boy”, sometimes it felt like I had to make that album really quickly; there was a lot of pressure behind it. For “Moments in Between” the process was very much on my terms, I had the freedom to explore, and that felt really cool. That translates into the music; I think you can hear it too.
EQ: Today you dropped the albums second single “Die Fast” and announced some digital tour dates. Can you tell us more about the tour and what fans can expect?
R: Yeah! We’ve been putting this tour together for the last few months. The idea came up because physically touring the record right now would be kind of hard to do. It’s going to be a pretty intimate show. That’s usually how I like to keep it because I want it to feel like the listeners are in the room with me. It’s virtual, so there’ll be a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of me telling the real stories behind the songs on the album; how I wrote them and why I wrote them. So, I feel like it’s going to feel really chill. Which is great because that’s my favourite kind of atmosphere - I’ll be channelling chillness.
EQ: If there’s one place you’d like to visit and perform in after the pandemic - where would it be?
R: Well, like we were talking about before, I’ve been to Addis Ababa many times, but I’ve yet to play a show there. I think that’d be really cool! So yeah, I’ll say Ethiopia. I know there are a lot of people out there who support me so I feel like playing there would be so insane.
EQ: Oh, I’m their girl! Until then, what have you got planned for post-lockdown life?
R: I think once the album’s out and the tour’s done, I’ll probably want to put down the pen for a few months and focus on living. I’m hoping that the state of the world gets better for everyone though - fingers crossed. I do miss travelling, so hopefully I’ll get to do that with some of my friends too! That’s the dream right now.
EQ: I hope that happens for you. Thanks Ruth!
Watch the visuals for lead single ‘Situation’ below!
Buy tickets to her virtual tour here: https://www.ruthbofficial.com/tour