In her song, “Hindsight”, Ruby Mae looks back on her life, reflecting on the uncertainty of young adulthood, pursuing a music career, and feeling “lost” in her 20s. However, in the chorus, she reminds herself that at the end of the day she’s “moving on”, singing, “I’ve caught flights and I’ve been gone… I know myself and the path I’m on”.
This is a consistent theme in Ruby Mae’s music: the juxtaposition of being young and making mistakes while still trusting your path and knowing your worth. Ruby has the ability to paint a picture, tell a story and sing about real experiences and relatable moments, which is what makes her music so easy to connect with.
I was lucky enough to catch up with Ruby at her first-ever BIGSOUND, where she played two breathtaking showcases that swept the audience off their feet.
Her recordings translate seamlessly to the stage; hearing her vocal range live, the harmonies, and her relationship with her band took her music to another level.
Moving between full-band songs and more stripped-back solo moments, Ruby truly showcased her versatility as a performer and singer-songwriter, exploring different sounds and genres.
Ruby began playing music at 17, booking gigs as soon as she finished high school, and in 10 years has proven herself as a dynamic force in the Australian music industry. Loving venues like The Old Bar and Bergy Band Room, Ruby has carved her name into Melbourne’s music scene and is now expanding into booking interstate gigs, playing sold-out shows, performing at festivals like St Kilda Festival and Queenscliff, and supporting Ella Hooper’s upcoming Australian tour in October.
Releasing her debut album Baby proved to be one of the defining moments of Ruby’s career. While she says the exposure was a slow burn, the record has opened the door to some significant opportunities. Working with Stephen Mowat, Ruby recorded the 10-song album during a short hiatus from playing gigs, deciding it was the perfect time to knuckle down and record.
Blending indie, country and rock music with her captivating and soulful voice, the singer-songwriter channels experiences of modern love and heartbreak, self-discovery and growing up, giving her debut album a coming-of-age feel. But Ruby is inspired by many things, not just her own story.
“I saw Paul Kelly yesterday at a BIGSOUND panel, and he was talking about how he doesn’t necessarily write about himself; he tries to put himself in other people’s shoes, which I feel like I do as well”, she shared.
“Obviously, most of my music is from my perspective and the experiences that I’ve had in my life, but I get inspired a lot by my friends and my family, even movies. There’s a song on Baby called ‘Lawless’, and it’s actually just written about the movie Lawless”, she smiled.
“I think I’m inspired by anything. If you listen to my music, you’ll probably find a common theme of being young and all the experiences that come with dating (and maybe dating some assholes). But I feel it’s shifting now as I get a little bit older; it’s more about discovering who you are.”
On a roll with new material, Ruby dropped her first single since the album, “Aunty”, which she wrote in partnership with Mushroom Group’s First Nations pathway program. Collaborating with Ciarann Babbington to write the heartfelt track, Ruby felt “really lucky to be paired with him”.
“We had a couple of days in the studio in Sydney, where I had just found out that I was going to be an auntie, so I had all this inspiration to write the song.”
“Ciarann actually knows my brother, who was becoming a dad, so I went in, and I was like, ‘Hey, you know Pat is having a baby!?’”
“We just had all this joy and excitement for this baby.” Ruby smiled. “It was really fun and very natural because there was just so much love,” she said of writing “Aunty”.
The song is a personal letter to Ruby’s future nephew about the unconditional love she has for him and how she will “always be there” in times of strife. Wrapped up in warm acoustic guitars, Ruby’s melodies and genuine lyrics elicit goosebumps in her audience as she talks to her baby nephew, telling him how she’ll “teach you to swim and guide you the way I know how”.
“Now the baby’s born!” she exclaimed, and I shrieked with excitement. “He is here at BIGSOUND too; he is probably sleeping; he is only six weeks old”, she beamed. “Kind of a full circle moment”.
Ruby also shared that the music industry has been an “amazing place to explore” her connection to culture, especially through Mushroom’s First Nations pathway program.
Ruby is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Trangie, a town in the Central West of New South Wales, and she shared how she only found out about her Indigenous heritage six years ago. “It’s a very long story,” she said, “my Mum’s dad died when she was really young, and we found out that he was Indigenous”.
“She was never connected to that side of the family, and only in the last six years we’ve reconnected. It’s been amazing to see and meet family that I never knew about. It’s been like finding a missing piece”.
“My music and my culture are definitely always connecting now”.
“Being in the music industry has given me some amazing opportunities to connect that culture with my music and explore that a lot more”.
When asked what Ruby’s goals, hopes and dreams for the future are, she responded with:
“I think I’ve never really cared so much about fame and fortune or anything like that. I just really hope that I continue to be inspired and write music that feels aligned with who I am, and obviously, hoping that it connects with people.
“A big dream would be to do an Australian tour and sell it out, not for any other reason than just to know that my music is connecting and hitting that spot, that it’s relatable and people understand it”.
Ruby Mae is a fiercely dedicated, genuine and down-to-earth artist, and one whose career feels increasingly exciting to watch.
Keep up to date with Ruby Mae’s shows and new releases via her website or Instagram @rubymaemusic.
Listen to Ruby’s debut album Baby HERE, or catch her this October with Ella Hooper on her Overnight Success tour. Tickets available HERE.
Ella Hooper – Overnight Success Tour Dates
SUPPORTED BY RUBY MAE
THU 01 OCT – THE ELTHAM, ELTHAM NSW
FRI 02 OCT – BLACK BEAR LODGE, BRISBANE
SAT 03 OCT – BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, MELBOURNE VIC
SUN 04 OCT – TRINITY SESSIONS, ADELAIDE
THU 08 OCT – STAG & HUNTER, NEWCASTLE
FRI 09 OCT – PETERSHAM BOWLO, SYDNEY NSW
SAT 10 OCT – SMITHS ALTERNATIVE, CANBERRA ACT
Images Supplied
