RUTI ON I’LL BE YOUR FRIEND
- 42 minutes ago
- 3 min read
PHOTOGRAPHY GRAY BRAME - CREATIVE DIRECTION + STYLING MAISIE JANE DANIELS - MAKEUP EMILIE LOUIZIDES - HAIR ASHLEIGH HODGES - STUDIO MASH CREATIVE STUDIO - WORDS TOBIAS FURLONG
The journey to success is never entirely straight forward, it is easier to describe as a long and winding affair that requires unbelievable determination. For the London-via-essex star Ruti, the release of “I’ll Be Your Friend” marks a clear turning point for the musician. The track represents the culmination of years of artistic exploration and self-discovery. It feels like a moment of arrival - the result of a journey towards their most honest and authentic expression. Where previous releases often leaned into stripped-back, piano-led arrangements that foregrounded their distinctive, emotive voice, this new offering embraces a richer, more layered sonic world.
We chat about making artistic strides, learning to trust the creative process and a very pleasing sounding favourite “F” word.
Tobias Furlong: The release of “I’ll Be Your Friend” already feels like a huge artistic stride forward for you, I really enjoy how your vocal is so front and centre.
Ruti: I’ve always known that my voice was quite powerful, and I’ve always felt like I can do different tones and channels. So this single is a lot more hard-hitting and a lot more powerful vocally. The single is so loud compared to my last EP Maybe I Got It Wrong, I think it is quite nice to punch people in the face with this single.
There was a lot of consideration of other singles to start with, and I thought about bridging the gap volume wise of my previous projects, but eventually we just agreed it would be more fun to make a huge announcement with “I’ll Be Your Friend”
TF: Was there a specific moment of joy where you realised the single was sounding exactly where you wanted it?
R: This was the first song I wrote for the upcoming project and it was recorded alongside the producer Will Bloomfield and Theo Hutchcraft from the duo Hurts. It was our first session all together, we started to play around and immediately we all got on really well. My spirits were really high and then we started jamming together and it came together really quickly.
All of the melodies and all of the instruments were written on that one day, and that’s what you’ll hear on the record.
TF: It’s a very unifying song, almost like throwing a comforting pair of arms around the listener.
R: It’s about the friendship I have with myself. Ever since the first session of recording the single I have started to feel much more settled into who I am as a person. I suppose that is what you get for turning 25 and then 26… Even a few months before recording it I felt ready to quit music, even just for a while.
It was before the release of the last EP, I felt that I had the songs and the ambition but I couldn’t shake this feeling of aimlessness. The song is about me learning to trust myself, and trusting in those decisions, instincts and the ability to do anything. My older self will carry my younger self through everything I have been through, in a weird paradox-y way.
TF: It sounds like you have really found your feet Ruti
R: I’m just talking to my 13-year-old self and saying, 'Pick up that guitar and trust the process because eventually you will make all the right choices.
Even the sound of the song is so massive, it really props me up. Even if you aren’t listening to the lyrics necessarily, the melody is joyful and I think it sounds like the start of Spring.
Right: Ruti wear dress PAOLINA RUSSO
TF: Is it the kind of track you are looking forward to bringing to the live stage with loads of energy?
R: I’ve played it live before, but acoustically which doesn’t hit as hard. I’m really looking forward to playing it with the force of a full band behind me.
We are actually playing it live for a studio session next week and I’m really nervous because we won’t have the same instruments used on the record, like these retro synthesisers we used.
TF: Final question. This is the F Word. What’s your favourite F-word?
R: I’m sure everybody says swear words, don't they? I enjoy using the F word but I wouldn’t say it was my favourite. I’m going to go with Frivelous.
Ruti wears top and hood PAULINA RUSSO
TF: Great choice, why that word in particular?
R: It’s more of a sound thing, like Fri-vol-lous…
TF: I’ve heard it used a lot to describe spending money but could we say Ruti will be releasing music frivolously this year?
R: I’m going to be frivolous with my releases this year.
Ruti wears cardigan AVVATTEV; earring THOMAS SABO; sunglasses MELLER
