When I spoke with Ruby, she had just completed a performance on Adult Swim for Stupid Morning Bullshit. The band did a special performance of “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain. With the 2016 release of Divorce Party, it’s safe to say that big things are on the way for the charming, Ruby the Rabbitfoot.
Originally from Georgia, Ruby’s grandmother had a piano so she was curious and drawn to music as a child. “When I got kind of serious was when I was 14 and my best friend wrote a song… it blew my mind that she could take a guitar and use three chords and write a song and I felt like I could do that too. We starting [writing] together.” Ruby continued to play music and when she was in college she began posting her songs on Myspace. “This guy introduced me to his friend Nate Nelson and said I should make an album [with him] so we ended up making two albums together, my first two records (No Weight No Chain and New As Dew)… so I guess it all started with Myspace” says Ruby as she laughs.
Extremely beautiful and photogenic, (really, she looks like a model), Ruby’s look is constantly changing. “I have red hair right now and I’m about to change it back to my natural color… I have an addiction to changing it, like style [the change] makes you feel different.” These changes are present in her music videos and press photos. Natalie Neal, who was her roommate in LA aided in capturing these changes. “She was the most consistent visual director for [Divorce Party],” says Ruby. “She did the cover photo and two of the videos (“Beach Flowers” and “As Bad As I Am”).”
Divorce Party shows the growth and changes Ruby has made as an artist. “When I hear [my first album] I used to get hard on myself because I sound completely different but I realize I hadn’t found my voice yet… it went from folksy, kinda bluesy to pop in two albums… It really came with the territory of learning how to record.” With the transformation of being a pop musician, Ruby is adjusting to live performances. “Being physically in shape is huge. I feel the need to dance and move more because the music has so much space.” While Ruby’s new album is pop, she still struggles slightly with the stereotypes of the pop world. “I’m an indie artist and I do have a weird look and I’m not 14 years old. I can try to be pop all day long but at the end of the day I’m about 10 years older than I should be and I have crooked teeth,” says Ruby. However, her quirks are what make her so charming. In this day and age, being different makes for more of an icon and Ruby the Rabbitfoot is headed that way.
She relocated from LA to Nashville to be surrounded by music and musicians but also to get back to seasons. “I was seasonally depressed from not having seasons because they affect my music so much.” Ruby insists that “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi is the perfect driving song for spring.
Ruby records everything solo and then brings a live band on tour with her. “I’ve had a consistent group for this album cycle which is a miracle.” Ruby’s touring band consists of Paul Rogers on drums, Ziona Riley on bass and vocals, Austin Hoke on synth and cello, and Dobby Dobbratz on vocals. Ruby the Rabbitfoot will be performing at MOTR Pub May 25th with A Delicate Motor. You can see the rest of Ruby the Rabbitfoot’s tour dates here.
