Emerging from the creative cocoon of a secluded cabin in the mountains of British Columbia, Ruby Waters steps into the spotlight with her debut full-length album, What’s the Point. This introspective and emotionally charged collection captures her journey through uncertainty, acceptance, and the quest for meaning. In our interview, Ruby Waters delves into the inspirations and experiences that shaped the album, from the intimate setting of a makeshift vocal booth to the vibrant collaborations with notable producers like Sam Willows and TJ Whitlaw. As she reflects on her evolution as an artist, the impact of the natural surroundings, and the diverse influences that permeate her music, Ruby offers a glimpse into the soul of her artistry. Join us as we explore the depths of Ruby Waters’ musical journey, the emotional spectrum of her new album, and what fans can expect from her live performances.
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What’s the Point is your debut full-length album. Can you share what the main inspiration behind this album was and how the creative process kind of unfolded, especially at your time in the cabin?
Ruby Waters: Yeah. It was honestly coming from a place of just being unsure and trying to get over things, trying to accept new things, trying to be present all at the same time and then trying to do all those things and just feeling like “okay, what’s the point of even trying?”. Then it turned into the opposite of that, what is the point and finding the point to make it all worth it again. So just kind of like this continuous cycle of trying to figure it out, but remembering that even if you don’t figure it out, it’s all good. But yeah, we went to a cabin and it was great. It was up north in BC. Yeah, I wrote there twice now but we feel like we created a vibe there. We made a vocal booth out of blankets and it was like a camp feeling. It was nice to bring Toronto producers out to the mountains too and some of them had never been there. It brought a lot of vibes to the table for sure.
Right. As Toronto people, we don’t really get to see mountains like that very often.
Ruby Waters: I know, right! I remember when I first saw the mountains too, I fell in love with them.
You’ve worked with several producers including Sam Willows, Harper, TJ Whitlaw, etc. How did the collaborations influence the sound and direction of What’s the Point?
Ruby Waters: Well, it was a lot of people in one room so inevitably it was f*cking crazy. There were just a lot of ideas coming together, a lot from different places mostly too. We ended up making a ton of songs and then there were a few that just felt like organically right. That’s my favorite part about the album is that it didn’t feel like there was any point where we were like, “Oh, we need one more. Let’s just write one more filler”. It all felt cohesive.
Would you say the cabin that you rented played a significant role in making this album?
Ruby Waters: Yeah, I think being trapped in there with that many special people and then waking up, seeing the mountains, and having them see them for like the first time, as I said, it definitely played a bit of a role. Some of the songs were just written when I was by myself playing guitar in my room in Whistler. It was written on the West Coast, which is special because I’ve been in and out of BC since I was 18, but then finally moved there a couple of years ago and I do miss the city but this is home now. You do not find that in Whistler, you find it in Toronto, the music, the people, the culture. I miss Toronto for all that, but I find myself a lot more calm and at peace here just totally hiding away.
Looking back at your previous work, “Almost Naked” and “If It Comes Down To It,” how do you feel you’ve evolved as an artist leading up to this release?
Ruby Waters: I feel much less scatterbrained, a little more in my element, I guess you could say. I love those EPs, but I was definitely just trying to find myself in a big world of sound and narrowed that world down a little bit and yeah, just been a little bit. I was pretty vulnerable in those EPs too. Maybe I’m less vulnerable now? Maybe. I don’t know. Being vulnerable sucks. I wish I wrote fucking happy music. That would be awesome. That would be dope. I would love to play happy music, but that’s just not in the cards for me.
So you’ve mentioned that this album covers a very emotional spectrum, anger, sadness, and everything in between. Do you think there’s a particular track that you feel encapsulates this emotional journey?
Ruby Waters: Honestly, the last song on the record “Dropping Out” is like slowly and slowly becoming my favorite on the whole album because it nails that oxymoron kind of feeling of being split between all the different options in life and burning yourself out but wanting to keep going.
Your upcoming shows are to celebrate this album release, what can your fans expect from your live performance? Any special moments or surprises you have planned?
Ruby Waters: Some stage art maybe… and just better. I just promise to be better. That’s it. I just wanna get better and better and put on a better show.
What do you love most about performing live?
Ruby Waters: Connecting with people, that hands down. Sometimes I’m like, “Alright, I’m going to go out there and meet everyone and it’s so great and there’s tears and people saying some deep personal sh*t to me and I’m just honored that I could help in any way. It’s kind of sad that people relate to some of these songs because I don’t want them to be that sad. Oh my God, it just means a lot to me, so it’s like a dream come true.
So the title, What’s the Point kind of suggests contemplation of life’s meaning, to say the least. How do you interpret this?
Ruby Waters: I don’t know what any of it means anymore. I’ve been up and down with my spirituality and all that stuff and I just keep hitting a wall where it’s a negative, what’s the point? F*ck it all? But then it also means to actually wonder, hm, what is the point? Let’s think about that and all of it’s the point or none of it’s the point. So I guess the album is just one big split between what’s the point in a positive way and what’s the point in a negative way? Then being OK with having both of that, every day could be different and that’s totally fine. So I guess for the listeners, I hope that they find peace in the chaos of not knowing, and if they’re sure of themselves and they know what the point is, tell them to hit me up.
Who would you say are some of your biggest musical influences? How have they shaped your sound?
Ruby Waters: For years and years, time and time again, I’ve said I’m all over the place. As far as sound goes, it totally depends on what i’m listening to that day. Sometimes it’s straight rap, sometimes it’s drum and bass, sometimes it’s pop. I always go back to classics like Nirvana and the rockier side of things. As far as singing goes, I would sing every single word to Rihanna, Paramore, Mariah Carey, everything my sisters would listen to because I would just steal their CDs when they were at home and try to be like them. So a lot of female powerhouse vocalists. Also deep rock, sad rock, happy rock, Jimi Hendrix. It’s a big split between the soulful female vocalists and then like heavy rockers, I guess you could say.
What advice would you give to someone starting out and they’re trying to find their voice and their audience?
Ruby Waters: I say the same thing every time, not to be boring, but I always say, just play every show that comes your way, every opportunity that you have to play, take it because that’s the way you’ll grow and that’s the way you’ll connect to people. That’s also the way that you’ll be able to find out what your sound is. You can’t find your audience without playing to everyone. So every bar gig say yes, every wedding say yes, every time you could sing on the street (If you feel confident enough to do that) do it! Just play as much as you can. Playing live as much as you can to get to really feel things physically outside of the screens. Get out.
Ruby Waters is preparing to go on tour for ‘What’s The Point’. See her perform in a city near you:
Canada
https://admitone.com/events/ruby-waters-victoria-9490728
Capital Ballroom — Victoria, BC.
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