5 Minutes with Ruby Duff
Meet Ruby Duff: a singer-songwriter making eccentric and honest music for the unconventional pop lover.
Never one to stick within the ordinary, Ruby's music is a pastiche of all things weird and wonderful. Look no further than her latest EP 'Where Do Odd Socks Go?' as an example - over its four tracks, it cascades between moments of delicate, piano-led ballads, to aggressive electropop, to theatrical baroque.
If the above has you intrigued, then keep on reading to find out more about Ruby's artistry when we sat down with her at Kili Presents HQ, and for details of her upcoming London headline show 👀
For fans of: Kate Bush, Chappell Roan, Björk, Lana del Rey, The Last Dinner Party
Hi Ruby! How did you begin your artistic journey?
“I got my start making music on the family piano at home in Yorkshire and putting on 'The Ruby Duff Show'... so you could say it all began when I was about four. But things took off when I moved to London and threw myself into the live music scene. I played anywhere and everywhere! From intimate Sofar Sound acoustic sets to supporting the incredible French artist Cœur de pirate at The Garage. Each week brought a new stage and a new crowd. Those early live shows developed me as an artist and helped me connect with my core audience - many of whom are still with me today!”
Which artists have influenced your music over the years?
“Honestly, it’s a bit of a musical lucky dip. One minute you’ll hear a hint of rock in our live set - blame (or thank) my dad for that. He raised me on AC/DC, so big riffs and a bit of grit seeped in. Meanwhile, my mum was all about Joni Mitchell, which is probably where the more introspective, storytelling side of my songwriting comes from. If Joni and AC/DC had a lovechild... well, that weirdly specific mash-up might just be me.
That said, my first ever musical obsession was Judy Garland. I was completely fixated on The Wizard of Oz as a kid and I loved the drama and theatrics in her voice. I don’t think you hear that kind of authenticity as much these days. More recently, I’ve been loving artists like Chappell Roan, Geese, CMAT, and IDER.”
What instruments do you play?
“Outside of being a singer, I also play piano and at one point, I dabbled in bass guitar. That bass phase happened because, in school, we didn’t have enough music students to make a full band, so we all had to double up on instruments. I’ll never forget trying to nail that iconic Arctic Monkeys 'Do I Wanna Know?' bassline!”
What's one song or artist you've been listening to at the moment?
“Wolf Alice’s 'Bloom Baby Bloom' has totally won me over. I love how they have reinvented their sound with a nod to soft rock and have made it click so well with the indie-pop crowd. Plus, I think it’s super bold to come back with such a strong, defined aesthetic, pulling references from Fame and other cult movements. Honestly, I’m a sucker for the theatrics of it all!”
To someone who has never been to a Ruby Duff show, what should they expect?
“Expect the unexpected. Honestly, once my party band hits the stage, they’re yours just as much as mine, so get ready to be part of the show! One of my favourite fan quotes from our set at The Great Escape recently was, "It’s like ABBA for the streets." I’ll take that as a compliment, we’re all about the glitter, the grooves, and a little bit of chaos!”