Ruby Boots talks about her new album “Don’t Talk About It”
Interview done on January 10, 2018
Page updated March 10, 2018 – with Photos
By Daniel Locke
Nashville-based, Australian-born artist Ruby Boots has signed with Chicago label Bloodshot Records and will release her label debut Don’t Talk about It on February 9th, 2018. Pre-order on CD, digital, or transparent orange/gold vinyl LP here. The album was recorded at Modern Electric Sound Records in Dallas, TX under the watchful eye of talented producer Beau Bedford (Paul Cauthen) and features Lone Star-bred collective and studio wizards The Texas Gentlemen as the backing band.
Ruby Boots (credit: Michele Mussatto) at The Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, MO on Thursday, February 24, 2018.
Unratedmagazine: Tell me about your background. How did you get interested in Music?
Rudy Boots: Music was the first thing that helped make life make sense to me, when I started playing it I was working out at sea and all of a sudden I had found, what I now understand to be, a purpose in life, and I guess once life taps you on the shoulder and shows you your true purpose it’s hard to ever look back, which is what has happened to me.
Why did you change your name to Ruby Boots?
What’s in a Name?
What was the first guitar you ever got and who give it to you?
A Maton 1988, and I bought it with my hard earned cash!
Did you play any other instruments while growing up?
I didn’t start to play till I was in my early 20’s, but guitar and vocals are my focus, I played based in an all-girl indie pop band for about a year at one point.
What is the music scene in Australia like? If you singer and were starting out in Australia where do you play?
I do love the Australian music scene, it’s a very strong community that is all somehow interconnected, mainly because it’s small enough to be, which very much an attribute is! Well it’s like anywhere you start off playing locally in small bars in your home town and then venture out from there!
I see while you are making new music, you get together with a host of other musicians. In which you call cross pollination. What do you look for in finding a musical partner in great song writing?
Someone who isn’t set in there ways and who has great tasted in music, when both people have that going for them, you will generally find a good partner to collaborate with
Ruby Boots
How did you get to with Mick Thomas and Nikki Lane?
Through touring, I toured with both of them and became friends!
How did you find a producer for Solitude?
I used multiple producers for that album, which was great it was kind of like I was making four albums in one and helped me understand what I really wanted out of a producer for this album. I fell in love with a song by an Australian band The Preatures called “Take a Card, Take A Seat” and did some digging and found Tony Buchan had produced it so I sent him some of the songs I wanted to record for Solitude and we went from there. Anna Laverty and I, the second producer on the album bonded over our Favorite Ryan Adams album “Cold Roses” and that’s how we struck up the conversation to work with each other.
You have won tons of musical honors.
2011: WA Music Awards – “Best Country Music Act”
2012: WA Music Awards – “Best Country Music Act”
2013: WA Music Awards – “Best Country Music Act”
2014: WA Music Awards – “Best Country Music Act”
2015: WA Music Awards – “Best Country Music Act”
2015: WA Music Awards – “WAM Song Of The Year,” Best Country Song for “Wrap Me In A Fever”
2015: Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) – APRA Professional Development Award, Country Category
2016: Australia Council’s Nashville Residency
How did you keep winning year after year? What is your secret?
If i knew the secret I would tell you! 🙂
You new album comes out in Feb. Are you ready for it to hit the public? I know you are going do the late night shows so people can discover you?
I recorded it in February last year so I’m very ready for it to come out
I enjoy the video ‘It’s So Cruel’. I can see it climbing up the charts? It has so much emotion energy.
Well thank you, I’m glad you enjoy it so much
Ruby Boots
In the video Wrap Me In A Fever were those Christmas lights in the car? It gives a nice effect.
Yes, but we call them Fairy lights in Australia
How was it to perform with Kevin Bacon?
Kevin was a cool cat, he gave me some acting tips that he also uses in performing music live which I found to be very valuable and interesting! The whole band were really sweet!
Who is in the present band?
I have an Australian Band and a US band, I’m still locking down this albums touring band but I am very close.
Where does your music come from?
From a desire to connect with people, that’s why I make music and that’s where the motivation comes from
Any other ongoing projects?
Nothing music related but I have some ideas!
What type of music did you grow up with? Plus give me some of the artist?
I was born in the 80’s so by the time I was old enough to have a keen interest in music it was when the grunge period was really exploding I was listening to a lot of Nirvana and Silverchair, Faith No More, Soundgarden and then I discovered artists like Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, The Band, Joan Baez kind of all at once and realized how much that era of music started to mean to me. That was all through my teenage years. When I was younger and living at home I remember mum’s main rotation was Elvis, Dolly Parton, Buddy Holly, oh man she loved Buddy Holly, and The Beatles, the Beatles were her all time!
What are some of the some of the bands which Influences your music?
A lot of the bands I listed in the previous question, but I guess three of my favorite songwriters that I always go back to are Tom Petty, Ryan Adams and Lucinda Williams, although I am not shy of sinking my teeth into more current music and allowing it to influence me in one way or another, the more influences the more interesting the output I feel.
Are you going to tour the US in 2018?
Yes for sure!
Vinyl Record
What is you’re feeling about Vinyl?
I love Vinyl
Who would you like to open up for you? Being alive or dead.
Tom Petty or Lucinda Williams
What is the biggest crowd you have play for?
I have played to a few thousand and I have played to just a few
What direction do you see your music heading in the next 2 years and your long term goals of your music?
Haha I don’t know I just finished a record, I need to put that out before I can think of the next thing!
How many guitars do you own? And what is the make, model and year of your favorite guitar?
My two favorite guitars that I own are my 1984, ’52 Reissue Telecaster and my Gibson LG2 American Eagle
What music fests would you like to play in?
Well I hope to play Newport Folk Festival and Bonnaroo one day that would be so cool
If you could pick any cartoon character who would it be and why?
Roadrunner, cause that bird can go places and fast
Thank you for you interview.
Ruby Boots (credit: Cal Quinn)
Credits Produced & Directed by Joshua Shoemaker Director of Photography: Cody Collins AD: Albert Kuhne Talent: Nicholas C. Georgiou Hair & Makeup: Ashton Jordan Music video by Ruby Boots performing It’s So Cruel. (C) 2017 Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd.
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Ruby Roots @UnRated Magazine
Ruby Boots photos from the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, MO on Thursday, February 24, 2018.
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