Even though she is only 23 years of age, Ruti is far from new to the music industry. After winning The Voice in 2018, she has been developing her sound and sharing music with her growing fanbase. Meshing sounds of R&B, pop, folk, jazz, and soul, Ruti references the artists that have come before her while creating something contemporary and completely her own. With a powerful, smooth voice, she sings tracks that capture hearts.
Her recently released EP, “MixTea_MilkTape!”, is a perfect example of such expertise. The project flows beautifully from start to finish — from the introductory track to the finale, “End of the World”. Hitting standout tracks on the way, such as the courageous “DONT WAIT”, debut single “So Much More”, and the sweet love story of “Luh Luh Love”, we gain insight into Ruti’s mind. Letting us into her world one song at a time, she is remarkably honest and raw throughout.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Ruti about what inspired the EP, the playful title, and what she’s looking forward to next.
Stream “MixTea_MilkTape!”…
Read the interview…
Congratulations on your new release, “MixTea_MilkTape!”! How are you feeling?
I’m feeling good! Very excited for people to hear it! I can’t believe how quick it’s come around.
Although you’re still young, you’ve been in the industry for a while now. How has your sound evolved?
I feel like I’ve just been able to explore more in recent years. I’m still refining my sound but I feel the confidence in myself to not feel restricted! I can try things and not be worried about the genre I’m in. I know the people on my team want me to feel free and express myself in my music now.
When did you start working on this project and how has it come to where it is today?
I feel like this first track that I wrote on this project was in 2021. I didn’t necessarily have this project in mind when writing the songs, it kinda just came together and made sense. It is a mixtape after all so there’s no central sound but themes kinda tie it all together. I just really wanted people to hear these songs that I created.
What inspired the album, thematically and musically?
Well it was written from the beginning of 2021 to the middle of 2022, so it feels like I was in a certain head space. A lot of the songs were about my mental health coming out of the pandemic and navigating that mess and relationships and interacting with people. Musically, I think you can hear the progression in my sound. Although it’s not in order of the earliest song to latest, you can still tell what was more recent Ruti.
I was listening to Rina Sawayama, Lady Gaga and Moses Sumney a lot during the lockdowns, so I did a lot of experimenting with genres I’d never delved into in my own production and I took that mindset into sessions too. It was all about discovery. There’s no one sound that ties this project together and I think that kinda gives a good insight into how I was feeling mentally and creatively through this process.
How did you come up with the title, “MixTea_MilkTape!”?
I’m a very very big fan of Bubble Teas, particularly Milk tea options. If it’s available I will order a couple into a session. When I was working at home in Liverpool there were so many bubble tea shops in the city. I feel like they fuel my creativity at this point. Honestly they just bring me a lot of joy! I was thinking of going for “MixTea_MilkTape!”, but I was getting confused sometimes so I just went with it. I’d like to give a shoutout to my favourite chain Jidong, in Liverpool City Centre and beyond.
How did you select the lead singles, “So Much More”, “Luh Luh Love”, and “Nothing’s Easy”?
I think that these songs connected the most with me and the team and I felt they would connect the most with fans too. They’re all quite different so it shows the variety that you can expect from the milktape. I remember when I first sent over “Luh Luh Love” everyone went crazy. I know I couldn’t stop listening to it! It was simple but really made me feel so warm. I like the singable aspect of it too, it felt right as a single.
“So Much More” and “Nothing’s Easy” are a bit more vulnerable and exposing for me but I think people could relate to them a lot. Mixed with the luscious sounds as well they feel big and like you can submerge in those songs so in themselves; I hope people can see them like an experience.
How does the project as a whole expand on these tracks?
I visit similar themes to “So Much More” and “Nothing’s Easy” in other tracks like “Lush” and “End of the World”. But they have different energies and come from different moments in my life. Expanding on the themes of discovery, I’ve even got a song that I wrote, produced and recorded myself. It’s the first one I’ve ever released like that. I’ve always wanted to do that for myself, so I’m excited that this Mixtape has allowed me to begin that journey too.
Do you have a favourite song?
My favourite song is “DONT WAIT”, which is the lead track on the mixtape. I wrote it with artist and producer Khushi. This was the first song we’d ever written and it’s a simple premise about getting out there and working up the courage to go and get what you want. It also felt like siking yourself up to get back into the ‘real world’. When we finished it we were like, “what have we created?!”. It’s probably the most recent Ruti sound and signals another era.
What are you hoping people take away from the project?
I think I always hope for the same thing. I hope that people feel like they know me a little better after hearing it. See how I’ve changed since “All At Once”, my last EP. They might take a new perspective on things. But I really hope it can inspire people to create what they want to create, whatever medium that may be.
Aside from this release, what are you looking forward to in the near future?
I’ve got a headline gig on the 27th of June at The Grace that I cannot wait for! I love performing live. I feel like that’s my thing, where I connect the most with my audience. I haven’t done a headline since 2021, so I’m buzzing!