Twenty-one-year-old Ruel (Ruel Vincent van Dijk) from Sydney, Australia, has been referred to as a “heartthrob,” “astonishing talent,” and “golden boy of Aussie music,” amassing over 3 billion world streams and counting. The award-winning singer spoke to Newsweek‘s Ramsen Shamon after his first Lollapalooza efficiency. Ruel’s newest EP of canopy songs, Adaptions, was launched earlier this month, giving his followers (he is massive in Asia, particularly the Philippines) one thing to take heed to on repeat.
Q_How did it really feel taking part in Lollapalooza?
A_It was wonderful. It was very surreal. I have been seeing movies since I used to be a child of the Chicago skyline—of individuals taking part in. I used to be blown away. I did not assume my stage was gonna have that skyline, nevertheless it did. It was a dream.
I feel I noticed you strolling round earlier than your efficiency. I used to be like, “Is that him? I am not gonna hassle him.”
Oh no, don’t fret about it. You may at all times come up.
Do you get acknowledged?
Now and again. It is undoubtedly not gotten to a loopy level. However , sure locations. Perhaps at house [the recognition in public] is a little more. Out in America, extra individuals, more room. Additionally, there’s greater celebrities out right here. There’s individuals who do not actually give a shit [here]. Laughs. Yeah, it is advantageous.
Congrats on Diversifications, your new EP.
Thanks very a lot.
Ramsen Shamon/Newsweek
How are the followers receiving it?
It has been a tremendous reception thus far. It is like a bizarre factor, as a result of it’s simply, , it is a cowl EP. It offers individuals extra proper to not prefer it, I consider, as a result of it is songs that folks love, and if issues are modified that you simply love concerning the music, then you are gonna hate it. So it is a arduous steadiness. However I am actually, actually proud of how my followers are receiving it. And I actually love the EP. It was actually enjoyable to make.
Do you could have a favourite music from Diversifications?
I feel I really like Hollywood, or I really like my cowl of Disguise and Search by Imogen Heap.
How lengthy did it take to finish the album?
Oh, not lengthy in any respect. It was in between writing the album, which is taking a very long time. In between the album, we solely spent like a like a month or two on it. Identical to recording, and understanding manufacturing did not take loopy lengthy in any respect. The longest bit was simply discovering the fitting songs.
To finalize the copyrights to sing the songs?
No, not that. Simply to search out the fitting music to sing that may really feel good in my voice.
You are fairly profitable at a younger age. I am certain you are sick of listening to that.
Laughs. No, I am undoubtedly not [sick of hearing that].
So how does it really feel to be so profitable when you’re nonetheless younger?
It is arduous to reply that, I suppose. I really feel like I used to be at all times attempting to dissociate between success and who I’m. And I really feel like that is actually labored for me, and particularly rising up in Australia. It is a very completely different tradition on the market, the place it is at all times finest to maintain it to your self, and reside life as if nothing else is sort of happening in your life, which is an effective and a nasty factor. I do not know. [The success] hasn’t actually affected me an excessive amount of.
Trying forward, what objectives do you could have to your profession?
So I’ve by no means actually set objectives. I at all times really feel like they’ve at all times scared me slightly bit an excessive amount of. I at all times really feel like objectives have at all times made me really feel prefer it provides on stress that I already do not want. I do not know—that is additionally a bit dangerous, possibly a nasty factor as effectively. I simply hope I am nonetheless making music within the subsequent 15 years, and I hope I nonetheless have the identical sort of love for it and dedication for it to complete the identical sort of struggle—struggle for it. I really feel like that is my solely actual purpose, is that I hope I sort of put myself in conditions the place I nonetheless find it irresistible in 10 years.
Talking concerning the future. Who would you like to work with?
Oh, yeah, there’s heaps. I’m a really collaborative individual. I really feel prefer it’s at all times arduous, however there is a bunch of individuals. I’ve simply moved to LA. So there is a bit extra happening on the market than Sydney. I might like to work with Frank Ocean, or James Blake, or Paolo Nutini even.
How did the collab with Omar Apollo for Need U Round occur?
That was cool. I met him at a pageant in Australia in 2020. We received alongside, and I stayed in contact. After which a couple of months later in the midst of COVID, he simply texted me saying, “Hey, I’ve received the music referred to as, Need U Round. I’ve left the second verse up. Do you need to do it?” And I really feel prefer it was simply the traditional [story]—instantly mentioned, “Yeah.” Went house and recorded it, despatched it again to him, after which he put it out inside a couple of weeks. It was fairly straightforward.
Often you hear a collaborative music launch being delayed attributable to label points or different components.
Yeah, precisely. It felt very streamlined. There was no pushback. It was simply, ship him the verse. He put it on. It is a actually quick verse, and I simply sang the refrain, and it was very easy.
Ramsen Shamon/Newsweek
How do you want residing in LA?
I get used to it. I’ve at all times come for like, two [or] three month journeys since I used to be 15, and I might at all times hate it. By the top of the 2 months, I might be like, “I simply need to go house. This place sucks. I really feel so alone.” I did not know anybody, and I used to be at all times very, very towards it. And being there now, it has been longer than a couple of months, so it would not really feel identical to a visit. And I’ve received a pleasant place, and I’ve received my mates on the market. And I am beginning to discover slightly little bit of a group on the market. And I have been busy, which feels good as effectively. So yeah, issues are shaping up good. We’ll see the way it goes.
Do you have already got a favourite native cafe or espresso store?
Oh yeah, I am in Eagle Rock. So there’s [a] bunch round, like Loop, and … attempting to assume, Kumquat. I am an East Aspect man.
Do you could have a music or album of the summer time?
It is arduous to not say [Charli XCX’s] Brat or Sabrina [Carpenter]. It is arduous.
Sabrina’s Please Please Please or Espresso?
Actually, that is arduous. That is an excellent tougher query than what is the music of the summer time? However for me, if I needed to choose my music of the summer time that wasn’t pressured upon me by the radio—I do love Sabrina and Brat—I might say Juna by Clairo.
You are from Sydney. Which is the higher Australian metropolis? Sydney or Melbourne?
It is actually arduous. It is like a LA, New York type of factor. I really feel like there is not any proper reply as a result of I really feel like there’s nice issues about each. However for me, I feel it is all character based mostly. I like to surf. I really like the seashore. I am into nature, and that is what Sydney has higher than Melbourne. If you happen to’re into going out, seeing some cool artwork, or espresso much more than Sydney, I suppose, eating places, stuff like that—which I am additionally into—I really feel like Melbourne’s your go. However for me, I am a Sydney man.
Are you Workforce Vegemite?
Oh, for certain, yeah. I do not assume any Australian is not crew Vegemite. However we perceive should you do not prefer it. We sort of like how different individuals do not prefer it. I feel we sort of gatekeep it.
What do you eat it with?
Simply on toast with a bunch of butter, like a loopy quantity of butter.
What message you could have for all of your followers? You are actually massive within the Philippines.
Yeah that is been a cool market that I have been going again to. It has been enjoyable.
What do you need to inform your followers within the Philippines?
I simply need to say thanks a lot for sticking round. I have been coming again to the Philippines for the previous 5 years now, and each time has been unimaginable. And it is such a loopy factor to really feel like, , out of wherever on the planet, that is now certainly one of my greatest markets. So I simply need to at all times reciprocate the love as a lot as attainable, so that you guys aren’t left hanging on the market. However yeah, I will be again quickly.
If you happen to weren’t doing music, what would you need to be doing?
If I wasn’t doing music, I … that is tremendous arduous man. I began too early to have any backup plan. Laughs. This was my backup plan. The primary [plan] was simply gonna be like, simply undergo the wringer and determine what my precise job is. Like , go to uni, go to highschool, do all of the issues. However I sort of skipped all that, so I do not know. I really feel like I might find yourself doing a little sort of one thing in English. I liked English in school. I really like both comprehension to journalism to inventive writing.
How’s your love life going?
It is nice. My girlfriend and I’ve been collectively for 4 years. It has been wonderful. It is boring. Sorry. Laughs.
Any remaining ideas?
Different than simply the brand new EP got here out a couple of days in the past—I am actually, actually loving it. So whoever’s studying, take a look at Diversifications.
Parts of this interview had been edited for readability.
