Australia has long been known for its exotic wildlife, iconic accents, and breathtaking landscapes, but Ruel is hoping to make it known for its musical artists.
Born in England to an English mother and a Dutch father, and then raised in Australia, Ruel van Dijk was exposed to multiple styles of music growing up. He was interested in music as a child and in 2015, his father sent producer M-Phazes a demo of Ruel covering James Bay’s “Let It Go” which led to him releasing a few songs with the company. In 2017, he released his first single at just 14 years old. He later signed with RCA Records and also opened for U.S. singer Khalid on the Australia/ New Zealand leg of his American Teen Tour.
Ruel, while still a smaller name on the music scene, has acquired multiple achievements, most notably being the youngest person ever to win the the Breakthrough Artist ARIA Award in 2018.
He has dropped two full albums – Free Time (2019) and 4TH WALL (2023). His recent single “Cats on the Ceiling” has gained a lot of attention on Spotify for its whimsical, catchy vibes, garnering over 6 million streams in just a couple weeks.
His first album, Free Time, is catchy and mimics more mainstream pop. Ruel does establish his unique style though with unique intros; often sounding like classical music but then morphing into more upbeat choruses. The simple instrumentation highlights Ruel’s powerful voice and allows the listener to focus on his reflective lyrics.
4TH WALL continues Ruel’s pattern of unique intros and provoking lyrics, but he does move a little bit farther away from mainstream pop with less traditional arrangements. This album is longer than his first one, and lets us get a better look into Ruel’s overall style. While focusing on the more melancholy side of relationships, this album still holds your attention despite slower songs and feels more personal than his previous songs.
I really like the direction Ruel is going with his latest singles (“Cats on the Ceiling” and “Dandelion”). The shift towards more light and airy indie pop I feel matches the vibe of Australia and is unique enough that it will stand out from anything else currently available.
My Top Ten:
- Cats on the Ceiling
- “Go On Without Me” (4TH WALL)
- Dandelion
- “Real Thing” (Free Time)
- “Face to Face” (Free Time)
- “Painkiller” (Free Time)
For fans of Nicky Youre, ROLE MODEL, and Benson Boone.
