Quick-fire questions: 10 minutes with Ruby Duff
Ruby Duff is surrounded by colour. No, really—her latest video transforms monochrome filters into an insatiable world of technicolour where seizing the moment is the only real option before we leave this world behind. In 2021, Duff released the ambitious yet endearing ‘Party’, a song dedicated to the human search for feeling alive for one perfect moment.
Duff has since returned with the follow-up track, ‘Glitterball’, which appropriately takes the former’s fluttering edges and emerges a dark and all-knowing butterfly, one that beckons you into its enticing world and urges you to question whether you’re doing enough to satisfy your inner desires. ‘Glitterball’ is undeniably Duff’s most daring track yet, but at this point, it’s difficult to expect anything less from one of the most positive and self-confident figures in music.
Duff is one of those people whose world blankets you the moment you hear the first notes. There’s a humbleness there amid the chaotic, colourful explosion of talent and bubbliness, but it comes with an effervescence that only the most authentic could possess. Duff is optimistic but aware, talented but free from vanity, and a powerhouse of a singer who is brilliant in conversation.
Her music is perhaps more reflective of the times and the womanly experience than most, with a cynical campness that sets her apart: Duff may appear delicate in demeanour, but she is also a force, and watching her artistry grow and develop is one of the most exciting experiences—an ongoing journey that captures the complexities and contradictions of modern womanhood, continuously challenging and expanding the boundaries of musical expression.
Luckily, we managed to pin down the busy singer for ten minutes so we could pick her brains and ask some of the all-important questions…
Quick-fire questions with Ruby Duff:
What’s your favourite album of 2024 so far?
“All Born Screaming by St Vincent. I love everything from her visuals to her track intros and outros. They are unapologetically themselves and push boundaries in ways that are so refreshing for this day and age.”
What song would you want played at your funeral?
“It’s extremely controversial, and my family constantly bully me for this decision, but for reasons unknown to me, it would be Hot 8 Brass Band’s version of Martin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’. Although the lyrics would make for a hilarious contrast, there’s something so joyful and reminiscent of this colourful rendition. I would like to think when the time comes my funeral could be a celebration of life, and who better to do it than Hot 8 Brass band themselves?!”
Do you believe in ghosts?
“I don’t not believe in ghosts is probably the best way to answer this one…”
With an hour to kill and no plans, what are you doing?
“Any excess time I have, my mind goes into overdrive, and I try and fit in an unhuman amount of work. I would probably start with life admin, like all those bills I haven’t paid, which, as I’m writing this response, prompted me to do so. God, I’m so boring! I guess, if I were really on top of my life, I would be sat at my piano tinkling about without any pressures to finish a song for myself or anyone else.”
What’s your most controversial cultural opinion?
“If you don’t like Yorkshire Tea, you shouldn’t be allowed into Yorkshire.”
What song are you the most proud of?
“‘Glitterball’. It took quite some time to finish this track for many reasons, including the amount of crazy sections it has. But I’m so proud of the way it came together, and the people involved on this track are all very close to my heart, from my band, Melker Nilsson on bass and Jack Bebbington on drums, to also some longtime friends of mine, producers Robert Matthews and Ben Christophers. I feel ‘Glitterball’ will have its time to shine, and I’m still trying to figure out what era it will fit in.”
Who is your biggest influence?
“There is not one person, and there never will be. So, for now, I will say who influenced me most recently, which was my friend’s band Still In Love. They played The Garage, and from the moment they walked on stage, they grabbed the audience’s attention just by being themselves. They performed as if no one was watching in the way that they were so into their own music, but at the same time, they managed to interact with the audience as if they were headlining Glastonbury. It definitely helped fire me up for my next performance!”
What is the ultimate comfort movie?
“My partner won’t believe this is my answer because, generally, I’m not one for rom-coms. However, for the pure hilarity and humanity of Steve Carell, it’s got to be Crazy, Stupid, Love.”
What would be your fantasy concert?
“Easy. Fleetwood Mac.”
Are there any conspiracy theories that you sort of believe in?
“Michael Jackson is not dead. I don’t believe the man did a tour and then just left this world out of coincidence. I won’t compile my Reddit dark hole, but if you get a spare hour, I highly recommend the fascination.”
What are you the most looking forward to?
“Releasing my next EP! It’s filled with total utter madness and randomness, just like me! So keep your eyes and ears peeled.”
Who is the greatest songwriter of all time?
“Max Martin. The Swedes do it better! That’s why I got a band full of them and am currently learning the language on Duolingo.”
What was the first artist you remember falling in love with?
“Shania Twain, and, lucky for me, she’s currently making a comeback!”
Are The Beatles overrated?
“Never. As much as I initially wanted to dislike them in order to not conform to society’s ‘norm’, it’s impossible not to sing or hum one of their songs.”
