Ruel Talks Free Time, His Full-Length Debut, And The Perfection Of Billie Eilish

By Gus Turner


Our mid-teens greet us with a slate of familiar milestones: super sweet 16s, quinceañeras, a first vehicle. However for 16-year-old singer-songwriter Ruel, the regular traditions of teenage life are speedily becoming sidelined for a unusual set of priorities: a record deal with a major label, a ballooning fanbase of more than million followers, as well as a worldwide tour taking him across three continents to perform his second EP, Free Time. The Australian artist's most recent project, released by way of the RCA on September 13, is a seven-song showcase that partnered him with songwriters like Tobias Jesso Jr., Nick Long (Bebe Rexha, King Princess), and Sarah Aarons (Zedd, Alessia Cara). Following 2018's Ready EP, it's an accomplished reflection of Ruel's stated influences, contemporary touchstones, and his own, growing voice — a warm tenor that calls to mind Justin Bieber's Purpose, the tenderness of Shawn Mendes, and Frank Ocean's gentle touch.


Based in Sydney, where he was raised, Ruel place on Earth Ruel Vincent van Dijk) has been singing from a young age — three or four, he says — and playing guitar since he was eight. In 2015, a chance company relationship between his father — an advertising executive — and the Australian writer and producer M-Phazes launched his career at the time his peers would've just been finishing up primary school. Soon after Ruel's father sent over a recording of his son covering James Bay's "Let It Go," M-Phazes — who's worked with Madonna, Demi Lovato, and Kyle — eventually led Ruel to RCA.


On the ballad-heavy Ready, Ruel lamented waning friendships ("Younger") and celebrated the wobbly-kneed bliss of a new crush ("Dazed & Confused"); meanwhile, Free Time shoulders regret, heartbreak, and even a little bit FOMO ("Hard Some days, as he hones in on the uneasy balance between pursuing his dream and staying close with his companions back home.


That dream, nevertheless, is speedily becoming Ruel's reality. As he embarks on his tour's North American leg  — where he'll be playing two sold-out shows a night in cities like Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles — the "Face to Face" singer discussed with MTV News about Free Time, his rapid rise, and the beginnings of his forthcoming full-length debut.


This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.


MTV News: As you were beginning to prepare Free Time, was there anything that you set out to change from Ready? How would you describe the distinction between the two?


Ruel: I have grown a lot since Ready. I guess my ability to write has gotten better. I've really wanted to have my influences come across more. [For] Ready, I was in the sessions, I was writing the songs, however I did not have a creative direction. So I was really just saying yes to anything anyone else was saying. I was like, yeah, let's do that. Then I'd just write to something that still related to me, nevertheless musically, I didn't really know that I wanted. On Free Time, If I was writing it, I just had a lot more creative direction. I was directing the sessions. As soon as it came to production as well, I was a lot more involved in that and exactly what songs that I wanted.


MTV News: You've come for now in such a short period of time. Are there ever moments where you're wishing that the trajectory you're on would settle down a little? "Hard Some days appears to point at that.


Ruel: To me, songwriting is exaggerating to an extent. On that song, yeah, I was feeling down. I was feeling like I was in the middle of tour and I was just missing my companions a little and I just wanted to capture that one, little, small feeling and make it into one big thing because that's what I like to do so much. I like to take the very small and try making it into something that would be relatable to large amounts of people.


MTV News: Once did you know, like, "Oh, music: This is something that I can do." Was it at a show? Or did it happen in a different environment? 


Ruel: It was really Whenever I made "Don't Tell Me." We got the final cut back — it was being produced by M-Phazes — and recorded it. And that was the initial time I was like, this actually sounds really good. I'm overjoyed of it. I felt so shocked that something could come out like that. It was so raw plus it was coming from me.


In a live setting, I feel like the largest show that I played ever —  well, back then, it was the hugest show — I played at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney in my hometown. That was like 2,500 people. That was the time, I walked out onstage — it was so huge for me. I may visualize my companions all in the front row. A little bit crazy, a bunch of crazy things, and then at the end of the show, my boss came out with a plaque saying that my song "Younger" just went gold. It all just was very, very emotional. That was certainly the time I was like, ahh, it all began with these people.


MTV News: there really are so several younger stars like yourself leading pop right now: Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Shawn Mendes, Khalid, just to name several. Is there anyone in particular out there who you're looking to as an inspiration for your own career? Anyone you'd visualize yourself even networking with with? 


Ruel: I'm an enormous fan of Tyler, the Creator, and why he came to be and why he genuine created an empire with Uncommon Future, and then just went up from then on. I feel like his development as an artist, and every album he puts out, I feel like he just keeps getting better and better and more layered. I just feel like everything he does, everything he touches is gold. I am huge fan of him and would love to collaborate with him one day.


Looking at someone's career, I feel like the ideal way to sort of do it is Billie Eilish. I reckon she has done it to perfection, like her rise. I feel like her team just nailed it, and she nailed it. All of the songs that she put out were just so fantastic. Her image is so strong. I feel like, yeah, it's certainly a lot to be inspired by.


MTV News: Free Time and Ready are substantial EPs, although do you have a plan for a full-length soon? Was there anything that got left in back of in these sessions that you really wish to go back to?


Ruel: Next year, I am certainly aiming for an album. 2020. I've already written, like, five songs for it I really wish to put in there. I went to Paris with Sarah Aarons and in three days, we just wrote, like, five songs. Each and every one of these I love so much, and I want all of those to be on the second record. It's a different sound to Free Time, although I already feel like it’s where I want to go next.


MTV News: How would you describe that creative direction? Was there anything about Paris you noticed particularly inspiring?


Ruel: It was probably something in the Parisian air. We were in this crazy Airbnb that we got. I don't like to write in studios, especially as soon as I'm first writing. I like to work, like, on a sofa in the living room with just a computer there... It just feels way more comfortable. And the more comfortable you are, the better you write.


And since Sarah and I have got such a strong relationship, and we know each other so well right now, it was just, you know, settled down. I feel like we just knew exactly what each other wanted. We've written these wonderful songs. Yeah, I don't know how to describe it or put it in a genre nevertheless it's certainly different and something I would like to explore.