WRITTEN BY AMANDA COLLINS
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Alice Ruby, a Melbourne-based ethereal lo-fi indie pop artist with a background in film scoring, is genre-blending on single “Lock & Key.” A gorgeously layered piece, the song is a meshing of orchestral strings and lush, dreamy lo-fi vocals and synths.
With a background in film, Ruby has a unique approach to her music. “Music is very visual for me. If “Lock & Key” was a film it would be a mystery film noir, or filmed in a foreign city, in the dead of night. I tried to capture this through the moody production, using darker tonalities and lots of interesting textures. The bridge section really invites listeners to escape into this world, consuming them in a melancholic alternate verse.”
Aligning with its title, the song is also thematically rich, comparing locked doors to the heart and keys to the choice to open up to another person.
“Lock & Key” explores the complexities around connection as well as what parts of myself I choose to show to others and why.”
Ruby’s own journey with the risky, yet rewarding, passage from guardedness to vulnerability within relationships alongside the cinematic, symphonic sonic layers gives “Lock & Key” an identity of its own.
Read below for Life on Jupiter’s conversation with Alice Ruby on “Lock & Key,” who she is as a multi-media artist, and her Australian tour supporting singer effe.
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LIFE ON JUPITER: For readers who are not yet familiar, can you introduce yourself and your sound?
ALICE RUBY: My name is Alice Ruby, and I am a 22-year-old artist from Melbourne, Australia. I make ethereal, lo-fi indie pop music inspired by artists like The Marías, Lana Del Rey and Men I Trust. My background is in classical violin and film composition and has influenced my artistic practice. Much like film, I see music as a means to escape from reality and step into an alternate, romanticised world.
Your music is quite layered, ranging from synths to orchestral moments. Who are your biggest inspirations, in life or music?
RUBY: Growing up as a violinist/ classical musician I am always drawn back to classical music for inspiration, especially when it comes to writing interesting melodies, chords and harmony structures. Some of my favourite classical composers are Ravel, Bartók and of course Tchaikovsky. Alongside this, growing up in the 2010s, I really connected with artists of that Tumblr era like Lana del Rey, Angus and Julia Stone and Sky Ferreira. I was fascinated by the worlds they built through their music and how their music reflected who they were as individuals. In the mix of this, I’ve tended to connect with artists who combine femininity with a darker, moodier sound and really love artists like Beach House, The Marias, Cocteau Twins and Stina Nordenstam.
“Lock & Key” is based on your piece “Skeleton Key.” Can you take us through what the process was like from the original “Skeleton Key” to the finalized version of “Lock & Key”?
RUBY: I love writing orchestral music. I feel like strings have an innate ability to explore melody, harmony and expression in ways that many other instruments can not. I took melodies from “Skeleton Key” and scattered them throughout different instruments in the produced “Lock & Key.” I think the clearest connection is through the bridge section where I have taken a clear excerpt from “Skeleton Key.” I layered over 25 violins to create my own string orchestra, with one violin part distinguishing itself as the lead. I wanted it to feel like a ballet piece, perhaps as a metaphor for the dance we all play with one another - dancing around conversations, feelings and connection.
“Lock & Key” is about what it takes to let someone in, and the pride surrounding the act. How has pride shown up in your own relationships, and what’s your relationship to your own pride?
RUBY: For so much of my life, I have feared judgement from others. I don’t want to be misinterpreted or misunderstood and because of this I often shut people out completely. “Lock & Key” explores the complexities around connection as well as what parts of myself I choose to show to others and why.
Antique doors are such a unique inspiration for the meaning behind the song. Was there a specific moment you remember that gave you the idea?
RUBY: Two years ago I went to Europe and found the old doors to be so beautiful (we don’t have historical architecture like that here in Australia). They seemed like portals into an old world, or another parallel universe, all neatly lined up along the street. Maybe portals to a universe where everything worked out differently?
Your artistic practice includes film scoring. How do you think that influenced the production of “Lock & Key”?
RUBY: Music is very visual for me. If “Lock & Key” was a film, it would be a mystery film noir, filmed in a foreign city, in the dead of night. I tried to capture this through the moody production, using darker tonalities and lots of interesting textures. The bridge section really invites listeners to escape into this world, consuming them in a melancholic alternate verse.
What is different about your approach to film music vs personal, and what overlaps?
RUBY: I think the key difference between film music and my artist project is purpose. For film music, you are writing for that world, trying to highlight in the world that was made through visuals and the director's vision. Alternatively, for my own project, I am creating the world and seeing where my own story fits within it. However, so much of what I learn from one project is applicable to the other. I am often using new plug ins, and composition techniques which I will adapt for the other project. I find that very exciting.
You are about to tour with singer effe. What excites you most about this tour?
RUBY: I am joining effe on stage as her violinist! This is the first set of shows where I am just playing violin, allowing me to really focus on the instrument and explore its capabilities in a live context. Violin and strings are so present in trip hop and pop music yet I feel like they never are given the spotlight they deserve, so I am excited to have a chance to do so. On top of this, I adore effe’s music and it’s so much fun to play her songs.
What is on the horizon for you and how are you feeling at this point in your musical career?
RUBY: I just released another track titled “Forever 17”! Inspired by the quote “I am a museum of everyone who I have ever loved,” “Forever 17” reflects on the people, places, and possessions tying me to a past self. Originally a bedroom demo, this song was later produced by Edward Quinn (Telenova, Slum Sociable), mixed by AJ Bradford (Tender Trap Studios, Mika James), and mastered by Becki Whitton. This is the second release from my debut EP titled Ivory, coming out in December. This is a five track EP, capturing my essence as an artist. I am so excited to share it!
