Memphis based singer/songwriter Faith Evans Ruch is back with her brand new album; ‘Lessons In Falling‘. The LP has a full-band structure and has incorporated new influences from soul, RnB and pop.
Here we speak exclusively to Faith about her new album, musical inspirations, future plans, and much, much more;
Growing up who inspired your love of music?
Oh wow, this is the question with the most all over the place answer! Let’s see…Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Otis Redding, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Al Green…I’m somewhere smack dab in the middle of classic country and soul music. My buddy who’s a radio DJ in New Orleans calls me “country soul” and I guess that’s pretty fitting once you read this list.
If you weren’t a singer what would you be doing?
I joke that singing is my night job because nursing is my day job. I got my nursing degree from the University of Memphis (GO TIGERS!) in 2010 and I’ve been a labor and delivery nurse ever since. In fact, I was delivering babies before I learned to play guitar! It was actually during the free time in between and after 12 hour hospital shifts that I taught myself to play.
If you could collaborate with anyone who would you choose?
Living? I’d have to say I’d love to co-wirte a song with Margo Price. A lot of my music has been referred to as “country” and I really resented that until Margo Price popped up on the scene with her debut album ‘Midwest Farmer’s Daughter’. I’ve been disappointed by what the masses consider “country music” these days, and Margo is really on the forefront of redefining and taking country music back to its roots and the sounds that brought me through my childhood and so many of the artists who have influenced my own music. Her authentic outlaw/singer-songwriter based sound is just iconic and a true tip of the hat to all of the genres that have influenced and blended with what I would call “real” country music over the years. She’s both classic and modern, and even though she is from Nashville you can hear the grit and soul of Memphis in her recordings?.? I may be a little biased to that, but damn, that girl rocks it!
Who are you currently listening to at the moment?
Margo Price, Elizabeth Cook, Lianne La Havas, Father John Misty, Leon Bridges, and Michael Kiwanuka.
How excited are you about the release of your new album ‘Lessons In Falling’?
I’m ecstatic! This is my favorite album I’ve released and I’ve gotten nothing but love for it boiling over so far so I’m excited to see how it continues to simmer!
What can fans expect from the record?
This album explores some new sounds from me as an artist. Fans can still expect my deep southern vocals (I got asked in an interview last year why my songs still carry a hint of country even though they are soul songs and I had to explain that you can’t extinguish the southern accent in a girl raised her whole life in the south) but this album is much more of a soul record than anything else. With a lot of “Memphis horns-esque” horn lines, and even some nods to R&B and pop, ‘Lessons In Falling’ is my most guttural, deep rooted in all the sounds of my Memphis upbringing, and upbeat album to date, while still staying true to enough of my traditional Americana influences to keep old fans engaged while opening up the doors to new fans. It’s fun, it’s emotional, it’s sultry, it’s crushing, it’s an emotional and sonic roller-coaster fitting for the title and concept of falling in and out of love.
Do you plan on touring the LP?
I do! I am currently working on booking dates out of town for the end of winter through the spring and summer to give people time to come out of holiday hibernation and thaw out from the cold while I enjoy my own turkey time with family over the next couple of months! I was able to tour England with my last EP in 2015 and have plans in the works to return in 2018 to promote this new album, as well as to extend my US touring outside of my usual southern and southeastern stomping ground to the north and west. Stay tuned for upcoming tour date announcements over the new few months!
What do you hope to achieve over the course of your career?
I want to see the world while sharing my art with people who may be as touched by my music as I have been by those who inspired me to use words and melodies to process my own emotions in the first place. That is what music is all about and it why I love it—the ability to relate and connect. Whatever extent that takes me to, I am forever humble and grateful for.
Make sure you follow Faith Evans Ruch on Twitter @faithevansruch to keep up to date with all her latest music and tour news!
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