Australian singer-songwriter Ruel breathes new life into an array of pop classics this week, with the release of his bold new covers EP ‘Adaptations’.
Sharing his thoughts on the project, the 21-year-old star says: “When the idea of an EP floated around, I immediately made a playlist of hundreds of songs that were either underrated gems, or my favourite hits, and then paired up with M-Phazes to bring them to life.”
Produced by GRAMMY-award-winning producer M-Phazes (Eminem, Madonna, Kehlani, Demi Lovato), the 5-track collection serves to showcase the raw emotion of the ‘Empty Love’ singers natural voice, as he pulls together a carefully curated collection of tracks, each linked by their “timeless honesty and vulnerability”.
Songs on the extended play include Tobias Jesso Jr.’s ‘Hollywood’, The Weeknd’s ‘Call Out My Name’, Sixpence None the Richer’s ‘Kiss Me’, Imogen Heap’s ‘Hide & Seek’ and Miley Cyrus’ ‘Malibu’.
To commemorate the project’s release, Ruel shares a brand new visualiser for ‘Hollywood’ directed by Bailen Estrada. Shot on film, this moody audio-visual experience embodies the “burn-out felt by generations of Hollywood hopefuls”.
As per a press release, the clips synopsis reads: “The looping imagery illustrates the wearied monotony of a life tirelessly dedicated to making a name for oneself in the city of stars. The final repetition of the lyric ‘I think I’m gonna die in Hollywood’ brings the viewer intimately close to Ruel, demonstrating his earnestness and genuine vulnerability tied to the song’s sentiment.”
Watch the official visualiser for ‘Hollywood’ below: