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Rising indie songstress Ruti is reflecting on situationships in their latest single “Maybe I Got It Wrong.” We asked Ruti all about “Maybe I Got It Wrong” and opening for Olivia Rodrigo at BST Hyde Park. 

Ones To Watch: Who is Ruti? What’s the must know for new fans?

Ruti: Hi I’m Ruti! I am a singer songwriter from Essex, 25, Virgo, 5 foot nine. 

 What was the process like in creating “Maybe I Got It Wrong”? Was it one of those songs that comes together in 20 minutes or was it a longer process?

It was my first session with Tom McFarland (Jungle) and I brought the guitar riff that you hear at the beginning. I feel like we really bounced off each other so it all kinda came together in the day. From then I literally could not stop listening to it. It was a very easy process, not every song comes together like this one. I’ll tell you that. I kind of wrote this song about a fictional situationship type situation. The song kind of became a self fulfilling prophecy and that’s all I’ll say on the matter...  

“Maybe I Got It Wrong” has lo-fi elements, layered harmonies, and even electronic touches. Who are some of your sonic influences that inspire the sound fans hear on this song? 

Definitely Labi Siffre and Laura Mvula are two of my biggest inspirations. I feel like you can hear them in the music that I’ve been making! I’ve been a lover of huge stacked harmonies since hearing the sing to moon album and now i fear it’s a huge part of my sound! Labi has such a unique blend of folk acoustic and soul in his music and that’s also the direction my music seems to be heading. 

 You started life as a dancer and that’s what ultimately led you to music. Does your dance background influence your music?  

Not necessarily, but I love to move and dance to all of the music that I make. I only make music that I would like to listen to instead of dance to. I’ll basically dance to anything anyway, ha ha! 

Is it important to you that your music be danceable? Whether that be dancing at the club or a more choreographed dance. 

It’s not essential to me. However, I love when people tag me in dance videos and choreography that they’ve made to my Music. It is a huge honour for me to see people using my music to express themselves. I love that people want to dance to the music I make. 

You played “Maybe I Got It Wrong” for the first time live as part of your opening set for Olivia Rodrigo at BST Hyde Park. What was the crowd’s reaction to this song? Did it make you even more excited to release it? 

I did! And I played it on a guitar that I’ve never played before (long story)!  The crowd really began to move and live up when I played it and of course the phones started to come out (I’m not complaining)! I kind of knew that people were gonna love it so it really did validate me, I’m not gonna lie! 

 Any other highlights from that BST Hyde Park show? 

Wouldn’t say it was a highlight but something that keeps me up at night is that during soundcheck my guitar stopped working. We tried everything - the last resort was mic up the guitar or get a new guitar to Hyde Park within the hour! Thankfully my friend was already on his way so he picked up a guitar for me (one that I’ve been wanting for awhile) and brought it back stage. It sounds kind of bougie that I just picked up a new guitar - but it was incredibly stressful, expensive and I almost had a panic attack. Silver lining is I got a guitar that I really wanted! 

 Is there anything upcoming that you can tease for fans? 

More really sick music that I’m very very proud of! And some gorgeous visuals of course!  

 Who are your OnesToWatch?

Big up to my friends who are also creating music Ant Lexa and Aby iO! Oh and Pompey!! I saw him on my fyp and his songs make me sob.