Apr 30

Apr 30 Ru: "Clean Slate" (Exclusive Interview)

What inspires your music?

This is such an interesting question. So many things. I'd say life in general. Moments, feelings, the simple, "mundane" things I observe daily, people, animals, stories, nature, the rain. The songs on my first EP were mainly about overcoming struggles though. I find it important to convey a hopeful message through my music, with music and lyrics that leave the listener in a higher vibe and inspired to make a change.

How did you start your recording career?

Well, the first time I recorded my minimalist piano compositions was for the GCSE music final exam (not sure if this counts). I think that was the first time I recorded in a professional studio. At 18 I was invited to join a professional blues soul rock band because the guitarist (my guitar teacher at the time and a brilliant musician) accidentally heard a rough recording of a song I had recorded with a friend. A few months later I was in a recording studio recording my first album with some of the best musicians in the industry and going on tour.

How did you come up with your single?

Clean Slate was an interesting one. I had written the lyrics 5 years before I came up with the melody and chord structure. At the time I was going through a rough time and making big changes in my life, so I wrote it as a way of letting go of the past and making space for a Clean Slate to start all over again in the future. 5 years later, I was eating pancakes in the garden and the melody rhythm just appeared in my head. I dropped everything I was doing, rushed over to the piano and wrote the chords, after a bit of humming and scat singing over the melody/rhythm that had just popped in my mind, I realised it fit the lyrics of the song Clean Slate I had written 5 years before perfectly.

What is your genre of music?

This is a tough one. I'd say it's a mix of most of my musical influences basically, and I grew up playing classical music, studied jazz and bossa nova at university and went through a soul, funk, acid jazz, rock, pop, latin phase. If I had to label it, I'd say it's a mix of Acid Jazz, Soul, Pop, Funk and Bossa Nova.

Who are your influences?

Definitely Jamiroquai, Sly and the Family Stone, Lianne La Havas, Jamie Cullum, Gregory Porter, Esperanza Spalding, Chris Cornell, Ella Fitzgerald, Seu Jorge, Kurt Elling, Earth Wind and Fire, Tom Misch, Chet Baker, John Mayer, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, Oasis, Blur, and the list goes on.

How do you define success?

This is such a hard question. To me, success is staying true to yourself and your values even when life gets in the way. It's knowing who you are, what brings you real joy, and working on achieving goals that make your heart sing. Money, awards, opportunities, are just a consequence of that.

What can we expect from you in 2021?

Covid permitting, a UK tour! :) That's what I'm working on at the moment. I've got 2 live videos with my band coming up soon on youtube, a collaboration with an incredible UK Dj in the works, and working on finishing my next single.