Dublin "post-punk melodic dream rock" singer Ruby Moss has released her song, Pretend. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
Ruby, who attends Dundalk Grammar School, is a classically trained musician currently preparing to take grade 8 piano in Spring 2023, grade 6 flute, grade 5 organ.
She toured with St Patrick's Cathedral Girls Choir last summer and sang for the Queen of Denmark in Roskilde
Pretend is her seventh self-penned single release since July 2021 and speaking about the track, she says, "The song is about how we are often told not to be true to our feelings, not to feel the things we feel, that things will get better when we know they won't. How society tells us to pretend that we are okay."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm 15, I’m vegan, my favourite things are piano, organ, flute, guitar, art, cats, spicy tofu, languages, maths, science, physics, books
How would you describe your music?
Multi-genre-ational (new word!). I love to write in different styles; a good piece of music and lyrics can cross genre lines. I prefer not to box myself into one specific genre although maybe that is a genre of its own!
Who are your musical inspirations?
Everything and everyone around me, anything I hear from phone ringtones to radio to birds singing and cats miaowing. I especially find inspiration in music figures such as Chopin, Mozart, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Clara Schumann, Indila, The Beatles, Susan O’Neill, Oasis, ELO, Fleetwood Mac.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
It’s hard to remember but I think it was going to see Sharon Shannon play accordion in the National Concert Hall when I was about nine years old. I remember being so inspired by her that I wanted to start learning the accordion and I joined my local Comhaltas. I still play accordion - not very well - with a trad group! Susan O’Neill was also playing support that day, and I found her songs to be very profound. I went up and spoke to her after the gig and realised that we have a lot in common. Susan has been very encouraging of me. Both Sharon Shannon and Susan O’Neill have been great role models for me.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I’ve never bought a record, but the first songs I remember liking and listening to online were Happy by Pharrell Williams, The Lovecats by The Cure and Mr Blue Sky by ELO
What’s your favourite song right now?
I always find this question tough, there are so many songs I like that it feels impossible to choose one. However, the songs I’m listening to most at the moment are La Dernière Danse by Indila, Op. 10 no. 3 by Chopin and my exam pieces for piano and organ.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"I’ll just sit tight through shadows of the night". I used to listen to Telephone Line by ELO before going to sleep. Whatever is happening or whatever you are feeling it will pass. That’s what we tell ourselves anyway, or that’s what we want to know. I don’t think music needs lyrics to have a message though. Music is already a language, and it is universal. For me Chopin’s Op.10 no.3 especially means a lot at the moment. Chopin didn’t name any of his pieces (although they’ve since been nicknamed) and I think that they shouldn’t be named if they never were intended to be.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is a really difficult question, as if you were only to listen to only one song for your whole life it would be unlikely for you to live your life without getting tired of it. If I had the ability to never get tired of the song, probably Op.10 no.3 by Chopin.
Where can people find your music/more information?
I am Ruby Moss Music on all platforms, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, etc, and there is a website for more information. Look out for my new single Pretend - it’s out on all platforms now.
