Published on: Young STAR, 2019
A cover article on the Manila Ready Tour of singer Ruel.
Before we start things off, just in case you didn’t know, Ruel is pronounced /rool/ and not /ru-el/ (fancy, right?). Hailing from the Land Down Under, 16-year-old singer Ruel just kicked off his Ready Tour last March 16 at the Teatrino in Greenhills.
He prepared an intimate setup for his fans (the ‘Ruelettes’) as he sang covers, tracks from his EP, and even a few unreleased songs.
Aside from his boyish charm and good looks, Ruel dazzled fans with his sweet, catchy, and heartfelt sound. He started out in 2018 with the hit singles Younger and Dazed & Confused. He’s been releasing music for less than a year and yet has clearly made an impact in that span of time. In fact, two hours before his concert, over 50 fans were lined up outside the venue.
But what did the Ruelettes see in Ruel for him to get so much dedication? We asked a couple of early birds why they like the Aussie pop star and most of them had the same answer: because he’s humble.
Ruel doesn’t seem to be the type of artist to brag about his wealth, fame, and connections. His feet have never left the ground even when music legend Sir Elton John gushed and praised the teen singer’s “amazing voice.” He just humbly takes the Rocket Man’s advice to “always stick around with people you trust, to build a team you love and respect.”
He’s also encouraging other artists to confidently be themselves in the midst of the high-pressure of the music industry. While other young artists are busy showing off their expensive things on social media, Ruel doesn’t buy into the idea of having to prove himself through lavishness. In an interview with Vevo, he said, “When I see this pressure on these certain artists who buy into the high-end world I really feel like the most important thing is to be confident, be unique, and make your own hype.”
Ruel’s down-to-earth attitude allows him to focus on what truly matters: making sincere songs to inspire and connect to his fans. During the concert, he kept thanking the audience and sharing the stories of his songs.
Before he sang Unsaid, he mentioned that the song was originally a love song about a certain girl but then he changed it up to be about anxiety and depression after he found out that one of his friends was going through a tough time.
Ruel may fit the teenage heartthrob stereotype — seasoned music enthusiasts may roll their eyes at how his fans call his pop music “fresh” — but he’s creating a positive impact towards his young audience by staying humble despite his continuous success and recognition. And in an age when negative influences are within reach thanks to social media, maybe Ruel is one of the artists this generation needs.
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