15-year old rising Australian pop singer Ruel exhibits maturity and soulfulness beyond his years on his superb debut EP, Ready (EP).

Let’s cut straight to the chase.  There are very few 15-year-olds that have the ‘chops’ that up-and-coming Aussie pop singer Ruel has.  Mark my wor20ds – this kid is truly special. His voice oozes with expression, nuance, and the utmost soulfulness.  When encountering him for the first time, I was stunned to find out he was only 15.  As Aaliyah once sung, “Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a Number.” Ruel certain proves that throughout the course of his debut EP, Ready. The grit and the passion he sings with – magnificent.

“Younger”

Ready commences with “Intro,” a piano-driven interlude, featuring a phone conversation in the background.  It seamlessly segues into “Younger”, a surefire, soulful-pop standout.  “Deep in my heart I / Know that it’s over… / So I can’t call you / Call you my brother / The way we used to / When we were younger, younger.”  Ruel is on-point throughout the record, reminiscing back to a friendship from his youth that has since ceased.   He’s clearly perturbed on the aforementioned chorus and goes on to sing about his efforts trying to rekindle the friendship sans success.  Ultimately, the message he conveys is relatable to everyone – who hasn’t had a friend that they’ve lost contact with or grew apart from?  The soulful, gospel-infused production is fitting given the yearning, regretful, and reminiscent nature of this record.

“I can’t even walk in a straight line / Under the influence.” The soulfulness continues without a hitch on “Dazed & Confused,” an energetic slow jam set in lilting, six-eight time. The best feature continues to be Ruel, who impresses with a voice clearly transcendent of most 15-year-olds.  Beyond his expressive performance, the songwriting is a selling point, particularly the chorus, as he depicts losing his mind:

“Oh, I’ve been dazed and confused / From the day I met you / Yeah I lost my head / And I’d do it again / Either I’ve seen the light / Or I’m losing my mind / There’s something ‘bout you / That’s got me dazed and confused.”

“Not Thinkin’ Bout You”

“I been telling my friends I’m cool / I finally got you out my head.” Uh oh – it’s the plight of love! Continuing the urban contemporary vibes of Ready is the slick, love-centric “Not Thinkin’ Bout You.” Yes, there’s indeed a difference between ‘puppy dog love’ and more serious love, but don’t underestimate the kid’s theme.  Honestly, who can deny “Feeling like I’m going through hell” when thinking about a boy or a girl?  That same maturity he brings to the table vocally, he also so successfully depicts the plights of love for all ages.

Ruel brings back his balladeer skills on the thoughtful “Say.” From an American standpoint, his Aussie accent only makes him sound more charming and endearing.  On the second verse, he does a fantastic job of really digging in.  Perhaps it sounds like a broken record at this point, but his authenticity – the level of maturity being so young is awe-inspiring.  What better way to close Ready than with another ballad? “Don’t Tell Me” gets the job done, amplified by its gospel-infused sound, as well as a number of religious references lyrically – “My soul’s resurrected, yeah, it’s been there before.”

Final Thoughts

Bring on the full-length Ruel album! This wunderkind outdoes himself on this six-song debut EP. Undoubtedly, this Aussie teen is Ready for big-time success.  Love his soul, spirit, and most of all, his pipes.  

Gems: “Younger,” “Dazed & Confused,” “Not Thinkin’ Bout You”

Ruel • Ready (EP) • RCA • Release: 6.15.18

Photo Credit: RCA