ALICE RUBY TALKS XX
"We are often afraid to say how we feel"
Daniel John
Sitting in the uncertainty of attraction, what was it you couldn’t keep locked up in your head any longer and had to sing out loud on ‘xx’?
'xx' explores the quiet anxieties of modern romance, capturing the self doubt, mixed signals and how we hide behind luke warm text messages, often afraid to say how we really feel to someone. I sing about the online side of dating and how emotions, reality and more can get blurred through text messages.
I got from somewhere you approach songwriting as a way of scoring emotions, rather than the journaling many songwriters tie their songwriting to?
I believe that music alone can emotionally transport listeners. I use lyrics to further capture these feelings, and build an emotional and sonic world of my own.
What was it like to work with Edward Quinn on this one?
It was great to work with Edward Quinn on the track. He is an amazing producer with great taste! He had so many ideas as to how to how to make the song more interesting through texture, structure and tone and how to make it sit within the “Alice Ruby” world.
Who were the artists you grew up listening to that shaped your love for music?
I grew up throughout the 2010’s, so was really inspired by artists like Lana Del Rey and Sky Ferreira. I would often make video stars with my sister lip syncing to their songs! My dad also introduced me to my favourite bands including New Order, Mazzy Star, The Cure, and Angus and Julia Stone. However, much of my influence comes from classical music. I grew up playing the violin and recently finished my bachelor’s in film and music composition. I have a particular love for romantic classical music, and am particularly inspired by it’s intricate harmonies, rhythms, textures and emotional richness.
It hasn't even been a year since you released the Alice Ruby project into the world, but you’ve been creating for far longer. The strings we hear on this song is a skill honed since you were three. What sequence of creative milestones guided you to here?
I have played the violin for my whole life and later learnt guitar, it felt like a natural progression for me to go from performing to songwriting and composition. I would write these songs and then imagine how they would be recorded so I downloaded Logic and began producing them. I have also played in other groups including Goodbye Butterfly, Des Cortez, Harriet Wraith and Majak Door. I have also got a degree in composition and film and have scored for many short films and orchestral pieces. Each of these projects has helped me improve my artistry, and develop the Alice Ruby project.
How do you look back on this year of emerging?
2025 was such a milestone year! I released four singles and made two music videos which each capture distinctive parts of my musical sound and personality. Whilst it was so exciting to release music that I love I feel like I learnt so much about myself and the industry too and I can’t wait to carry this knowledge with me into 2026.
What do you hope is under the 2026 cellophane?
Love the pun! More music is on the way this year. As I release more and I discover more about myself my music naturally becomes more authentically me. I'm excited to create. And release music that captures who I am and tells my story.
