The London-born, Sydney-raised singer-songwriter has returned with his second album – an exhilarating compilation filled with honesty, newfound self-assurance, and online inspirations.
Starting his music career at just 15, Ruel Vincent van Dijk, recognized simply as Ruel, has consistently been ahead of the curve. This is evident in his recent interview with CLASH, as he joins our Zoom call from Bangkok, where the local time is six hours ahead of ours. “I’m currently on my promotional tour. I’ve already been to Mexico and covered all of Europe, followed by Asia, then Australia, and finally America,” he states, breathlessly, with the soft hum of travel noise in the background while he prepares to meet his fans in Thailand.
In just a few weeks, he will unveil his new album ‘Kicking My Feet,’ and the nervous excitement is palpable during our conversation. “I’m over the moon,” he expresses, radiating happiness through his voice as he reflects on this accomplishment amidst his busy travel itinerary. “Naturally, it’s nerve-wracking; after two years of work, releasing it in just about ten days is daunting because once it’s out, there’s no turning back. But I’m incredibly proud of the music. I truly believe it’s my favorite and best work to date, although everyone thinks that when launching an album.”
This marks Ruel’s second album, a decade since he made his debut in the music industry with the release of his breakout single ‘Don’t Tell Me’, and over two years since his first full-length album, ‘4th Wall’. ‘Kicking My Feet’ transforms familiar emotions into anthems, showcasing Ruel at his most audacious as he presents eleven timeless tracks to his dedicated fanbase. It’s a thrilling journey that transcends strict genre definitions, as he melds ‘80s influences with contemporary pop aesthetics to create new modern classics.
If the title ‘Kicking My Feet’ sounds familiar, it might be due to its popular use online. It conveys a sense of joyful whimsy. In Ruel’s words, “It’s about how love makes me feel like a child, overwhelmed and unsure of myself. You feel giddy and helpless in a beautiful way.” This sentiment is very much reflective of Gen-Z, especially considering Ruel was born in 2002. He further clarifies that the feeling of forward momentum doesn’t characterize “every song on the album… It’s not all sunshine and happiness, but it was definitely my main inspiration for the album.”
The 22-year-old regards ‘Kicking My Feet’ as his most truthful and self-assured work to date – the key factor that sets it apart from his previous albums. Reflecting on the differences from his last project, Ruel has drawn from his own experiences this time around. “I think it highlights a different aspect of my vulnerability,” he explains. “In terms of songwriting, I haven't explored love from a positive perspective much before. My previous album primarily featured breakup songs, even though I hadn’t experienced a breakup. I was just writing sad songs because I thought that was required of good songwriters.”
Ruel describes his songwriting process for this album as more relaxed and genuine, driven by instinct rather than rigid structure. His universal, pop-influenced creations invite both familiar and new listeners to find themselves within his lyrics. “While writing, I aimed for a more carefree approach,” he shares. “I didn’t want to succumb to pressure or stick to a specific genre. I wrote a multitude of songs for this album that span different styles. I decided to be reckless in not overthinking my writing. I aimed to write completely from the heart without hiding behind complicated metaphors, wanting to express things as they are, which felt liberating.”
“Most of my songwriting begins with chord progressions,” he elaborates, illustrating how his songwriting and production naturally intertwine. “It's often just me experimenting on the keys or piano during sessions: creating melodies over chord progressions, and from there, the lyrics develop once we discuss themes to explore. That’s largely how I've created most of it. For a lot of the songs on this album, I kept a big title sheet… which was incredibly helpful. Each time I thought of a three-word title or lyric, I would include that as a starting point.”
Although liberating, Ruel’s creative approach resulted in an abundance of material, which he ultimately refined into a more focused selection – a refreshing change in a time filled with dense, oversaturated releases. “I just kept writing, and for every ten songs I wrote, I saved one,” he notes. “I collaborated with many different producers, and I was the only constant throughout the process, so it was my responsibility to ensure the collection felt cohesive. Lyrically, much of it felt unified, particularly when discussing love, while sonically, I selected songs that seemed to resonate within the
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The singer-songwriter, originally from London and raised in Sydney, returns with his second album - an exciting compilation infused with honesty, a fresh sense of confidence, and