Ruth Lyon
Newcastle folk/chamber-pop artist and songwriter Ruth Lyon announces new EP 'Direct Debit To Vogue' due for release 26th November via Pink Lane Records and shares video for recent single Trouble.
Photograph Credit: Tasha Barker
Discussing the new video Lyon comments: "I loved making this video! I wanted to explore my love of Japanese avant-garde fashion - big asymmetrical shapes, raw edges, deconstructed patterns. There’s such a beauty in something unfinished. So, I made all the clothing (my room was a total mess for weeks) and created something that I am really proud of. It took over 100 metres of fabric! Movement is also really important for me on this - how to move as a disabled person is really interesting. I have to think outside of the box. I really loved how the big white dress totally hides any sense of body with accentuated shapes. I was sat down the whole time - but you can’t tell. The body is private as I sew myself into a new reality. Frida Kahlo inspired me to do that."
While going on to Speak about the lyrical inspiration for Trouble, Ruth explains: “This is a reaction against this idea of perfection that society has us believe is the goal, when actually it’s a short cut to death. I’ve never been able to tread the path of least resistance, but nor would I want to. I am hard work, I am difficult, I don’t want to be boxed up with a neat little bow with my labels printed on it. I am trouble and I love it.”
When work began on the new EP it came at a point where Ruth Lyon found herself feeling deflated whenever Vogue magazine dropped onto her front door mat, yet still opting to continue her subscription. With the pages finding insecurities with their insistence ofphysical flawlessness Ruth found something strangely addictive about mindlessly flipping through the magazine every month. “The music industry’s the same — it’s so built upon perfection, and you have to strive to fit into these tiny boxes where people will accept you,” says Lyon. “You have to be this age, this gender, this weight, this colour. But still we wanna do it, which is crazy.”
This situation inspired the title for the new EP, 'Direct Debit To Vogue' while also encapsulating a lot of the themes found within namely power in fragility, and beauty in imperfection. Turning the societal assumptions represented by Vogue magazine on its head. Speaking on the EP as a whole, she explains, “I think it's very, very personal, but it doesn’t sound preachy, which I really liked. I wanted to tread a line of saying something powerful and interesting and speaking honestly about stuff that is sometimes hard to talk about, but without it sounding, like, ugh.”
Equally as important as what it means to her, Lyon adds, is the impact it will have on listeners. “I want it to be very inclusive, like anybody could listen to any of the songs and come up with their own story, or it would mirror their individual circumstances,” she says. “I wanted to evoke the feeling of the kinda music that just punches you in the gut. Rather than ‘oh, this is pretty, this is nice’ — I want to emotionally drag some stuff out of people.” concluding “I’ve found my voice.”
