How did your journey with music begin? Was there a defining moment when you knew this was your path?
My journey with music began when I was around 3 years old. I always looked up to my sister. I started learning ballet at 3 and finally started vocal lessons at 5 – just because she did it, and I was in awe of the music stage.
A defining moment when I knew it was my path was during my junior year of middle school when I became the main star of my musical, Annie. I did not get support from my family, friends, or institution back then, but I knew I had to push through. Unfortunately, I am not in my greatest dream, musical theatre. But music creation and A&R are close enough! I am now living my dream life where it’s all about music.
Who were your biggest musical influences growing up, and how have they shaped your sound?
I remember I was a big fan of Tarzan and Phil Collins’ song, “You’ll Be In My Heart.” I was also a big fan of jazz, from Nat King Cole’s L-O-V-E to how fun Louis Armstrong sounds. It was when I was around 6 years old, and it got to the point where my parents had to hide their CDs, or I would keep blasting them to everyone. Additionally, I got into musical theatre after my vocal teacher showed me a live performance of “Food, Glorious Food!” from Oliver! It has been a long road, where I had a phase of loving the then-current pop culture, but I have returned to my classics and greatest musical influences: Disney Classics, Jazz, and Musical Theater.
The name Rue Rue is so distinct—what’s the story behind it?
Hahaha, I am glad to hear and happy to elaborate! So after my undergraduate degree, there was a time that I taught math to kindergarten students, and in that school, fellow teachers named themselves with repeating words, just like Rue Rue. It sounds so fun and easy to remember! When I brainstormed my music name, I remembered that. Around that time, Starbucks often mistakes my name for Rue, which happens to be the name of the beloved tribute from District 11 (Hunger Games reference). Additionally, it has a similar formula to my big sister’s artist name, Rachel Rae. In conclusion, from math kindergarten teaching + Starbucks’ naming + Hunger Games + my sister’s artist name… came Rue Rue!
How would you describe your musical style to someone hearing you for the first time?
My music genre mixes Disney classics, jazz, and musical theatre. Message-wise, my songs show positivity, strength, hope, and empowerment. My songs are wrapped in earnest lyrics, minimalistic music production, strong vocal harmonies, and a dreamy feel.
Do you remember the first song you ever wrote? What was it about?
I have loved to write since childhood. Apparently, baby Rue (who was not able to read or write cohesively) even wrote an English drama script (according to mom). The first song I seriously wrote was This Is How It Goes, and is my first professional deal. I wrote it in 2017 when I first studied abroad in Seattle for college. In the song, the girl celebrates the end of a relationship. It’s about self-love and how letting go can be the best choice. It was released by an Indonesian indie record label, My Music, with my big sister, Rachel Rae, as the artist.
How do you stay creatively inspired in such a fast-moving music landscape?
Songwriting and its elements (like poems and melodies) are my method of self-expression and a tool to relate to others. Most of my creations come naturally – where I have the urge to pen them down or record a voice memo. From these drafts, some are complete with minor refinements, and some are basic ideas to develop. It’s a passion of mine: I not only love to consume and share others’ music, but I love to create. Now that I think about it, I do not think much of the fast-moving music landscape in music.
What was the inspiration behind your single “All Day, All Night”
A good friend of mine recently got a boyfriend and disappeared from socialization. Never experiencing a romance of such magnitude, I thought, the desire must be so insatiable that you can’t have enough of each other. Why not have a romance like that? Thus, I experience it through imagination (a.k.a. the song).
Can you describe the creative process of writing and producing this track?
I was honestly just listening to my friend’s yap about her boyfriend (upon her reappearance), which I loved, yet slightly annoyed due to her long disappearance. I tried to see the situation from a point of empathy, so I played around in my notebook as she spoke of her love life, wrote what I thought she was feeling (generically), and composed a story of love that burns. I found my scratch note a few months later, refined the writing, and matched it with melodies that popped into my head. Then, I had too much fun playing with my DAW and vocal harmonisation.
It started as a little personal joke but ended up too good not to share. Also, I am MANIFESTING such a relationship, I guess. Next is my time to disappear!
How does *”All Day, All Night” differ from your previous work?
It was not something I experienced but rather empathised. Also, it wrote about the lust side of romantic connection, which I never seemed to accomplish, yet always wanted to write. Guess it was some sort of ticking my own songwriting bucket list, for I wrote about that (finally) and it worked (which means, I personally love the end result)!
Is “All Day, All Night” part of a larger project, or does it stand alone?
To an extent, “All Day, All Night” is a part of Rue Rue’s journey to love that wraps it up for now. It starts with contemplating its idea (Cotton Candy), pursuing love (A Cup Of Coffee), a perfect date night (Picture Perfect Dream), and finishing with the lust side of love. The next part of Rue Rue’s journey is about finding self, starting with my upcoming release, “Little Adventures,” which reminisces on childhood fun and how to bring that bright-eyed view of a child to adulthood, releasing June 6, 2025, on all streaming platforms.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice before releasing your first song, what would it be?
I want to tell her that good is good enough and perfection is an endless pursuit because life is always a work in progress. I remember a fantastic first full song production with iPad’s GarageBand that I completed in 2018, but I was discouraged from sharing it with the world. I wished I believed more in myself and just went for it. So now I do and encourage everyone to do the same!
Stay connected with Rue Rue on social media for updates on future releases: Facebook – Instagram – TikTok – Spotify – SoundCloud – YouTube.
