Writing by Molly Mckew // Ramona’s very own Ruby Jones, curator of our excellent monthly playlists, has just released her new single right in time for halloween, and we were lucky enough to chat to her about her creative process, songwriting, and “witchy coveny feminist music”. Ruby has also curated a Halloween playlist especially for Ramona mag, featuring of course, her brand new single. Scroll down for interview!
Ramona’s very own Ruby Jones, curator of our excellent monthly playlists, has just released her new single, ‘Make it out’, right in time for halloween, and we were lucky enough to chat to her about her creative process, the first song she ever wrote, and “witchy coveny feminist music”. Ruby has also curated a Halloween playlist especially for Ramona mag, featuring of course, her brand new single. Scroll down for interview!
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Dear Readers,
Happy Halloween witches, my absolute favourite time of the year! I hope you like my latest musical offering, I’m excited to share it with you all. In conjunction with my single release I’ve made a mix tape of all my most beloved feminist witchy anthems for you to play this Halloween. These songs are all dear to my heart and will make the perfect soundtrack to your October get togethers or however you spend the season hexing the patriarchy. Stay spooky, with love,
Ruby xx
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Hi Ruby!! Tell us about your new single – what is it about?
Make It Out is about toxic, cyclical relationships that take hold of us like a drug. I was thinking about why it was so hard for me to let go of certain people – then I binge listened to a podcast called Charles Manson’s Hollywood and I kinda got it. Loving someone who treats you like shit is like being the world’s smallest, worst cult. I wanted to write an upbeat pop song that captures the feeling when you know something is disastrously bad for you but the stranglehold is so intense that you can’t get away.
You’re a fan of ‘witchy coveny feministy’ music – what does this mean and how do you incorporate this into your music?
I think that aesthetic is having a real renaissance right now and I couldn’t be happier about it. I’ve always been drawn to it ever since I was a teenager and first rented The Craft from video vision, but now that I’m older I think so much of it is women taking back their power. Nothing scares the patriarchy more than women, particularly young women having power, I mean just look at the blacklash surrounding Greta Thunberg. I think in terms of how I incorporate this into my music is through dark psychedelic 70s guitar tones mixed with ethereal vocal swells.
What can we expect from your live show?
Performing live is my favourite thing to do and I think the best way to experience our music. There’s always a lot of drama onstage, big vocals, big drums – lots and lots of guitar psych outs. I like to wear a lot of drapey velvet or chiffon on stage that move with me because I do a lot of twirling and erratic tambourine playing.
Can you remember the first song you wrote? What was it about?
Yes I certainly do, I wrote it on the piano when I was about 16 and it was a very serious love song about unrequited teenage passion. It was pretty cringe, but had potential! I guess I’ve always written love songs in one way or another.
And finally, if your music was a dessert, what would it be?
Everyone comments that our music has a Twin Peaks feel to it, so I guess I’d say that it’s a slice of cherry pie and a cup of damn fine black coffee.
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