Ruby Whiting The Peninsula Picnic Interview

Ruby Whiting The Peninsula Picnic Interview

Ruby's love of music started at a young age, dabbling in a variety of instruments such as cello and piano, and now settling with guitar and voice as her musical vehicle. After completing high school she took a few years off and found herself writing and playing music increasingly often, developing her own sound and spending time with fellow musicians. Growing up in the sleepy beach town of Shoreham on the Mornington Peninsula, she once felt most comfortable in the slow and the quiet. A decision to study at RMIT took her to Melbourne's northern suburbs, where she now calls home. In the last year she has been playing alongside friend Harrison Storm in his own project, occasionally in his 6 piece band and more commonly in a trio along with Justin Lewis.

Ruby's music is personal and emotional, and a tool she uses to express herself and tell stories. With her main influences including Laura Marling, Nick Drake, and Bon Iver, she uses delicate fingerpicking and open tunings to deliver insights to her own perspectives and ideas, with the intention of connecting with her audience.

Interview with Ruby Whiting

Question: What can you tell us about The Peninsula Picnic?

Ruby Whiting: I've never been, but I'm guessing it's about people chilling in the sun, listening to good music with good food and wine, surrounded by family and friends.


Question: What should we expect from your performance at The Peninsula Picnic?

Ruby Whiting: A few songs on my own, a few songs with some friends. Honest, mellow, folky tunes.


Question: Who are you most exciting to play alongside at The Peninsula Picnic?

Ruby Whiting: The whole lineup is awesome. Missy Higgins is an icon in Australian music, and she was so big when I was growing up so seeing her play will be really cool. But I'm also excited about seeing the guys play, the whole day is going to be great.


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Ruby Whiting: Yeah, I think all the songs we will be playing will be my originals. I might throw a cover in there if I'm feeling it, but otherwise they'll be my own.

This question is so broad that it's hard to answer, but I suppose my biggest inspiration for music is emotion. I write about things that mean something to me, whether it be stories or feelings or whatever. Everything I write has truth in it, or at least did when I wrote it.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Ruby Whiting: My taste in music is really varied, and I can't really say one artist or genre that I listen to most. Of course I listen to music similar to my own, folky acoustic stuff, but then I also listen to stuff that's really different, experimental and electronic. Anything with a nice melody or bass line can suck me in, regardless of genre.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Ruby Whiting: I'm super excited to be doing some recording soon with a musical wizard and friend of mine, Hayden Calnin. His stuff blows me away- he has just released his debut album and it is magical. I'm really excited to see what we can create together.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Ruby Whiting: I think most people have these feelings when pursuing something that is difficult, especially in a creative field. It's easy to feel disheartened when a gig doesn't go to plan or isn't received how you'd hoped, but I just remind myself to stay true to how I want to create music. Surrounding myself with other musicians reminds me that I love music and what I do, and it's the opinions of these people who I admire and who enjoy what I do that really matter.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Ruby Whiting: Performing live. I love getting in the zone and drifting off into each song. I try to recreate what I was feeling when I wrote the song and I hope this is reflected in my performances.

Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Ruby Whiting: People that I know and other artists that I love. Seeing my friends play and succeed is really inspiring, and seeing live music makes me really energised to write more. Honest and raw music is my favourite, I love when someone gets up on stage and they're like, this is me, peer into my mind, take it or leave it.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Ruby Whiting: I wouldn't say that I've reached success yet. I'm just finding my feet at the moment and I don't think I've really done anything large scale enough to have encountered any massive challenges so far.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Ruby Whiting: Every day is different. I am still at Uni, so that takes up a lot of my time. Music is involved everyday, even if it's just listening. If I don't play for a while I can feel really weird, and I always feel better after a session of writing. I also have to get out into the world and breath in some fresh air or go for a walk in the park.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Ruby Whiting: I'd say the friendships and musical relationships I have made so far. Playing with other people is really special, whether that's in other people's bands or getting friends on board with my own music. The guys I have playing alongside me for the Peninsula Picnic, Justin and Josh, are both amazing and I have admired them for years. I feel pretty lucky that I get to play with them.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?
Ruby Whiting: This one's extra tricky. I haven't done much actual writing with anyone else so I'd love to see how I would go with that. Ideally, someone who enables me to create things that I wouldn't be able to do alone, and unleashes something otherwise intangible. Like I said earlier, Im excited to see what Hayden and I can come up with when recording some of my existing songs. I'd love to collaborate with artists from other fields, but at the moment I'm not sure who.


Question: Do you have a website fans can visit?

Ruby Whiting: The last few years I have been pretty dormant on the internet, but I have a Soundcloud, Facebook page and Triple J Unearthed page. After I have some solid recordings that I want to share with the world I will be more active. So watch these spaces!


Question: Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy healthy & enjoyable life?

Ruby Whiting: Accepting what life throws at you and adjusting to changes
Being kind and compassionate
Focusing your energy on the things that you love and enjoy
And not spending too much time on things you don't like. Everyone has to do the odd thing they don't enjoy but so many people end up down a path that they aren't overly happy with for one reason or another, perhaps they think that's what they should do. If I'm finding that I'm spending a lot of time on these things, that's when I know that I need to reconsider my current path and make changes. But this can be easier said than done! I'm lucky enough to have the freedom to be able to do this and to follow my dreams, which I think is pretty amazing.

60 Second Quiz

Full Name: Ruby Isobel Whiting
Nickname(s): Rubes or Ruba
Star Sign: Cancer
Favourite Food: I was raised in a super health conscious vegetarian home, so I'd have to go with good old fruit and veg. Mum's cooking is pretty top notch.
Favourite Film: I really don't know! I like a lot of movies, as long as they're not thrillers! I like weird movies that make you think.
Favourite Actor: Yeah don't have one of those either.
Pet: My rabbit who's name was Bunny. I had him for 5 years but he loved me a little too much…
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: It would depend what it was to do with. Musically, probably Justin Vernon. I'd love to have a chat to him about everything really.
Hobbies/Interests: I'm studying textile design so I'm really into art and all things creative. I also love being in nature.
First Job: Washing dishes at Montalto, but that didn't last very long!
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind: Can I go to all three?
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: If I was going to take something, I'm not going to lie, it would probably be my phone.
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: Just 10 minutes more?

Interview by Brooke Hunter