Rumor has it that indie pop duo RUUMER is the here to kick down all the walls that were once built around them. From a young age, Melis and Jess were stuck in a constricted lifestyle but not anymore. Their new single “Gimme Some” featuring Sammy Adams is a testament to their undeniable growth.
These ladies are here to help continue to empower all bad-ass females in the making. In our interview, RUUMER chats all about their upbringing, their new song, and what future they had for ladies working on being comfortable in their own skin.
The Young Folks: Before we jump into your new track, we’d love to know how you two decided to pursue a career in the music industry!
RUUMER: Music has always been our passion, we knew from a young age that this was our path in life. We grew up in a musical household and were always singing and dancing around the house. As kids, we started doing musical theater and loved performing and being on stage. That’s actually where we felt most comfortable and confident. Our hometown is just outside of NYC, so we would go into the city a few times a week to work with a vocal coach and go on auditions. We always loved writing, we had journals full of lyrics and poems. We started writing/recording when were 12 and 15 and fell in love with working in the studio and creating music. That’s when it really became a career for us.
TYF: How does the songwriting process work with the two of you? How do you work together and collaborate?
RUUMER: The songwriting process is a little different every time, depending on the song and producer. For this project, we primarily worked with songwriter/producer SmarterChild. We’ll normally go into the studio with a concept, song title, or quote in mind and then start creating from there. We also love starting from scratch and getting inspired by the beat/music. We both bring something different to the table when we’re writing. Jess is very musically inclined, she has a great ear. She also plays piano, so she’s really hands-on with our producer regarding our sound. Melis is more on the lyrics and topline/melody side when it comes to our music. It’s always a super collaborative experience, it’s really great chemistry and energy between the two of us.
TYF: Major props on your latest single “Gimme Some”! I read that it was a bit inspired by your upbringing. When was the moment for either of you when you decided it was time to release yourself from the somewhat restricted environment you grew up with during your youth?
RUUMER: Thank you! Yes, “Gimme Some” is a laidback anthemic record that was inspired by our Catholic school upbringing. It’s all about empowering women’s sexuality and throws a wrench in the stigma that women should be ashamed to talk about our desires. It’s essentially a satire on the sexually oppressing environment of our youth. When we started writing/recording in our teens, we used music as our outlet. Every free moment we had outside of school was spent recording, writing, playing shows, etc. Music was our escape, it was how we expressed ourselves, and it was essentially our way out of that small town. We both moved to the city right after we graduated high school to further pursue music. We think as you get older you start to realize that your own happiness is what’s most important. Not what other people think of you or say about you. By the time we moved to LA, we were completely accepting of the women we were becoming and our music really started to reflect that.
TYF: How did the collaboration with Sammy Adams come about?
RUUMER: Working with Sammy was dope. Our producer SmarterChild introduced us to him. He was working on some music with Sammy as well, so he dropped by the studio one day. We actually collaborated with him on a few tracks, but “Gimme Some” really hit it home.
Advertisement
TYF: Did he kind of have an idea of the verse he wanted to write for the song or was it more of a conversation that helped shape it to be what it is today?
RUUMER: We had a version of the song with us on the 2nd verse, but it just felt like something was missing. We thought a rapper would sound dope on the track, and we thought of Sammy. We sent him the song and told him our inspiration behind it. He wrote his verse on the way over to the studio and he killed it in like one or two takes. He’s super talented and brings amazing energy to the studio.
TYF: The music video looks like it was so much fun to make and so creative. How or who came up with the concept of the whole video?
RUUMER: We both were super hands-on with the creative direction for the visual. We worked with a killer female director, MK Schneider, to create the video for the record. We started a Pinterest board and pulled in a bunch of images for inspiration, which we showed to our director. We have always been obsessed with neon, so we wanted to incorporate that aesthetic into the visual. One of the main things we wanted to create was an underground “girls club” type feel. MK really helped us bring our whole vision to life. There are competing visuals of women being traditionally feminine and the new age confidence in being who you are no matter how you look, no matter what you like. It embraces all angles of the modern woman and shatters the stereotypes that they are given.
TYF: Much of your music is very empowering and positive, especially for women. How or when did you decide to use your platform as musicians to literally sing this message for others to listen to?
RUUMER: Thank you for the kind words! The inspiration for our music is deeply rooted in empowering women. Now more than ever, we think it’s a vital time to use our platform to empower people in some way. As young girls, we felt like outcasts because we were different and didn’t fit a specific mold. We also felt uncomfortable in our bodies and our sexuality. So when we finally came into our own we really wanted to create music that helped empower girls and women to embrace themselves, their sexuality, and their badass-ness.
TYF: For young individuals struggling with being comfortable in their own skin, what would be your advice to them?
RUUMER: As girls who grew up feeling like outcasts, know that it always gets better. Use your weirdness and creativity to find your passion and never ever give up on your dreams. No matter how big or small.
Advertisement
TYF: What’s next for RUUMER? What can we expect in the new year?
RUUMER: Definitely more new music! We’re releasing another single early next year called “Downtown,” which we’re super excited about! We actually just shot the music video for the record a few weeks ago… the shots we saw so far look sick, so we’re pumped about that as well. We’ll also be doing some shows in NYC and LA, so keep an eye out for those dates!
Follow RUUMER: Instagram | Facebook | Official Website
Advertisement