Singer-Songwriter Jesse Ruben Aims for Honesty
June 2009
In a modernized industry where synthesizers, samplers, and syncing overrule songwriting, Philadelphia native Jesse Ruben and his acoustic guitar are on a mission to revitalize the suppressed art.
A fourth generation musician on his paternal side, Ruben hit his mark with Aiming for Honesty, his debut album which has achieved a grassroots success following its independent release in January 2008. Recently, Ruben signed his first record deal with Sony/BMG.
Since graduating from Boston’s Berklee College of Music with a degree in songwriting, Ruben has placed multiple times in the finals of major songwriting contests and toured many states, delighting audiences with his good-natured, boy-next-door charm, humorous report, and pure, genuine talent.
So far, Ruben’s career highlights include touring with Ryan Cabrera, opening for Jewel, and last spring, having his popular single
“A Lack of Armor” featured during an episode of “One Tree Hill.”
Attributing Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited with inspiring his writing style and citing Ben Folds,
Ray LaMontagne, and Jodi Mitchell as a few of his musical idols, Ruben follows suit with his sweet, soothing vocals and sincere, poignant lyrics.
Speaking exclusively with WaldenPonders, Ruben shared his thoughts and experiences on life as a 23-year-old singer-songwriter standing strong amidst his peers as the next artist on the verge.
On his instrument of choice:
I took piano lessons my whole life, and I hated them. I didn’t start playing guitar until my sophomore year of high school. [My dad] always said, “We’ll get you an acoustic, and then once you learn the basics, we’ll get you an electric.” It was years before I bought an electric guitar, and I’ve always just been so much more comfortable in an acoustic-style setting than an electric. It’s always been where my heart was.
On his inspirations: Before I ever started writing songs, I was very much into the spoken word scene, and I used to read a lot of poetry in high school. I was a huge Jack Kerouac fan. e.e. cummings I think is genius. I’ve come at songwriting from a lot of different angles.
On jamming to Britney Spears…or not: My goal is to bring songwriting - harmony, melody, theory - to bring that into a more mainstream audience. When Paul Simon and James Taylor were doing what they were doing…those are brilliantly written songs, and those are pop songs. There are some singer-songwriters like Matt Nathanson, Jason Mraz, and Jon Mayer [who] obviously are writing pop songs that don’t fit the current Top 40 mold. I can’t listen to the Top 40 radio - it drives me crazy. When I go out on the weekend, I don’t want to listen to Paul Simon, so there’s a place for it, but I think there’s also a place and a desire for music that’s meant to actually move people, and that’s always what I’ve tried to do.
On aiming for honesty: It would bug me when you would hear a song, and you’d be listening to the words, and you’d think, “This sounds awesome, but I have no idea what these people are talking about.” I used to think that you had to be completely honest all the time, but sometimes, if you’re having a really bad day, you don’t want to get up on stage and say, “I’m having a really bad day.” So you lie. That’s what you need to do, because that’s just necessary. So, I never think I’m gonna be 100% there. I don’t think I’m capable. I think it takes a certain level of genius to be completely honest with yourself with certain songs. It’s easier for me to tell my darkest secrets to an audience of people that I don’t know than it is to my closest friends.
On hearing himself in "One Tree Hill": It was a very cool moment to actually watch it. It was only on for maybe 12 seconds…but it was really nice that that happened.
On what non-CW show he’d like to hear himself on: “House.” No question. “House.” I love that show, oh my God!
On touring with Ryan Cabrera: Touring with Ryan was one of the coolest experiences of my life. I had never done a tour of shows back to back to back to back like that, and never with someone that famous. I was so terrified of meeting him, and he was so great. I really learned a lot about what it’s like ‘cause he gets recognized everywhere. I played for a lot of people that didn’t know me, and so every night it was like, “I have to make new friends.” Every single night, I have to impress people who don’t know who I am and don’t care. I really like touring with people who are more famous than me, which is a lot of people…right now.
On becoming famous (hopefully): I’m gonna love every second of it. I really love the fact that I can be a part of people’s lives, even if not directly. Is it gonna be weird and crazy and all that stuff? Sure, but I can’t imagine playing for a ton of people every night isn’t gonna just be the most delicious feeling in the entire world. And all the other stuff, the business stuff, is so secondary.
On his favorite Philadelphia cheesesteak: Oh man, they’re all good. If you’re gonna go the famous places, I like Jim’s the best better than Pat’s and Geno’s, but some of the best cheese steaks I’ve ever had are like from the local place right down the street from my house, a half hour outside the city. People don’t understand: “I just had the best cheese steak.” “Where?” “Memphis.” “No you did not! You did not have a good cheese steak in Memphis, shut up.” (Laughs)
On his passion: I love talking, I love thanking people. I love laughing. I love performing start to finish. It’s my favorite thing to do. It’s the only time I ever really feel comfortable.
Do not miss an opportunity to see Ruben perform live. With the aforementioned “Armor,” tracks like “Ace of Spades, “Advice,” and “Unlocked” are fan favorites, and the as-yet-unrecorded “Safe,” “For Honor,” “I Should Get Out More” and cover of “If I Only Had a Heart” from “The Wizard of Oz” are truly outstanding. Wherever it may be, a sweet 16, private party, or concert venue, this guy can make any surface a stage.
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
A fourth generation musician on his paternal side, Ruben hit his mark with Aiming for Honesty, his debut album which has achieved a grassroots success following its independent release in January 2008. Recently, Ruben signed his first record deal with Sony/BMG.
Since graduating from Boston’s Berklee College of Music with a degree in songwriting, Ruben has placed multiple times in the finals of major songwriting contests and toured many states, delighting audiences with his good-natured, boy-next-door charm, humorous report, and pure, genuine talent.
So far, Ruben’s career highlights include touring with Ryan Cabrera, opening for Jewel, and last spring, having his popular single
“A Lack of Armor” featured during an episode of “One Tree Hill.”
Attributing Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited with inspiring his writing style and citing Ben Folds,
Ray LaMontagne, and Jodi Mitchell as a few of his musical idols, Ruben follows suit with his sweet, soothing vocals and sincere, poignant lyrics.
Speaking exclusively with WaldenPonders, Ruben shared his thoughts and experiences on life as a 23-year-old singer-songwriter standing strong amidst his peers as the next artist on the verge.
On his instrument of choice:
I took piano lessons my whole life, and I hated them. I didn’t start playing guitar until my sophomore year of high school. [My dad] always said, “We’ll get you an acoustic, and then once you learn the basics, we’ll get you an electric.” It was years before I bought an electric guitar, and I’ve always just been so much more comfortable in an acoustic-style setting than an electric. It’s always been where my heart was.
On his inspirations: Before I ever started writing songs, I was very much into the spoken word scene, and I used to read a lot of poetry in high school. I was a huge Jack Kerouac fan. e.e. cummings I think is genius. I’ve come at songwriting from a lot of different angles.
On jamming to Britney Spears…or not: My goal is to bring songwriting - harmony, melody, theory - to bring that into a more mainstream audience. When Paul Simon and James Taylor were doing what they were doing…those are brilliantly written songs, and those are pop songs. There are some singer-songwriters like Matt Nathanson, Jason Mraz, and Jon Mayer [who] obviously are writing pop songs that don’t fit the current Top 40 mold. I can’t listen to the Top 40 radio - it drives me crazy. When I go out on the weekend, I don’t want to listen to Paul Simon, so there’s a place for it, but I think there’s also a place and a desire for music that’s meant to actually move people, and that’s always what I’ve tried to do.
On aiming for honesty: It would bug me when you would hear a song, and you’d be listening to the words, and you’d think, “This sounds awesome, but I have no idea what these people are talking about.” I used to think that you had to be completely honest all the time, but sometimes, if you’re having a really bad day, you don’t want to get up on stage and say, “I’m having a really bad day.” So you lie. That’s what you need to do, because that’s just necessary. So, I never think I’m gonna be 100% there. I don’t think I’m capable. I think it takes a certain level of genius to be completely honest with yourself with certain songs. It’s easier for me to tell my darkest secrets to an audience of people that I don’t know than it is to my closest friends.
On hearing himself in "One Tree Hill": It was a very cool moment to actually watch it. It was only on for maybe 12 seconds…but it was really nice that that happened.
On what non-CW show he’d like to hear himself on: “House.” No question. “House.” I love that show, oh my God!
On touring with Ryan Cabrera: Touring with Ryan was one of the coolest experiences of my life. I had never done a tour of shows back to back to back to back like that, and never with someone that famous. I was so terrified of meeting him, and he was so great. I really learned a lot about what it’s like ‘cause he gets recognized everywhere. I played for a lot of people that didn’t know me, and so every night it was like, “I have to make new friends.” Every single night, I have to impress people who don’t know who I am and don’t care. I really like touring with people who are more famous than me, which is a lot of people…right now.
On becoming famous (hopefully): I’m gonna love every second of it. I really love the fact that I can be a part of people’s lives, even if not directly. Is it gonna be weird and crazy and all that stuff? Sure, but I can’t imagine playing for a ton of people every night isn’t gonna just be the most delicious feeling in the entire world. And all the other stuff, the business stuff, is so secondary.
On his favorite Philadelphia cheesesteak: Oh man, they’re all good. If you’re gonna go the famous places, I like Jim’s the best better than Pat’s and Geno’s, but some of the best cheese steaks I’ve ever had are like from the local place right down the street from my house, a half hour outside the city. People don’t understand: “I just had the best cheese steak.” “Where?” “Memphis.” “No you did not! You did not have a good cheese steak in Memphis, shut up.” (Laughs)
On his passion: I love talking, I love thanking people. I love laughing. I love performing start to finish. It’s my favorite thing to do. It’s the only time I ever really feel comfortable.
Do not miss an opportunity to see Ruben perform live. With the aforementioned “Armor,” tracks like “Ace of Spades, “Advice,” and “Unlocked” are fan favorites, and the as-yet-unrecorded “Safe,” “For Honor,” “I Should Get Out More” and cover of “If I Only Had a Heart” from “The Wizard of Oz” are truly outstanding. Wherever it may be, a sweet 16, private party, or concert venue, this guy can make any surface a stage.
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
|
|
