Ruthann Springle
Virus: What do you hope to achieve with this career?Ruthann: I intend on achieving a self-sustaining music career....yikes......what a question.....I want it all....doing my passion, giving something memorable to people, communicating something that makes people think and inspires them some way.....to be all you can be...I think music has the power to cause that for people.....
Virus: What kind of obstacles have you encountered on your way?
Ruthann: People's conversations about the music industry, "It's so hard......Je suis malade...." and people wanting me to prove myself when I think they should be having a national holiday in my honour....I think that what you say is what you get....to quote myself, "Life is hard, ain't it the truth when you believe it". I am not interested in peoples' doubts, resignation and cynicism.
Virus: You are a very strong independent woman, do you feel you're spreading that to your female fans?
Ruthann: I have two daughters. I want them to know that they can have whatever they are willing to go for. I would not be a very good example to them, if I did not practise what I preach. So the empowering women thing hits close to me because I want them to be empowered by my life. I want that for all people. I know men who are just as hungry for empowerment as women, although women have historically got the short end of the stick. I like the idea of empowerment being genderless in my conversations because when you say women need to be empowered, you are creating with your words the very problem you wish to solve.
Virus: I agree wholeheartedly, I just recently challenged my views on it during a contemporary moral issues class I was taking.
Ruthann: How so?
Virus: When I approached this issue before I took this class, I saw the word empowerment to embody females more than males. I have learned that by challenging a social norm in a negative sense, it only adds to the problem. By going about empowerment as everyone's equal right, it changes to a genderless term.
Ruthann: Bravo
Virus: Thank you, it was actually a difficult thing, since I felt that way for so long.
Ruthann: I understand....it keeps us victims, don't you think?
Virus: I really do.
Virus: Do you involve your family in your career?
Ruthann: My kids want to go on the road, and my husband has been my manager and promoter as well, he is a teacher and I have a coaching practise. My family is very very close. We adore our time together. They are my favourite people in the world.
Virus: Changing topics dramatically....tell me about recording BE...it is, in my opinion, a very beautiful album.
Ruthann: Wow...where to start....I have written hundreds of songs.....and played for thousands of people over the last ten years. I made a promise to myself that I would release my first record when my daughter hit grade one. She is finishing grade one now, so I met my deadline. My time was freed up and I was surrounded by some great talent. The guy, who will remain nameless, who was going to help me produce the record bailed at the last minute. I felt like a bird kicked out of the nest. It was the best thing that could have happened. I became producer, writer, singer, player. I had never produced a record before, so I asked for advice from people I respected like Danny Greenspoon who helped me record. He was very kind and generous and helpful to me. It took me two years to figure it out, and the decisions were agonizing....much like giving birth....but with this, you have a thousand options and no one is telling you what the right choice is. I had to just choose and go with my gut, and then let it go. Thank you very much.
Virus: You are awesome, all the songs are yours, but do the musicians that help you create your sound give input to the music?
Ruthann: They can't help but do so just by the mere fact that no two players play the same. I would say however, that I was given a great deal to work with by their wonderful gifts. It is a union or partnership when you are the producer. You have an idea in your head, you describe it, and then they play something. Sometimes it is exactly what you were hearing, and other times it is not but it is even better than what you were going for in the first place. It is a magical experience. I love it.
Virus: How is your album being received in the scene in Toronto?
Ruthann: Well we have sold close to a thousand copies in 5 months. I have had three awesome reviews, and I am pleasantly delighted with the response. And we are slowly getting the word out. This is where having to prove yourself comes in....it is a big city and people don't know who you are and why should they listen to you? So you have got to find a way to have them listen. Once I have that foot in the door the rest is much easier.
Virus: Be is my new favorite song, what's the background behind it? The music, the lyrics, the energy of it, I love it.
Ruthann: You are going to laugh...that is my woman empowerment song!!!!
Virus: It is so fitting.
Virus: What are your favorite local clubs to play?
Ruthann: I have a soft spot for the Reverb and Holy Joes for some personal reasons I am sworn not to divulge.
Virus: What are your favorite books?
Ruthann: Henry Knowen, The Wounded Healer, The Bible (sorry, but I love it), Oh the Places You'll Go, Dr. Seuss, The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis
Virus: What are some of the most played albums in your house?
Ruthann: U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind, Wrecking Ball...Emmylou Harris, some French folk music that I can't remember the name of and some Bulgarion folk music I cannot pronounce....I am not good with names but I can describe the cover! We love Leonard Cohen, and For the Beauty of Winona by Daniel Lanois. I also love Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Watch for Ruthann, especially in the Toronto area.