Deric Ruttan’s new album Take The Week Off released yesterday and Top Country got the chance to talk to him about his latest album and his upcoming tour with Chad Brownlee and Jason Blaine!
Q
Can you tell us a bit about your new album, Take The Week Off, what can fans expect?
A
The last 2-and-a-half years have really been an unusually creative and productive time for me. Perhaps as a result of that, I think this is the strongest collection of songs as a whole, that I’ve ever had on one album. Generally, the sound is a little more…aggressive maybe, than on previous albums, and also a little more adventurous. Fans of songs of mine like “Up All Night” and “Good Time” will not be disappointed — plenty of party songs on Take The Week Off, like “Pass It Around” and “Happy Place.” For fans of songs of mine like “That’s How I Wanna Go Out” and “Main Street, 1979”, there are also those intimate, more acoustic songs, in the form of “What A Memory” and “The Space Between.”
Q
What was the songwriting process for the album like?
A
Lengthy! How I make records is I don’t ever sit down to write a song for me to sing, specifically, as an artist. I just write songs all the time. Then when it comes time to make an album, I look back over the last year or two’s worth of songs and see what I’m drawn to record…what I think sounds like me as an artist, and what songs I think my fans would enjoy hearing me sing. But like I said before, I had plenty to choose from this time around, and it was really hard to narrow down my list of songs.
Q
What’s a song on the album you are particularly proud of and why?
A
“What A Memory” is my favourite, not sure why. The album is pretty uptempo, pretty aggressive and “What A Memory” is a bit of a break from all that — it’s stripped down, intimate, and the lyrics are reflective and economical. I think the melody and lyric are a great marriage in that song. Pretty proud of that one.
Q
Why do you think your single ‘Take The Week Off’ has connected so well with fans?
A
I think it’s a relateable message. I think most people have that special someone (or have had that special someone) with whom they wouldn’t mind taking a little time, just for themselves, chilling at home, and…you know…doing what people do.
Q
What are you most looking forward to doing while on tour on the ‘Your Town Throwdown Tour’?
A
Kicking Jason and Chad’s ass in poker every night. Kidding. Two things — getting to see Canada from coast-to-coast from the window of a tour bus, and getting to play music for country music fans. This is a privilege to do what we do, and I try never to forget that. OK, three things.
TC’s Fun 5
1. Biggest pet peeve? None.
2. Guilty pleasure? Breaking Bad.
3. Favourite song to cover? Copperhead Road (Steve Earle).
4. Can’t leave home without? My laptop.
5. Favourite TV show? See #2.
