Creating a collective movement with Brit Trip-Hop Trio Ruane Maurice

There is something almost scientific about Trip-Hop group Ruane Maurice, they have the ability to create several experiments within each track, combining different genres to create a unique sound that doesn't just purely focus on the exterior connotations of Hip Hop, but of the internal ones, looking beyond the lyrics and ego and focusing on the fragility of the ego.

The three lads from Birmingham have been signed to a Brooklyn label Stars and Letters and are due to drop their self-titled album in early September. We chat to the lads about creating a an album with one collective movement,   what to expect from their debut album and why their dream artist to work with would be Freddie Gibbs. Margaret Tra writes. 

You guys like to push the boundaries when it comes to layering and experimenting with genres, at what point did your sound all come together?

Our sound has always been intended to be a reflection of what we individually and collectively have found sonically and musically pertinent. Matty's formal studies are in Sonic Art and that has always been the basis of what we wanted to work within. Our focus has been based more in the creation of sonic collages rather than tightly structured songs. For instance we have never felt it necessary to create music based in falls and climaxes, rather, and especially in the album one collective movement. That said we have found as much profundity in a Drake album as we have in Steve Reich pieces. 

How did you guys meet each other?

Chris and Matty have known each other since being 7, and have always played in bands together. As we then got older the three of us bumped into each other a lot at teenage house parties and would spend most of those being less social than we should of been getting overtly excited to show each other weird MF Doom cuts. Our friendship has always been based on the foundations in the swapping, sharing and debating of records.

Tell us about your upcoming self-titled album due to drop soon, what can we expect?

We have never intended to make music together that was necessarily the most easily consumable. We also have never intended to make a Hip Hop album based within some of the more negative associations of the genre. It seemed for a while that the the dogma's surrounding Hip Hop meant that misogyny and finding as many ways to say how rich you were was the only way to create impact. Our basis has put far much more precedence on self examination and introspection. I think like other Hip Hop albums ego is addressed both sonically and lyrically but the fragility of that ego is what we have found more interesting to examine.

You signed with a Brooklyn label, what was that like?

We flew out to New York in February and are all big fans of the label we eventually signed with (Stars and Letters). But on both fronts because of the only communication being via email we needed to meet face to face to work out if our end goal was a shared one. Needless to say the first time we met Mark the label head we spoke for hours and not necessarily about our music, more about what makes us tick both musically and personally. We spent the next few days all together, had dinner with Mark and his wife Mary and made a relationship based within friendship rather than business. There's a lot to be said for people who are kind. And these were kind people. People who cared about who we were and what we wanted to achieve, and we are super grateful of being part of the family. 

If you could work with any Hip Hop artist who would it be?

I think that's the hardest question we could receive. Based in Hip Hop Freddie Gibbs has really made his mark on us. There is a rawness there, that you don't feel with many other rappers. Like when he talks about the shadier aspects of his life there isn't unfounded hyperbole, you believe this dude doesn't fuck about. But also the likes Mike Skinner from the streets really cemented the concept of UK rap being a viable thing. Or if we could get Dizziee Rascal circa 2004 that would be pretty great.

You guys are also doing a few shows across England soon, you excited?
Our live show is something which is constantly evolving and changing and playing live together has allowed for some wonderful experiences from the three of us. Each show presents something new, there's always a moment when we all lock in and everything becomes faded and you get that gut feeling of why you ever made music for in the first place.

What Stimulates Your Soul?
We place a lot of value within taking time out together and to not feel guilty on spending money on good music and good food. But if anything it's creating this new brotherhood for the three of us which has become unshakeable, and that family continually adapts and widens. We are very lucky.

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