Ruarri Joseph

Singer/Songwriter Ruarri Joseph is a scruffy flip-flop-wearing 25 year-old with a voice just as scruffy and just as appealing. Born in Edinburgh before relocating to the tiny Cornish village of Callestick aged 4, Ruarri has won fans at numerous festivals over the summer and supported artists such as Wilco, Kate Nash and King Creosote and recently performed at the Roundhouse supporting David Gray. His album, Infant Eyes, is in shops now and we went along to chat to him about his music, his hopes and kidnapping the David Gray.

How would you describe your style of music?
Old in style, modern in substance.

When did you decide you wanted a career as a musician?
As a dream probably, when I was about 9 or 10. But as a realistic endeavour, probably when I was about 20.

Are your songs inspired by personal experience? In particular you wrote a song about a mother encouraging her daughter to become a lesbian, what was that inspired by?
They’re based on personal experience, sure, but they’re not often literal to the experience. My mum never told me to be a lesbian, but she has given me some bizarre advice in the past. It’s odd how you trust your parents judgement when you’re young even though it might be completely wrong.
Oddly enough my father is also a microbiologist although my mother isn't a writer. What did your parents think of your chosen career and were they supportive?
They were very supportive. They’re not like that competitive dad from the fast show. I didn’t play them a song and then they cranked out their guitar and played a better one to prove I was hopeless. I think they just want me to be happy.

Have you had any jobs in the past which were not so glamorous or fulfilling as making music?
I’ve had plenty of un-glamorous jobs, music included! But it’s those jobs that keep your feet on the ground and allow you to put life into some sort of perspective. I looked after elderly mentally ill patients, I looked after young and well children, I picked strawberries in the pouring rain, washed pots and pans that had porridge stuck to them from three weeks earlier, pulled pints for alcoholics.