Ruby James

“If the ghosts of soul divas were smoking and playing poker, the record spinning through the smoke and cackling laughter would sound like Ruby James—timeless spirit, modern heart. Whether live or recorded, she’s an experience, like velvet on fire. Channeling the golden-hued nostalgia of ‘60s pop through a sharp eye with a smudgy edge, Ruby James is a kind of audio alchemist, a matchmaker for aching melodies in search of phantom soundwaves who both enjoy collecting rare gems and walks at sunset, on the moon. The kind of artist a producer like Phil Spector would label ‘Desirable.’ Imagine the sugar-dusted heartbreak of The Ronettes colliding headfirst with the unfiltered soul of Dusty Springfield—all backed by a band of Southern-seasoned song slayers. Eerily familiar melodies echo through valleys and ascend hillsides of harmony, while sneak-attack tones—cosmic-glued to rhythm and rhyme—tick-tock in time with the human heart. Each track, a ‘hello, darling,’” melts into a cinematic farewell. But don’t mistake the sweetness for softness. Behind the pinkish-golden glow, there’s grit making pearls, ache making love songs, and all the essential pieces of a real person navigating the human experience. From the notable nightclubs of Nashville to multiple festival stages across the South, Midwest, and Southwest, Ruby James has earned a reputation for performances that leave a mark. Whether commanding intimate spaces or, her live show is a holistic, full-body experience.