The singer Ruth-Ann digitally released her debut solo
album “What About Us?”, produced by
Michael Cretu, the mastermind behind the ground-breaking
project ENIGMA, the album was produced & recorded in his ultra modern studio in
the sunny
mediterranean heaven, Ibiza.
About 10 years ago Ruth Ann
had a No.1 hit in the UK and across Europe as the lead
singer of the former trip-hop/electronic experimental
group "OLIVE" with the smash-hit "You're Not Alone", before Cretu invited her to sing on
recent ENIGMA albums. Enigma gave birth in Jan 2000 to
its latest evolution "The Screen Behind The Mirror"
which featured the stunningly strong and pounding track
"Gravity of Love" a track that featured the amazing
voice of Ruth Ann. Cretu had unleashed Ruth Anns
un-mistakable voice in the album's 1st single and
premiere track.
Ruth Ann previously performed on
hit ENIGMA songs as lead female vocals on very well
known ''Gravity of Love'', "Silence Must Be Heard",
''Boum~Boum'' and ''Following The Sun''.
The relationship with Michael Cretu went one step
further when Cretu announced that he was producing Ruth
Ann's first solo album "What About Us?".
From the 4th of June 2007 on, Ruth Ann's brand new album
can be exclusively downloaded in every iTunes shop
worldwide. "What About Us?" is
available in all local iTunes stores.
With the celebration of this release EnigmaMusic.com
teamed up with Crocodile Music Management and arranged a
very special in interview with the artist.
Questions submitted from the geniune Ruth
Ann fans around the world and directly sent to the
artist. Ruth Ann kindly accepted our request and shared
her thoughts on our great & creative questions...
Everyone at EnigmaMusic.com and her mangement company
hope you enjoy this special interview as much as we all
did producing it with devoted enthusiasm. We all believe
in Ruth Ann'a potential, wishing her the best in
her solo career.
Q:
Music has varied into many genres and styles during its
phenomenal evolution over the centuries. In what music
genre do you classify your songs on the new album ‘’What
About Us’’? Do you think it sounds like a nice crossroad
between ‘’Voyageur’’ and ‘’A Posteriori’’
under a possible title ‘’Sophisticated Pop Music’’ as Cretu describes Enigma every now and then?
Onur Tezgeldi, Turkey. - Florin Eugen Ionescu from
Romania
A:
I haven’t heard the term “Sophisticated Pop Music” but
it’s quite a good description. I always say that I sing
Pop songs because hopefully this describes music that is
popular and hopefully with fans like you, this album will
be popular and be successful.
Q:
The digital release of ‘’What About Us?’’ has
been following an extraordinary marketing direction and
currently eliminating a physical CD release, the
traditional practice in the industry. Do you have any
plans for a regular release with a booklet as many
listeners still prefer collecting albums despite the
rising mp3 generation?
Ralph Schwinge, Germany - Ruben Diaz Alvarez, Spain -
Jovan Roms, Finland
Andy Miller, USA - Chino - Granada. Alonso – Badajoz,
Spain
A:
I myself prefer to buy a physical CD as I must confess
to not being particularly good with computers. However I
think that the digital release of this album, enables us
to reach a lot more people around the world. But I still
hope to see a physical CD release for fans who'd like to
add new releases to their collections and read all the
information, credits on the sleeve.
Q:
Why did
Olive
stop producing any new music after the sequel album
"Trickle"
in 2000? Was it because of the artistic differences
between members or the climate in the industry that you
felt self-energy and confidence to produce a solo
project, such as Moloko, Mandalay and others did? Are
you still in touch with Tim and Robin?
Sergey Beketov, Ukraine
A:
It wasn’t because of artistic differences; it was simply
because we no longer had a recording contract. Then I
was lucky enough for Michael Cretu to ask me to work on
a solo album which is something I have always wanted to
do. I still talk to Tim but have lost touch with Robin.
Q:
What did you do before you started being a part of
Olive? Have you ever dreamt that you would come as far
as you’ve come today and what are your dreams for future
today?
Patrik Jutestahl, Sweden/Japan
A:
Before Olive I worked in a bar. Good fun but not what I
wanted to do forever! Now my dream is that my album is
successful and that I can tour and see you all and make
music for a long time to come!
Q:
Is there a connection between
’You Talk Too Much’’
and
‘’Silence Must Be Heard’’
theme-wise? The actual album’s lyrics and sound
similarities refer us to a theory that these tracks were
produced around the same time… For example
‘’What About Us?’’
could have easily been an Enigma track with its
excellent Enigmatic lyrics…
Martyn Woolley, USA - Onur Tezgeldi, Turkey
A:
There is no connection. “You Talk Too Much” is
about someone who annoys you and talks all the time, and
it was a more polite thing to say than “Shut Up!”.
Michael and I did not purposely link any songs to Enigma
because I think they are more personal, but there are
bound to be similarities.
Q:
Any possibility for a reunion of Olive to record another
album? We're still waiting for a second album here in
the UK! And if there was a new Olive album - what style
would we expect? Trip-Hop – Pop?
James Kinnear, UK.
A:
I never say never, but I’m happy being a solo artist at
the moment and hope to be successful just as Ruth-Ann.
But I can’t see into the future so I don’t know what
will happen.
Q:
Does this debut album make you feel that you have
evolved from "the woman you could be" to the woman you
are now and the woman that "believes in herself"?
Razvan Marincoi, Romania
A:
I have always believed in myself. I think this is a very
important quality for everyone to have. When making this
album with Michael's help and advise, and also my own
growth in confidence, I do feel that I have evolved and
will continue to do so.
Rory Mackay, Scotland - Mohammed Redha Ramadhan -
Sultant of Oman
Q:
Perhaps my all-time favourite Enigma song is "Gravity
of Love". The lyrics are so mysterious and obscure
that no one really knows what it's all about. Does
Michael tell you anything about what the songs are about
thematically or do you have to fill in the blanks in
your own perception? What do you think "Gravity of Love"
is about?
Rory Mackay, Scotland - Mohammed Redha Ramadhan -
Sultant of Oman
A:
You have a good taste! Michael does tell me a certain
amount of what the songs are about but also encourages
me to make my own interpretation of the lyrics. To me
“Gravity of Love” is about understanding how
important and significant love is and how serious it is
if it’s real love.
Q:
If you were to compile a soundtrack to your life (filled
with songs that are meaningful or important to you or
which bring back significant memories), which songs do
you think you would include and why?
Rory Mackay, ScotlandA:
That is a very difficult question to answer! I like all
different kinds of music so I’ll give you two brief
examples. “I just don’t know what to do with myself” by
Dusty Springfield because I love sad songs and
Dusty’s voice and “I can see clearly …” by Johnny
Nash because that song forces me to be happy when I
don’t feel like it, and it makes me dance!!
Q:
What’s your vision on music videos coincide with album
releases as integrity with the entire piece of art? Do
you enjoy shooting music videos, and if you were to
choose a single track from the album ‘’What About
Us?’’ which one would that be and who would be the
director?
James Kinnear, UK. - Onur Tezgeldi, Turkey
A:
Shooting videos can be very boring. I think if they
relate to the song or are just beautiful then they can
add or enhance a single. I really like “No Surrender”
as a single and would choose Julien Temple as
a director. Michael has worked with him before on Beyond
The Invisible in Vienna and also made
really strong videos that were beautiful to look at.
