After playing sold out rooms throughout the UK, Europe and Asia, and making history as the youngest male artist to sell out Sydney’s iconic Opera House (twice), ARIA-award winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer Ruel will release his highly anticipated sophomore EP FREE TIME on Friday 13 September and embark on his most ambitious tour to date.
RUEL
FREE TIME TOUR 2019
THU 19 SEPT | FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL BRISBANE
SUN 22 SEPT | THEBARTON THEATRE ADELAIDE
TUE 24 SEPT | FESTIVAL HALL MELBOURNE
SAT 28 SEPT | SHED 10 AUCKLAND
TUE 01 OCT | ODEON HOBART
THU 03 OCT | HORDERN PAVILION SYDNEY
FREE TIME was written in between Ruel’s rigorous global touring schedule and sees the young songwriter teaming up once again with Grammy winning producer M-Phazes, plus an all star cast of collaborators including Sarah Aarons (Zedd, Alessia Cara), Tobias Jesso Jr. (Adele, Sia), Joseph Angel (Rihanna), Nick Long (King Princess, K. Flay) and Wrabel (Ellie Goulding).
The EP’s first single ‘Painkiller’ has already gathered over 20 million streams in just two months, adding to Ruel’s overall 300 million+ global streams. The new body of work is the next step in the evolution of an artist who began playing guitar and writing songs at only 8 years of age. It demonstrates Ruel’s maturity as a songwriter able take on any genre and unsatisfied staying in the lanes of Pop and RnB.
At just 16 years of age, Ruel has received public praise from the likes of Khalid, Zane Lowe and Sir Elton John for his songwriting craft well beyond his years and his commanding live performances. Last year, he received recognition back home by becoming the youngest recipient of an ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
Ruel’s videos for singles ‘Younger’ and ‘Not Thinkin’ Bout You’ have caught fire, each surpassing over 8 million views, and the videos for ‘Dazed and Confused’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me’ have each enjoyed over 5 million views, with his latest single ‘Painkiller’ fast approaching 8 million views. Additionally ‘Younger’ and ‘Dazed & Confused’ are both ARIA certified Platinum with over 73 million and 62 million streams respectively, and ‘Painkiller’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me’ are both ARIA certified Gold.
2019 saw the star collaborating with Australian legends Hilltop Hoods for their track ‘Fire & Grace’ and later performing with them on the main stage at this year’s Splendour in the Grass Festival. He also recently performed at California’s legendary Coachella festival with British producer SG Lewis on their electro collaboration ‘Flames’.