Ruto – Double Speak (2023)
Beginning as a band in 2016, US-based Ruto evolved into a multi-collaborative solo project headed by singer-songwriter Oscar Bautista. Embracing music at an early age, Bautista “found his voice in blending the melodies and rhythms of jazz, punk and soul into chill and dynamic grooves”. Always seeking to evolve and hone his “sound”, Bautista is constantly studying his craft, bringing in new influences, incorporating different cultures and creating something that is anything but pedestrian. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Double Speak’.
Following his ten-track album Pan Dulce, ‘Double Speak’ showcases the eclecticism of Ruto wrapped in a four-minute sonic package. Recorded with long-time producer Randy Mendoza, ‘Double Speak’ swirls elements of funk and psychedelic rock with slicks of post-punk flitting around the edges. Tossing you into a hazy swirl of sound, bold guitars burst through the kaleidoscopic mist with dynamic drums holding a pulsating backbeat against the intoxicating fog. While Ruto is able to connect with audiences using a modern-day sound, this groovy style is a nostalgic journey back to the days of The Doors.
One aspect I find interesting in ‘Double Speak’ is the production. Elegant and mature, the fog-filled sonic tunnel we are lost in is highly sophisticated. Yet, while sophistication appears in the well-textured melody, there is a rawness woven into ‘Double Speak’ adding a vulnerable, off-kilter vibe. Bautista shared that he wanted to “up the tempo and explore more bombastic sounds” in ‘Double Speak’. Personally, I’m unsure whether the track is more bombastic but it certainly has the air of floating about in a meaningless state. This is the ambience but the lyricism is far different.
Just as the melody is moving – kinda like a sonic trip without any acid – the lyricism is profound and thought-provoking. Intricate and complex, just like the music, Bautista captures a poignant but sincere element in ‘Double Speak’.
“The song is about gaslighting, especially of oneself. Whether it’s in our personal or professional lives, I find myself convincing myself of things that didn’t benefit me. This song was an expression of that confusion and in a way, it helped me let go of that negative habit.” – Oscar Bautista on ‘Double Speak’.
For more from Ruto, check out his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
