What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is Ruby Shabazz, and I’m from Boston, MA.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
Ruby is a nickname for my full name, Rabihah, and Shabazz is my born surname.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
My musical journey began by listening to my parents’ Motown vinyls as a child. Once I got to college, I pursued music professionally, performing with campus bands at local bars and clubs. After college, I began recording with hip-hop artists and eventually grew into recording and performing my own music.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
I had an interesting experience creating the video for my last track. It was the first time I had to learn choreography in a short amount of time. I’m glad I had a professional dancing with me because it is not for the faint of heart. I did learn the choreography in the allotted time, and the video came out great.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
In my music, I like to convey that you should love and accept yourself. I convey that you should allow yourself to go through pain and grief and come through the other side as a different person. Everyone is supposed to change, and that’s okay.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
One challenge I faced during production was wanting to change the tempos of some of the music I received without changing the key or the sound of the song. I overcame it by working with a great and seasoned engineer.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I’ve already collaborated with Boston hip-hop legend Edo G, who is from my same town of Roxbury, Boston, MA. I would also like to collaborate with hip-hop artist Oompa, who is also from Roxbury. She is a pioneer and puts in so much work. There’s a lot to learn from someone like that. I would work with local artists like her.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
In the next year, I would like to perform at some prestigious festivals in Boston with my live band, The Evolutionist. We’ve played festivals north of Boston and in southern New Hampshire, but I’d like to play further down in Boston.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
The next step for me is recording with the live band in the studio and putting together a truly musical album of soul and R&B.
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
Yes, I’d like to do more festivals.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
Linktree: Ruby Shabazz
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
The best way to contact me is via Instagram: @rubyshabazz or by email: rubyshabazz@gmail.com
great interview