Last summer, Ruth B. had a breakout hit in  “Lost Boy,” a pop single that climbed the charts and reached a coveted spot on Billboard’s Hot 100. At the time, the artist, real name Ruth Berhe, was practically unknown in the music industry, having no label prior to the creation of “Lost Boy.”
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The song, inspired by the television show Once Upon A Time, first began to take form in 2014 when Berhe posted a six-second clip of her singing a line of the track. In a week, the Vine clip had over 80,000 likes. in January 2015, Berhe posted the full version of “Lost Boy” on YouTube before releasing it on iTunes the following month. After its success, she signed with Columbia Records in July and released her debut EP The Intro later that year.
Berhe spoke with American Songwriter about the success of her debut EP, touring with Alessia Cara and what she has up her sleeve next.
You got a lot of attention with your EPÂ The Intro. What can we expect with “Superficial Love”?
“Superficial Love” is the new single rereleased with a new production. I just really wanted people to hear me with more than just piano. A lot of my upcoming [work] is that stripped-back piano song, but there [are] a lot of cool new sounds as well.
You wrote all the songs on your debut album yourself. Where did you draw the inspiration for those songs?
I draw all of my inspiration from everyday life. I find that the best songs are usually hidden in the little things. I kind of live life always on the hunt for songs and stories.
Do you have a typical songwriting process that you follow? If so, what does it look like?
Songwriting has become a very diverse process for me. Most of the time it starts with an idea that I scribble into my notebook, and then I work from there.
What was it like working with Joel Little?
It was awesome working with Joel. He really knew how to make me feel comfortable and okay with the fact that this was all very new to me. He understood my ideas, which was all I hoped for.
Last year, you toured with Alessia Cara. What was that experience like for you?
So much fun. It was really cool to put some of my songs [in front]Â of people and see their reactions.
You’ve been nominated for Songwriter of the Year for Juno Awards. This comes not even two full years after your debut EP. Has all this success been a whirlwind?
Totally mind-blowing. I’m so grateful to be recognized for my writing. It is the thing I am the most passionate about.
You got your start on Vine and really gained your fan base from the app. Now that you’re signed to a label, do you plan on still using personal social media to release music and involve fans in the process?
I think social media is a great tool to stay connected and keep that personal vibe. I never want to feel estranged from the people who listen to my music. It’s important that I infuse their lives into my music as well.
Aside from your new album, what else are you looking forward to in 2017?
I’m really excited to hit the road and perform these songs live on tour. I just can’t wait for people to hear my stories.
