12 Questions with Cal Ruddy
Cal Ruddy is a 25-year-old award-winning Rockabilly and Americana influenced Singer/Songwriter based in Liverpool. Often considered as one of the most exciting songwriters on the Merseyside scene, Cal has certainly made his mark in his career so far. Cal Ruddy has been playing shows across the Merseyside area and beyond over the past 5 years and has built up a large following of loyal supporters.
Cal took a trip of a lifetime to the home of country music, Nashville Tennessee in September 2017. Ruddy worked alongside top songwriters and producers, including Blue Miller, producer to Bob Seger and India Arie to name a few, and Allen Palmer CEO of Palmer Global Ink. These songs formed his debut album and Cal recorded these songs back home in Liverpool with Steve Powell producer to Mick Head, Edgar Jones & The Stairs. Cal won the award for Best Live Entertainer recognizing his dynamic and energetic live show and stage presence at The 2019 Liverpool Lifestyle Awards and was a finalist for best social media personality at the 2020 Liverpool Lifestyle Awards.
Cal has had airplay on BBC Introducing Merseyside, Radio City, and features on ITV’s Granada Reports and Channel 5. Having also worked with Romanian airline, Blue Air in the Italian cities of Milan and Bergamo in 2017 and performed an acoustic set at 38,000ft onboard a plane, the sky is definitely not the limit for Ruddy.
Elliston Place: the debut album will be released on all major online platforms on November 20th, 2020.
“His vintage sound, particularly his honest, passionate vocal at times emits haunting waves of early Lennon. The love for his craft pours into the audience through memorable melodies and a twinkle in his eye. Ruddy is unique, fearless, and ready for national exposure” – Buz Magazine.
DL: Hi mate, you’ve been playing live on the local scene now for the last decade practically, you released your first singles back in 2016, how time flies eh? you’ve gained a real loyal fanbase with your live shows being very lively too, playing every leading venue locally, can you tell us how it all started for you Cal, what first made you pick up that guitar?
CR: I’ve had a passion for music since I was a small child. I grew up with great music thanks to my nan and grandad who introduced me to rock’n’roll and country stuff. I’d stay most weekends at their house and they introduced me to Elvis, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, and many others. My grandparents were Irish ( nan from Nenagh in County Tipperary, grandad from Newry in Northern Ireland) so I grew up with a love for Irish folk music as well. When I was 15 my grandad bought me my first guitar from Dawson’s in Liverpool. It was a magical moment for sure. He sadly passed away shortly after that so I threw myself into teaching myself the guitar to cope and then I started writing songs soon after that.
DL: Why solo Cal, why not a band? Is it lonely on your own or do you enjoy not having to compromise with anyone?
CR: It’s a funny one actually because I used to play rhythm guitar in bands when I was 16/17 but then as I started playing more and more live shows and as I grew in confidence I decided to start the whole ‘Cal Ruddy’ thing. It’s been quite the journey so far haha! I love playing with a band but I like to keep the CR brand because I’m starting to get a good following now.
Cal Ruddy, Jimmys Liverpool (credit: Billy Vitch)
DL: 2020 mate, nightmare !!!, how did it impact you personally and professionally?
CR: 2020 has been horrible. I had a bit of a dip with my mental health during the spring lockdown. It hit me hard having all my shows and opportunities for the year canceled. I am generally a really positive person but I really did struggle for a while there. I feel so much better now and releasing the album and working on new music has given me a real boost.
DL: So we got your debut album ” Elliston Place” a few weeks ago, a lovely distraction for us during lockdown, listening to it actually took me someplace else. I hear you went out to Nashville USA to finish a bit of writing, how much of the album was written out there and how did the idea for that trip all come about?
CR: The songs for Elliston Place were written on a songwriting trip to Nashville in September 2017. It was honestly a life-changing experience for me. It opened my eyes to so much. I worked with writers from Palmer Global Ink, a Nashville-based team of songwriters and producers, and over the course of 2 weeks, I wrote 11 songs. 8 of those songs ended up on the final album. It was amazing to work in studios and team up with Allen Mckendree Palmer, Blue Miller, Blake Densmore, Pevy Pevahouse, and Corey Lee Barker. It was amazing to collaborate one on one with each of these talented writers.
DL: Some songs on the album have been around for a bit, do you think playing the songs at different venues with different audiences allows the tunes to develop and take on a life of their own?
CR: Buying Time, Maria and December’s Friend are a couple of years older than the rest of the songs on the album and they were already staples of my live set. Oh definitely yeah, when I came back from Nashville I spent 8 months playing the songs from the Nashville sessions live before I went into the studio and it was great to gauge the audience’s reaction to them. They grew even more from that.
DL: Who would you rather have a bevy with Batman or Spider-Man?
CR: I’m a Marvel man, me haha! Bevies with Spider-Man. I loved reading the comic books and watching the films growing up. I’ll have a nice Irish whiskey, Spidey can pay haha.
DL: If you had to cook a special meal to impress someone, what would you cook Cal ?
CR: My signature dish is fajitas. Never underestimate the power of Mexican food.
Cal Ruddy, Jimmys Liverpool (credit: Billy Vitch)
DL: You have a very interesting voice, I hear lots of different people when you sing, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, even a bit of Buddy Holly, who have you been compared to previously and who are your influences? , also, why country? ( I love it btw, my uncle was a country guitarist for years. )
CR: I’ve often been told I have a unique singing voice and I get such a buzz from that. I have spent time crafting my sound and it’s nice to hear that. Neil Young is amazing, I’ve heard that comparison before which is cool. I am a big fan of his music. Harvest is a classic album that I play over and over. I’ve been compared to Jake Bugg as well. I love the way country songs tell stories. There’s something special about the genre’s way of storytelling.
DL: Did you have a trip booked to California a few years back, was it a mini-tour that you had to cancel, what happened with that?
CR: I was supposed to go out to California on a tour in Spring 2017 but unfortunately I was hospitalized due to an auto-immune condition and I was told by medical professionals I needed to get better or risk damaging my health further. In a way, though I believe everything happens for a reason and it led me on to going to Nashville.
DL: “Days Like These ” and “Been Here Before” are my standout tracks on Elliston Place, could you tell us how those songs came about and what is your favourite song on the album, and what’s favourite song to play live?
CR: Days Like These was written at Palmer Global Ink on a gorgeous, hot day with Allen and Blake. The weather was incredible. It all came together in 20 minutes or so. It’s just got a great feel-good vibe to it. We captured the essence of that day in that tune. Been Here Before was written at Blue’s studio. Blue Miller was a brilliant guy to work with, he produced records for so many great artists including India Arie, Bob Seger, and Isaac Hayes. Blue had so much enthusiasm and we got on like a house on fire. I wrote Been Here Before and Nobody From Nowhere with him. He handed me a 1944 Gibson J-45 and it was a beautiful guitar to play. It was such an amazing session. I was one of the last artists to work with Blue as he sadly passed away a few months later. I’ll treasure that time with him forever. The two songs I wrote with him are my favourites to play live.
Cal Ruddy, Jimmys Liverpool (credit: Billy Vitch)
DL: I mentioned earlier that you’ve played all the main venues locally, what’s been your standout show/fave gig to date?
CR: One of my favourite shows to date was my headline show at The Cavern Club in May 2017. It was my debut performance at the club so that was really special and it was mega. Other than that I’d say my headline show at Studio 2 Parr Street in October 2019 was a really magical night as well. I miss playing live so much. Just you watch though, when I can get back on a stage I’ll be firing on all cylinders delivering the best show I can for my audience. I’m ready for it right now, let’s go haha!
DL: Finally what are your plans for 2021, where will we see you, and how long until album no2?
CR: I hope 2021 is a better year for us all. Keep an eye on my social media for updates, I’m writing new material at the moment and I’m excited about it, watch this space!
Follow Cal Ruddy On all his social media profiles on the pink links below.
Listen to Cal on Spotify below.
