At just 17, RuthAnne made waves in the music industry by writing for some of the biggest artists, including co-writing nearly half of Niall Horan’s debut album, Flicker. Now, she’s stepping into the spotlight herself with her own solo music, and we couldn’t be more excited. We caught up with her to talk about songwriting, her move from Ireland to LA, and what inspires her music.
What inspires you to write songs?
“My daily experiences in life—living, conversations with friends, movies, and, of course, all the drama I have with boys! Sometimes I even do things just for the story.”
Your songs have been sung by incredible artists like Britney Spears and Niall Horan. If you could write for any other artist, who would it be and why?
“Bruno Mars, because he’s my favorite current artist, and Lauryn Hill—her music was so inspiring to me. Having a song on her comeback album would be a dream.”
Your vocals have appeared on many songs under the name ‘Rooty,’ including the late Avicii’s “All You Need Is Love.” Why did you use that name?
“Rooty is my nickname—people started calling me that when I lived in the UK and LA. For features where it didn’t feel like my own artist music, Rooty felt right. RuthAnne is my real name, and it’s the real me, so it made sense to use it for my own artist project.”
You were just 17 when you moved from Ireland to LA. Was that a culture shock?
“It was a huge culture shock. Everything was different from Ireland—the food, the weather, the humor. It took years to feel like I belonged, and honestly, I still kinda don’t. I’m too Irish for the Hollywood vibe, haha.”
When you moved to the US, you co-wrote JoJo’s hit song “Too Little Too Late,” which won an ASCAP Pop Award. What was that experience like?
“It was amazing. Winning such a big award for my first hit, especially when I was so young and new to the industry, was unbelievable. But there was a lot of pressure to maintain that success. Overall, it was an amazing growing period in my life.”
What music inspired you growing up?
“Soul, storytelling songwriters, 90s R&B. I loved Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Destiny’s Child, Brandy, Coldplay, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Jeff Buckley, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac.”
Now that you’re releasing music as a solo artist, how is the process different from writing for other artists? Does it make you feel more vulnerable?
“At first, it was weird transitioning from being the therapist for other artists, pulling their stories out, to telling my own. But I’m an open person, so I’ve embraced it. I think there’s strength in being vulnerable and honest, and in today’s world, people can see through fakeness. To me, being a great artist is about being your authentic self and connecting with people on a real level.”
If you could tour anywhere in the world, what would be your dream venue?
“I’d love to play the 3Arena in Dublin because it’s my home, and I grew up seeing my favorite acts there. The Hollywood Bowl is another—it’s outdoors and just so beautiful.”
Listen to RuthAnne’s latest track, “Take My Place,” below.
