From teenage sensation to global star, Ruel enters a bold new chapter with his sophomore record, Kicking My Feet, out now via Giant Music– Listen HERE. Across its 11 tracks, the project signals a bold new era for the 22-year-old artist, capturing his growth as a songwriter and storyteller while pushing further into the emotional honesty and sonic richness that continue to define his artistry.
Led by the focus track “Not What’s Going On”, the album puts Ruel’s heart on full display, wrestling with the weight of love that both lingers and leaves. Building on the stripped back vulnerability of recent singles “Wild Guess”, “I Can Die Now” and “The Suburbs”, Kicking My Feet finds him at his most raw and reflective. Throughout the record, he unpacks the highs and lows of love, from heartbreak, healing and self-sabotage to self-discovery and independence. At its core, it is a coming-of-age album that translates the defining years of his life into unflinching storytelling.
“With the lack of restrictions I gave myself, I still feel like I had the clearest vision I’ve ever had going into making a project. And there was a lot of certainty on how I wanted it to be perceived, the kind of artist that I want to be perceived as, and the things I wanted to say.” – Ruel
Earlier this week, Ruel released the official music video for “Wild Guess,” co-starring actor/comedian Mary Beth Barone (Overcompensating) and directed by Jackie Zhou (Chappell Roan “Hot To Go!”). Set in the Wild West, the tongue-in-cheek visual sees Barone as his ex, as the two are forced to reunite on set as actors who can’t quite put the past behind them. Between the bickering, eye-rolls and on-camera tension, the duo captures the hilariously messy reality of working with someone you once loved. Their undeniable chemistry and sharp comedic timing turn the whole thing into a rom-com gone deliciously wrong.
(Photo Credit: Joel Chamaa @snapshotbam)
Barone on the experience, “I was so excited to play the ex love interest of a 22 year old in a music video. It’s just an honor to be thought of in that way as a woman in my 30s. I think it’s a step forward for filmmaking, storytelling, and culture in general. And the song being about a breakup, it just felt right.
My heart goes out to anyone who has to work with their ex, especially in an on set environment.
Ruel is a total professional and very kind so maybe the youth really will save us.”
As an extension of his recent releases, the Kicking My Feet leans into warm, folk-inspired textures while staying true to his pop roots. On “Wild Guess” he contemplates the slow unraveling of a relationship with quiet resignation, while the buoyant “I Can Die Now” celebrates a love so powerful it feels like the peak of existence. Tracks like “The Suburbs” and “No News Is Good News” dive into nostalgia and uncertainty, before the closer “dst (outro)” leaves listeners with a sense of acceptance. Honest lyricism pairs with the signature vocals fans know and love as Ruel evolves his sound into new territory. The result is a body of work that resonates both sonically and emotionally, blending sharp wordplay with melodies that linger long after the songs end.
To shape the sound of of Kicking My Feet, Ruel teamed up with an all-star roster of producers including Julian Bunetta (Sabrina Carpenter, One Direction), Kenny Beats (Dominic Fike, Ed Sheeran), Dan Wilson (Adele, Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton), Taka Perry (KATSEYE), and longtime collaborator M-Phazes (Eminem, Kehlani, Ruel’s debut album). Earlier this week, he was also announced to join the lineup for Lollapalooza’s South American run, with performances in Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, as well as Colombia next March.
(photo credit: Erica Snyder)
Kicking My Feet Tracklist:
1. Only Ever
2. Wild Guess
3. When You Walk In The Room
4. I Can Die Now
5. Not What’s Going On
6. Destroyer
7. The Suburbs
8. No News Is Good News
9. Even Angels Won’t
10. Kicking My Feet
11. dst (outro)
