Ruel - Cats on The Ceiling
by Nyah Lin | November 5th, 2024
Ruel is an Australian singer-songwriter aligned with a blend of pop, R&B, and soul. Since entering the music scene in 2017, Ruel has captivated listeners with his relatable lyrics and unique vocals. Ruel has released three EPs that showcase his sound, including Free Time with his most popular songs "Painkiller" and "Dazed & Confused”. In 2023, Ruel released his debut album, 4th Wall, featuring standout tracks like "I DON’T WANNA BE LIKE YOU" and "MUST BE NICE."
First showcased at the Australian Open Final Festival, Cats On The Ceiling aligns unique lyrics with atmospheric instrumentals to make an overall feel-good song. It conveys the unpredictable aspects of life and how the best way to navigate through life is to let go and enjoy the small moments.
“I wrote Cats to express the joy that comes from giving in to the great unknown and I want people to be able to interpret that in whatever way feels good to them.” via Dork
The upbeat music with the unique lyrics creates an overall lighthearted mood. Lyrically, the verses go along more with the beat rather than making perfect sense or having a deeper meaning. In the Zach Sang Show, he describes the process he went through to write the single. “When I’m writing it, I'm just singing a melody and I just start singing gibberish. […] The chorus, where it gets into more easy to understand lyrics, it’s about someone showing you all these experiences and your mind kind of being blown about a new world.”
The song was produced by M-Phazes who has also worked with artists like Demi Lovato, Eminem, and KYLE. The production includes instrumentals, layered harmonies, and a mix of electronic and acoustic elements. Opening into the song, the listener is met with guitar, drums, layered vocals, and synth. All the elements together create a light and upbeat mood, almost as if you’re floating. Added to his voice are reverb, delay, and vocals that are often layered or harmonized, giving them a fuller feel and adding to the otherworldly quality. Despite these added effects, his voice remains clear and natural.
“It's a vibe and it's just fun and it's off tempo and kind of 70s in a way and it feels just like a good time and it was really fun to play live so I just didn't want to think too hard on the deeper meaning.”
