We knew Ruby Fields was exceptional from the moment we heard the bombastic ‘Dinosaurs’.
On that track, released three years ago, Fields lamented broken promises to her childhood self – “I wasn’t afraid / I was brave and courageous with everything I did,” she sung emphatically. With an epic drop hitting three minutes in, Fields summoned Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ on one of her earliest singles. ‘Dinosaurs’ is an impressive single to come from someone so young, and one of BLUNT’s favourite Australian tracks of the last five years. Somehow, though, ’Song About A Boy’ – the opener to Fields’ debut album, Been Doin’ It For A Bit – is even greater than expected.
Fields packs Been Doin’ It For A Bit with punchy, energetic, honest pop-punk anthems dedicated to people who aren’t right for you. There’s also nods to the pitfalls of alcoholism, a chat with the Grim Reaper, and love letters to Ruby’s bandmates – Adam Newling (guitar), Tas Wilson (bass), and Patrick Rogers (drums). On the acoustic ‘Airport Café’, Fields showcases the confidence to lay her heart bare. ‘Pokies’ follows a similar vulnerable trend, opening the breezy track with the line. “My old man loves a slab at the pub.”
The album as a whole is about people finding themselves in their 20s, spun through the catharsis of distorted guitars. Who is Ruby Fields, if touring isn’t currently a possibility? How will she navigate depression and inherited alcoholism?
Catchy, singalong-primed pop-punk songs have seen a resurgence of late, thanks to the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Machine Gun Kelly. Mixing ultra-memorable riffs with candid examinations of real-life problems has always made for a great combination; why else would we have latched on to bands like Paramore and My Chemical Romance, and maintained those fandoms? If you’re after an Aussie spin on that particular sound, Ruby Fields has you covered – and she’s Been Doin’ It For A Bit.
>> KEEP READING: The Fresh Squeeze: Bellwether <<
Been Doin’ It For A Bit is out Friday, September 24th independently
Click here to pre-order and/or pre-save it
