Ruff kicked off his catalogue in July 2020 with 'Self Sabotage' alongside MIKEY C & Lila McKenna, which proved to be a hugely successful debut, achieving well over 300,000 streams on Spotify alone and staunch support from the likes of Will Sparks. The track was quickly followed by ‘Without It’; Ruff’s first collaborative effort with Robbie Rosen. In addition to ‘Reasons’, 2021 saw the release of an energetic dance flip of the Justin Bieber classic ‘Love Yourself’, which gained support from industry titan R3HAB; a testament to the rising star’s studio prowess. Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Chainsmokers, Lost Kings, Gryffin, NOTD, & Martin Garrix, Ruff possesses an innate talent for radio-ready cuts, with his growing discography having already attracted over 50,000 monthly Spotify listeners and 2.5 million combined streams since his 2020 debut. Effortlessly combining the uplifting sensibilities of electronic music with his unique flair of emotive pop, Ruff’s ever-evolving orchestral dance-pop crossover sound has already touched fans around the world, setting him in perfect stead to cultivate an adoring global fanbase.
THE INTERVIEW
CR: Hello Ruff, Glad to have you on Canadianravers how are you doing?
R: I’m doing great, thanks for having me!
CR: Tell us a little bit about yourself and where did the name ‘Ruff’ come from?
R: For sure, I am a 21-year-old Dance-Pop artist from New Jersey. My artist name “Ruff” comes from it being my childhood nickname since my real name is Nick Ruffalo!
CR: What is the best advice you have received while pursuing your career as a DJ/Producer?
R: To never give up and just keep finishing music. Sometimes you get stuck in a creative rut and it may feel like the end of the world trying to break out of it, but having the will to push through and keep fighting is what separates the good from the great.
CR: We know the EDM scene has been growing in New Jersey how did that influence you as an artist? Also, which club in New Jersey is your favourite to attend?
R: Being from right outside of New York City where I’m located in New Jersey, having this mixture of influences from Jersey and New York simultaneously has been awesome in helping my growth as an artist and performer. Getting to meet so many people from so many different backgrounds and cultures is something that is so special being from here. My favourite club here in Jersey has to be Karma in Seaside down the shore, a classic spot.
CR: You must be busy producing and being a guest on others podcasts but will you be releasing any more episodes for ‘Ruff Presents: The Dawg House Mix Series’, who will be the next guest in the mix?
R: Definitely! I have a few special guests lined up that I’m really excited about, starting with the Little L3GENDS.
CR: What do you like to do during your downtime other than producing music?
R: I am an avid fan of working out, getting outside and hitting some walks, and just being in nature.
CR: If you had the chance to open for any artist around the world, who would it be and where would it be?
R: Opening for the Chainsmokers at any venue anywhere in the world would be absolutely incredible.
CR: DJs/ Producers travel with multiples of that one item, what is that item for you?
R: Laptop!
CR: If you were not a producer/DJ what would have been your career choice?
R: Something in the marketing/entrepreneurship/business realm.
CR: Are there any projects/music that you are working on that we should know about?
R: A ton of new music will be dropping this year, with some collaborations lined up as well that I’m super excited about!
Lighting Round
Texting or talking?- Texting
Coffee or tea? - Coffee
Hard liquor or Wine? - Neither :)
Cake or pie? - Cake
Hot dogs or hamburgers - Hamburgers
Xbox or PlayStation? - Xbox
Movie theatre or arcade? - Arcade
Guitar or piano? - Piano
Marvel or DC Comics? - Marvel
Dog or cat? - Dog
Hot weather or cold weather? - Cold
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