Part trippy magic, part empowering balm for the soul, “Maybe It’s Time” serves as a powerful, funky anti-anxiety anthem in a post-pandemic world
On Friday, March 31st, Boston-based indie newcomers Ruby Grove will be releasing their new music single “Maybe It’s Time”, the result of a collaboration with Nick Zampiello of “This Bliss” and “Party Bois”, on all music platforms. With members Melissa Nilles (vocals + keys) and Cedric Lamour (bass +guitar) previously linked to the epic Boston-based alternative rock band Miele, which disbanded like many others during the pandemic, the path to re-forming a new project and ultimately releasing new music was paved with plenty of pandemic-related delays and obstacles. The apt-named single “Maybe It’s Time” ironically reflects the creative impulses, pressures, and delays which so many other musicians and artists have experienced during this time.
Described by frontwoman Nilles as “the sonic lovechild of Beats Antique, Portishead, Jamiroquai, Gnarls Barkley, and Gorillaz”, the vibey track features sassy and soulful vocals over bass-heavy hip-hop and electronic grooves from the band. Nilles both teases and encourages the listener to release oneself from inner traps and experience creative rebirth and expansiveness with Patti Labelle-esque refrains and harmonies, backed up by her multi-faceted vocal counterpart Cedric Lamour. Lamour also offers a mysterious and seductive pied-piper vibe as he layers intricate Spanish-inspired guitar riffs with bouncy bass grooves throughout this funky mid-tempo jam, over drums and production by Zampiello clearly influenced by electronica, trip-hop, and the boom bap drum styles of the Lofi girl era.
Nilles says Ruby Grove is best described as “an indie alternative project rooted in trip-hop and neo-soul grooves, informed by lofi hip-hop, electronica, rock, and world music (especially middle-eastern dub)”, though she believes it is best to aim for the “formation of new genres through multi-genre synthesis madness” in all of her work. The project also includes live drummer Sage Gibbons, who has contributed to other recent songwriting efforts and local shows.
Ruby Grove will be making supporting appearances throughout the months of March and April at multiple venues including 3/4 at Salem Tavern in Salem, MA, 3/16 at the Armory Singer-Songwriter Showcase in Somerville, MA, and an exclusive single release listening party on April 1 in Somerville to support this new single release. Ruby Grove also plans to launch a tour in August 2023 through the larger New England and New York area.
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