For Ruth B, the past few years have been about finding her way back to music, and, in the process, back to herself. Since breaking through with ‘Lost Boy’, the singer-songwriter has built a remarkable global following, with billions of streams and songs that have taken on lives of their own. ‘Dandelions’ found a second life years after its release, becoming a global streaming phenomenon, while ‘Mixed Signals’ reached a new audience when it was sampled by Rod Wave on ‘Street Runner’, eventually leading to an unexpected live performance that reignited Ruth’s desire to make music.

That moment became the catalyst for Peace to Make, her latest album and her most vulnerable work yet. Created with producer Cole M.G.N, the record traces the aftermath of a relationship that had slowly become misaligned, moving through heartbreak, reflection and the gradual process of reclaiming yourself. There’s a sense of growth throughout the album, but it never feels overly polished or detached from the emotions that inspired it.

Now that Peace to Make is out, Ruth B takes 1883 Magazine through the album track by track, sharing the stories, memories and emotions behind each song, and opening up about the journey that brought her back to music.

Bad Combination

‘Bad Combination’ was one of the first songs I wrote for the album, and when I wrote it, I didn’t actually know I was making an album at that time. That was just genuinely how I was feeling, and I needed to make sense of it. To me, that song is about figuring yourself out after heartbreak and the highs and lows that come with it. The smile that you paint on your face every time you leave the house.

Best Days

‘Best Days’ is probably my favorite song on the album. I think it captures the sense of nostalgia so well and missing something that you can’t get back. To me, it really sounds like a memory of a perfect day. The intro of the song is the actual voice memo from my phone that I recorded when I first started writing the song. That makes it feel even more human to me.

Peace To Make

‘Peace To Make’ is the album title track. For me, this song is about the tug and pull that exists in a relationship that you know you shouldn’t be in but can’t fully let go of. When all you want to do is be with them, but once you’re with them, it still doesn’t feel right. I really love the line, “guess I’ve still got peace to make.” I think it’s a really pretty way of saying, “I don’t know how to let you go for good.”

Didn’t I

‘Didn’t I’ was a song I wrote after a couple glasses of wine. It’s kind of that moment on the album where I’m just like, you know what… I told you so. It’s so interesting to me how we will spend years telling people what we need, they won’t listen, but then once you finally decide to walk away, that’s when they want to act correctly. This song for me was about coming to terms with that and making peace with the fact that some things are just better left in the past.

Jealous

‘Jealous’ is one of my lyrically favorite songs on the album. I think initially when you hear the word jealous, you think about being jealous of another person, but with this song, we wanted to twist it to be about longing to receive the love that you give out. I think it’s a heartbreakingly honest song about feeling lonely and unheard with the person you’re supposed to feel the safest around.

Love’s Vulnerable

‘Love’s Vulnerable’ to me is the sweet spot on the album. It’s the one true love song. To me, it’s about the power of letting your walls down and allowing someone to see you for all of you. It’s also about new and exciting love. That scary but exhilarating feeling of falling in love for the first time in a long time.

Breathe

This is my most personal and honest song. It’s about my journey with my mental health. I actually started writing it while I was on a trip to Banff to reconnect with myself. I remember looking up at the mountains and feeling so small, and it was such a liberating feeling. My problems at that time felt so huge, but in that moment I felt so small, and there was something very healing in that. It’s a song I’m really proud of.

Not You

‘Not You’ is one of those scarily honest songs. It’s almost like an intrusive thought in song form. Those thoughts you probably shouldn’t say out loud. I think that’s what makes for the best songs: unapologetic honesty. It’s about being with someone but thinking of someone else. I almost felt a little guilty when I wrote it, but it was genuine to how I was feeling.

Who’s Gonna Love You

This song for me is about the weird feeling of starting to let go of someone and all the burning questions you used to have finally being okay with remaining unanswered. For me, that’s how I knew I was moving on and healing. I didn’t need to know what that person was up to, and for so long, that’s all that mattered. It’s funny because when you first break up, you really want that person to feel the brunt of losing you, but as you move on, it’s actually a little sad to see them so stuck in it.

Should’ve Been Us

I remember when Cole, my producer, first started playing the guitar, it sounded so beautiful and like sitting at a café in Paris and just talking with your friend. So I really wanted the song to be very conversational and confessional. When you first part ways with someone you spent so much life with, it’s impossible not to think of what if. What if I’m never as in love or as happy? What if I get married and have a family, but I’m still thinking about you?

No Boundaries

‘No Boundaries’ was a love song to my friends and family. I wanted to talk about the unwavering love that I found in them during my lowest moments. I think it’s very special when you have people that love you no matter what. They always have your back, no questions asked. It’s such a feel-good song that just makes you feel all the love.

Pick Me

‘Pick Me’ was the last song I wrote for the album, and I knew as soon as I wrote it that it would be the final one. It really all happened in that order as well. After writing the album and processing all those feelings, I was finally able to pick myself. I think it’s funny that the song is called “Pick Me” because in modern pop culture it means the complete opposite of what the song is actually about.

Peace To Make is out now.

Photography Dennis Leupold