Faithers: M. Ruina
From Carabanchel and about to release his new mixtape with Blank Faze named “La noche de los fantasmas”, M. Ruina has given us a part of his time and a great part of his feelings. So iconic for singing his experiences in a way that touches you and, sometimes, even crosses you, M. Ruina opens with his answers the doors of his most personal side. It's time to know what and who is behind the singer M. Ruina.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I've always been fascinated by music. In fact, since I was a child, there was already a lot of musical culture in my house. And as a teenager, I always hung out with people from many different countries, and in the end, you get soaked in the music they teach you. Although it is true that rap, hip-hop, and that culture have always caught my attention since I can remember. I also believe that I could express myself in that style without having to be a "musician" so to speak.
What's your biggest motivation?
To express myself!. You know, sharing my feelings has always been really crucial to me; I just wanna get what's on my mind out there and make art. I've always had something to say because there's always something happening within me; otherwise, I seriously feel I wouldn't be here at all. Music has literally saved me, and yeah, maybe it does sound a little dramatic, but it's the truth. I've never been able to communicate better in any other way than through music. I'm somewhat of an introverted person, and I would've burst a long time ago if it wasn't for the music.
What was your biggest challenge when you started making music?
The toughest thing for me was to start recording, you know? I've been writing songs my whole life but never recorded anything since none of my friends were interested in music. I had to step out of my comfort zone and go up to strangers to learn how to record and ultimately make that first step into music.
What has helped you to continue to make music with such a distinctive style and not get carried away with the current musical trends of nowadays?
That's what I was talking about, as it's something I do to express myself, what I do is something very personal and somewhat sacred, and doing it in that personal way. I don't have to build a character which you need to feed. It is enough to be yourself at all times. You don't need to prepare anything, it comes out naturally. You just need to find what inspires you and interpret it musically and that's it.
What's the most fulfilling thing of making music?
Making people connect with my music. I could never, ever have imagined that something I do for myself, has served as an outlet and help to other people. And much less, that other people could live it elsewhere as I do. That connection is simply hard to explain, as well as my gratitude when someone expresses it to me. For me it is a huge honor.
That's why I don't take my music lightly. I see artists who don't take music with the seriousness that the art of music deserves, as if music were just a hobby. For me it is important, my music is transcendent for those who listen to me. I think, and I say this because it has happened to me and still happens to me today, that the music we listen to marks stages of our lives according to the moment and the personal situation you are going through. And me, I feel proud to know that my music and my experiences have been part of more or less beautiful personal stages of many people. There is nothing better than to have been part of other people's feelings and emotions. That for me is a privilege.
What's a song that evokes an incredibly specific memory for you?
I think that "LAS COSAS QUE VÍ" because it's just so much my thing, and it's much how I think I am.
Although every song has really significant things to me because they're songs that I've written at the same times when I lived those things.
In fact, when I hear some of my songs again, they take me back to the days when I wrote them. Some of my songs even make me sick to listen to. Some of the songs are like flashbacks to the past, and some of them make me cheerful. And that is the beauty of music.
If you could give any advice to a musician trying to break into the industry, what would it be?
Well, I would need to know first of all why that person wishes to start in music. If the reason is passion, if it's because he wants to create a character (which isn't necessarily evil), or because he wants to undertake it as a business. To me, the reason should be only to do it out of passion, as a form of artistic expression. I do it because I love art. I believe that any passion or artistic feeling you have, you have to let it out, whether it earns you money or not, or whether it makes you happy or sad. If you're going to do it as a business, somebody else could advise you better than I can do.
What is the hardest part of being an artist?
The hardest thing is to not be ever fully satisfied with what you are doing. But, most importantly, to express from yourself what it hurts to express. But most of all, the most difficult is to narrate unpleasant experiences that I have gone through but I need to tell to feel free.
If you had to start all over again, would you do it?
Yes, indeed, I have done it more than once. I would always try once again and never give up. I would always return to writing songs because it is something I have within me and my mode of expressing art. Another alternative would be that I may not release the songs and reserve them for myself.
What would be the best advice you would give yourself if you had to start your music career over tomorrow?
Follow your passion! Life is too short to stop doing something you feel inside whitin you. Life is about making decisions, and these decisions give meaning to the meaninglessness that is sometimes life. I have always felt that I live my life with an advantage because I am not afraid of poverty or the uncertainty of everyday life and all that it entails, as I come from there.
Many people don't know what it's really like to be there and only know the comfort of having everything and not valuing anything. That comfort becomes dangerous sometimes, you know? It makes you weak and makes you believe that you need material things that do not bring you anything. As my mother says: "no les ha hecho callo la vida...". I always say that everything that comes is a gift, and I receive it gratefully. I don't do anything for the gift itself. I do it because there isn't anything better in life than whatever comes thanks to what you are passionate about and what moves you, what you feel inside that is what you are called to do in this life.
What is the most important lesson you've learned so far?
Life is just a little while. By the time you realize, life is over and if you are not attentive you will miss it. There is not much more to do than enjoy the simple things and make life nice and easy for the people next to you.
What is the best thing about being M. Ruina?
Not having to pretend something I am not, M.Ruina is Manuel and Manuel is M.Ruina.
What has been a reason to smile today?
My children. Children are the greatest teachers you can have. They always bring you back to the present moment. For example, if I'm playing with my oldest son and he notices me distracted he will say me “Dad, I don't see you playing!”. A child is the best company you can have really. You can be in a bad mood and having a bad day, and if suddenly one of my kids comes along doing something silly that makes me smile, suddenly everything changes and everything is so much better than it was just 5 seconds ago.
For you, what does it mean to have FAITH in yourself?
Having faith in myself is just listening to myself and knowing that I am doing what is right and just for me. Things may go better or worse, but I do it from the inside and not because of what people will say. You can't let fear or the mind interfere in your decisions. The mind lives in the past and in the future, and that's why it tells you those crappy things that feed fear and discouragement. But if you really take the step and dare to do what you feel you have to do, that satisfaction is much greater than the security of not taking a false step out of fear and not daring to leave your comfort zone.
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