Things She Left Behind - Ruby Vectra
Debut EP Review
Ruby Vectra is an indie-pop, singer-song writer from Essex. Her debut EP, ‘Things She Left Behind’ walks us through the intense emotions felt from Vector’s breakup with her long-term girlfriend and offers a truly vulnerable insight into a traumatic chapter of her life.
habits
The EP opens with ‘habits’ which provides a strong foundation for the tracks which follow. ‘habits’ describes the ways in which you consciously and unconsciously begin to adapt the habits and mannerisms of your partner. In the first verse Vectra tells of ‘acting’ like it is too soon for parties to end and of laughing at her partner’s friends jokes, ‘preaching’ her words, picking up her habits and ‘shadowing’ her actions. Ruby’s vocals are soft in this song, which along with the simple guitar work, gives the song a more intimate feel.
As ‘habits’ progresses we learn that these habits can actually be quite destructive when it comes to having a healthy relationship. We learn they are unable to communicate with each other, the line ‘hide our feelings inside, sweep it under the rug..’ expresses this beautifully. The repetition of ’push it down’ throughout the chorus highlights the way in which Ruby feels her partner deals with emotions.
empty spaces
‘empty spaces’ is raw and emotive track about pining for lost love but ultimately understanding that you have to let this person and your relationship with them go as it will never give you what you need, want or deserve.
‘hoping you’ll come back is hurting me’ is the most devastating line in this song for me as it is one in which I certainly empathise with. We have all been guilty of holding onto someone, or more likely, the idea of someone for longer than we should until we finally realise the only person we are hurting by holding onto this is ourselves.
silhouette
‘silhouette’ is my personal favourite track from this EP. It has a more full bodied melody. Though the music is a bit more produced, the lyrics are still powerfully vulnerable and they are still able to shine and not become overshadowed by the music.
The bridge to ‘silhouette’ is one which I can imagine people singing loudly at any Ruby Vectra gig or even just when the song comes on at your local pub.
curtains
‘curtains’ is a delicate and raw song which opens up about the worst part of any breakup, the moment when you realise you actually have to get on with the rest of your life, without this person that you loved and who was so much a part of it. Ruby sings of having to navigate this grief in a masterfully poetic way. I loved the verse in which she sang of cleaning out her wardrobe and allowing the dust of her ex to settle on her skin and not brush it away. Being this open and exposed lyrically continues this theme of intimacy and trust between Vectra and her listeners.
nineteen
‘nineteen’ is the closing track to Ruby Vectra’s debut EP and what a closing track it is! We again hear Vectra playing around with different levels of production in her music and is again giving a more full band sound. ‘nineteen’ walks us through the more angry emotions one goes during a breakup. The song has a more bitter energy to it, which is extremely relatable. The line ‘you wasted me’ is a kick in the gut to the listener and allows those of us who have been through a traumatic breakup like this to tap right back into those feelings once again.
Things She Left Behind is a joy from beginning to end. there is something about Ruby’s openness to expose the most vulnerable and intimate parts of herself and her psyche while navigating a breakup that proves to be incredibly relatable to anyone who has gone through heartbreak.
I cannot wait to see what is next for Ruby.
