RUBEN YOUNG

Blurring lines between his motown roots, a love for hip-hop and his charismatic pop-sensible penmanship, Ruben Young is a modern Soul/R&B artist and budding songwriter based in Toronto, Canada. His musical DNA is laced with influence from the likes of James Brown, Justin Timberlake and Mac Miller, but his stories are his own - a mixed race kid from humble beginnings who has dedicated his life to realizing his dreams. What began on a keyboard in his Trinidadian single momma’s basement has blossomed into Apple Music Canada's “New Artist of the Week” attracting +5 million streams and the stages of industry tastemakers such as Live Nation's ‘Ones To Watch’, as well as direct support slots for international icons such as Keisza, Akon, The Chainsmokers, Jarreau Vandal, Nelly, Phony Ppl, Classified and Jocelyn Alice. 

In 2019, Ruben dropped his debut EP, Dreamstate, which featured American rapper Hodgy Beats from Odd Future and Grammy nominated producer, Lord Quest leading to features on Beats 1 Radio, BBC Radio One Extra, CBC, and FM and satellite radio across Canada. 

In Fall 2020, the next chapter in Ruben’s career begins. Something new, something classic. 

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The debut EP from Calgary R&B phenom Ruben Young comes by its title honestly—Dreamstate is a synth-imbued future-soul fantasia that’s tailor-made for the club and boudoir alike. But its plush, soft-focus production can’t completely anesthetize the restless energy at the centre of these seven tracks. “I got insecurity issues,” Young offers by way of introduction on “Vienna,” a downtempo, tropically tinged ode to the one who got away, and that sense of yearning rarely abates over the course of the EP. But Young recruits some seasoned wingmen to help him get back on his game: “Rachel Green” finds him pining for a girl that reminds him of his favourite Friends character with a sweet-talkin’ guest rap from Odd Future cofounder Hodgy, while stone-cold Toronto MC Terrell Morris helps steer the seething neo-soul kiss-off “Subtle Savage” toward a mind-melting psych-funk guitar solo.

- Apple Music - September 27, 2019