Ruel pours his heart out on single “Made It Awkward”

The single cover for “Made It Awkward”

For many years now, Australian singer-songwriter Ruel has been weaving elements of pop with a unique rock-esque twist that makes his music easily recognizable. His powerful voice and knack for writing beautiful lyrics has been something that I’ve grown to love, and on his most recent single “Made It Awkward,” he sings of pining after someone, trying to patch things up, but instead, making the whole situation uncomfortable.

We’ve all had those moments where we want something— or someone— so bad that it seems hard to move on. But that passion can evolve and morph into something toxic, whether it be a new job position or in Ruel’s case, a lover. Then this thing of beauty that you once loved so much becomes tainted by a bitter taste in your mouth. He interweaves this story into a more upbeat track with distorted guitars and some synth-like notes in the background.

The best part of his songs will always truly be his voice. It’s what rounds the track off, what brings together all the elements— the lyrics, beat, and of course, melody. His silky smooth delivery still manages to convey so much emotion, in this track especially. His voice is bleeding with disappointment and heartbreak, it’s evident with every line. The poppiness that he’s managed to combine with a more alternative style is certainly still there, creating a sound that fits his voice wonderfully.

I’m certain this means we’ll be getting more music soon. It seems he’s in a new era, the biggest signifier being his hair (or lack thereof.) Ruel has been known for his great hair, which is funny enough, but he recently sported a new buzzcut look, which feels transitional. Is this the beginning of the next era? I’m excited to find out! “Made It Awkward” is catchy in the same way all of his music is, but it’s tinged with an underlying sadness that I hope he explores more on the next project.