Ruthven. Photo by Francesca Nelson
You might expect a musician signed to Jai Paul’s Paul Institute to mirror the label head’s legendary air of mystery, but Ruthven is his own artist. Formed in 2016 by Jai and his brother A.K., the Paul Institute kept up the siblings’ ruthlessly sparse release schedule and showed the many fans of Paul’s sound where its chosen acolytes could take it. In Ruthven’s case, he shared songs with a special warmth; if the Paul Institute’s artists are making futuristic spacecrafts disguised as pop songs, Ruthven feels like he’s opening the pod bay doors and inviting you in.
That quality has been a recurring theme in the four singles Ruthven has released even as he pushes his sound into new territory .“Evil,” his debut song, introduced Ruthven as a devotee of electronic ‘80s funk and on “Hypothalamus,” he nodded to Jai Paul’s influence while demonstrating his significant capacity for tension and release. 2021 saw the release of two new songs: the smoldering “Don’t Keep It To Yourself” and “123 Days,” where glossy synth chirps and a blend of acoustic and electronic drums conspire to form a song that would probably get Lionel Ritchie doing cartoon wolf howls.
If Ruthven’s releases feel like a curation, it may have something to do with his history as a wedding reception DJ. When he wasn’t serving as a firefighter, Ruthven was creating playlists for newly married couples and their friends to dance the night away. “100% it’s influenced my decision-making process when it comes to writing,” Ruthven tells me in an email. Though it may now be a while before wedding season returns, we asked Ruthven to give us a selection of his favorite wedding reception songs. As with his own music, he kept us guessing. “I don’t wanna have just a bait list that any ‘70s soul lover could easily throw together,” he writes. “There will be a few alternatives!”
"Land Down Under" - Men At Work
I heard this song for the first time at a barbershop in Catford [in south east London]. My barber at the time was a kinda serious/borderline scary-looking man. To my surprise, he was humming all the words as he was cutting my hair, and then kind of lost himself singing along in the chorus. I wasn't even mad that he stopped trimming. The story has nothing to do with weddings, really, but the song reminds me of that moment every time I hear it. It reminds me that there shouldn’t really be defined “Black” or “white” music — it really is such a universal thing. This song could make for a wicked ice-breaker if people are wallflowering. It’s a lot of fun.
"Get It On Tonite" - Montell Jordan
A proper foot-tapping/head-bobbing song. I don’t think you can hear this one and not feel a little cooler for it. It’s a song truly worthy of the stank face. I feel like most wedding music that gets the crowd dancing is from the ‘70s & ‘80s. In this case, though, it’s a sample taken from a 1976 song by Claudja Barry called “Love For The Sake of Love” that makes the tune what it is. The feel is fantastic in both versions but for a wedding party — the sampled, more modern-sounding, and quicker tempo version gets the nod!
"Forget Me Nots" - Patrice Rushen
I’ve never heard this song and not felt the urge to hip-wiggle. Perfect tune to mix generations on the dancefloor. If I’m at the function and it comes on, I’m finding an aunt (anyone’s aunt) who’s keen and we’ll be letting our hair down for the next few minutes.
"Encore" - Cheryl Lynn / "Candy" - Cameo
Like almost everybody I’ve ever encountered at a party, I love to hear Candy come on at a function. It’s the somehow-still-cool line dancing, the singing along with the “OWWW’s”— all of that that does it for me. But (and please don’t hate me), I think it’s a little overplayed. I’m not advocating for the removal of “Candy,” but adding an additional/alternative tune for the electric slide. There are lots of songs with the right kinda tempo & energy but none as heavily to me as “Encore” by Cheryl Lynn. Try it.
"Silly Games" - Janet Kay
A slight change in tempo to get couples giving each other love heart eyes. Slightly lyrically inappropriate for a wedding but there are plenty of songs I can think of that do the same thing - think “Every Breath You Take” or “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?” (another Wedding Singer reference — sorry). In spite of that, it’s a song that somehow feels uplifting anyway and it’s maybe even a sing-along for a few of the aunties out there.
"Love Ultra" - Dwele / "Prototype" - Outkast
It feels pretty obligatory to have a proper slow-paced song to sway to on the dancefloor of a wedding. There are lots and lots of ‘70s songs I have heard being played (or I have sung through myself) during these moments. We don’t have to be stuck in the past forever though, I don’t think - I’m all for promoting some slightly more modern takes that are still romantically moving and soulful. They’re so good that we shouldn’t let them slip through the net, we should claim them as the next generation of wedding songs I think. My first (more obvious) choice was “Prototype” by Outkast - and it is a GREAT song. But there is another slightly rarer take I’d like to share in “Love Ultra”by Dwele.
"Only You" - Steve Monite
Party time again. A good one to throw on after any kind of lull in energy. Very appropriate lyrics this time around. It’s an infectiously danceable song that’s a lot of fun to listen to.
"Erotic City" - Prince
Prince at a wedding feels like a must. “Kiss” would make for an obvious choice but it feels like everyone knows that song at this point. Not everyone knows “Erotic City” who isn’t a Prince fan, but that doesn’t stop this deep cut from being such a great dancing song. Pretty overtly sexual as well but still feels appropriate for weddings. People getting loose and inebriated — this feels like a nod of approval to them getting hot under the collar as well.
"Cold Blooded" - Rick James
Pretty much the same energy as above except it’s much more silly. Very sing-along-able and entertaining. If you can look past some of the kinda dodgy lyrics it’s a song that’s very fun to embrace!
"Grow Old With You" - Adam Sandler
If you’ve followed anything I’ve done to this point, it might have occurred to you already that I’m keen on smile-inducing nostalgia. And Adam Sandler in The Wedding Singer just does it for me. Corny, funny, not taking itself too seriously, and full of nostalgic pop culture references. My wife and I exited our wedding ceremony to this song. It’s a random oldie but goodie, but my hope is that it would remind everyone that romance is the reason for the party.
