Hey, tell us a bit about yourself.
We are Rub n’ Alc, an RnB/Soul duo from Evanston/Chicago IL, consisting of “Rubz” and “Alc Anonymous”. We met when we were 14 years old and have been making music together since. Rubz has been playing piano from an early age and making beats since middle school, and Alc has been writing songs, playing guitar, and singing since childhood. We write the songs together and both contribute vocals and production to each song, which creates an extremely collaborative and tightly intertwined process between the two of us. Alc goes to college in Chicago while Rubz goes to school in New Orleans, and both of these cities have a strong influences on our music.
Our first EP was made in Evanston/Chicago while our current project is under construction in New Orleans. We have similar interests and world views, and based on those views, we outline the themes we want to discuss in our lyrics before starting a project. This makes for literary and cohesive projects. Our music often explores themes related to mental illness and balancing the often-fine line between self-destruction and creative production. Influences range from Outkast to the Beatles and everything in-between, including the likes of Sly and The Family Stone; Earth, Wind & Fire; Frank Ocean; J Dilla; Kendrick Lamar and more. But we are also aware of and embrace the fact that everything we see, hear, feel, the people we meet, all have profound influences on our music.
Where did the new single come from?
Poison IV is the single off of our upcoming project “Increase the Drip”. In making the project, which is to be released in October, we are exploring the dichotomies and relationships between drug-aided spiritual insight vs. meditative and contemplative spiritual insight, depression vs. inspiration, creation vs. destruction, etc. For Poison IV we tried to pack some of those concepts into a catchy groove.
Is there more content in the pipeline?
We released a 9 track self-titled concept EP three years ago, which can be found on our Soundcloud. While the production value isn’t up to par with our current work, the lyrics and musical content is strong and can’t be analyzed fully without several listens. We have grown tremendously since that release, but the concepts have stayed relevant in our lives and are universal to everyone. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the rest of our current project, though… a lot more music is coming soon.
What’s on the horizon for you?
Poison IV is only the first single off of “Increase the Drip,” which will be a cohesive project released in October. There are songs that are more RnB based and songs that are more organically soul based, while the themes and ideas presented in the lyrics tie together the project as a united meditation on the modern age and the feelings that come along with growing up and encountering various obstacles. For the time being, we just want to keep making music, developing our sound, and getting our music out there to be heard by all those who might be inspired by it.
PURPLE MELON 