Black men seem to be under siege, but rising Chicago singer Eva Ruwè celebrates the positive side of brothers.
In her debut single, Good Man, she thanks the men who respect women, provide for their children, and know how to pray. She sings, “I believe in you. Stay the good man you are.”
Eva is a backup singer for Terisa Griffin and her name is beginning to make some noise in the music industry. She appeared recently at this year’s Black Women’s Expo at the McCormick Place Convention Center.
Eva joins Sandy Redd, who was a finalist on The Voice, in concert on April 28th at 7 p.m. at the Harold Washington Cultural Center at 47th and King Drive.
N’DIGO caught up with the songstress to discuss her unique sound, musical influences and the recording of the single, Good Man.
N’DIGO: You grew up on the South Side of Chicago. What street?
Eva Ruwè: I grew up on the 76th & Hamilton block until I became an adult. I have so many awesome memories and had great neighbors.
You are getting a lot of buzz with Good Man. What is the message? How did it come about?
The message is about saying thank you and giving credit where it’s due to all of the upstanding men out there. It came about when I was asked to sing a song for Father’s Day and couldn’t find any positive songs about men. They say “a good man is hard to find,” but when I looked around, I was surrounded by them. So, the song was inspired by my husband at the time, my brothers, my dad, my pastor, etc.
Are you married?
No, I’m divorced and the mother of four. My kids are my biggest cheerleaders. I’m doing what many would consider next to impossible with kids and at my age, but as a parent, it’s also my responsibility to show my kids how to live out their dreams and not just dream.
At your age? How old are you?
I’m flirty-nine, lol! No, I’m kidding. I’m 39. But music is timeless. I’m in my prime, where many begin to reach their fullest potential and career peaks. So I’m here at the ripe – not right – time.
You are doing R&B. Any resistance from the church where you grew up?
Oh yeah, absolutely. I grew up in a very strict Church of God In Christ household, where I wasn’t allowed to even listen to it. The name of the church was New Hope Congregational Church of God In Christ. My parents weren’t on any auxiliary, but we were there every time the church was open.
Who are your influences?
Minnie Riperton, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and Anita Baker.
If you could take five albums on a deserted island, which ones would you take?
Anita Baker, Rapture. Brandy’s Brandy album. The Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. Kirk Franklin, God’s Property. Michael Jackson, Number Ones. I can play them all from start to finish. I don’t have to skip a song. Each album takes me on a journey. I like music I can feel, and each of these albums moves me.
You come from a big family. How many siblings?
I am number six out of seven musicians my parents had. My brother, Travis Fullerton, was my vocal coach and a huge influence on me vocally. May he rest in peace.
How do you describe your sound?
I would describe my voice as a quiet storm. I’m a first soprano, but I can sing tenor also. My sound puts a new spin on the old and an old spin on the new.
What song did you perform at the Black Women’s Expo?
I performed Good Man by request and I came hard with my band and background vocalists!
You will appear with Sandy Redd for her Redd Fever promo tour later this month. How did you meet her?
We met the first time at the Becoming Dateable radio show through my co-host L. Williams and she was a guest. I’ve been signed to Doc Mab Ent, a new indie label out of Texas, since January 2017. Now it’s the sponsor for the Redd Fever tour, of which I’m an opener.
Chicago’s Soul 106.3 played Good Man. What was that like?
Radio host AC Green had me in the studio on his show for the debut. I could’ve almost cried, but I was live on Facebook and didn’t want to ruin the moment.
When does your album come out?
The name of the album is Dark Love and will be released in July 2019. However, I’m dropping a new single called Playing For Keeps that will drop Tuesday April 30.
I recorded my single in Los Angeles at the home studio of Tito Jackson, with Grammy Award-winning producers Earl Powell and Terrance Slim Holmes. Tito was so cool and he’s music royalty. Like the Jacksons, my siblings, and now all of my kids, are singers and professional actors signed to an agency.
(Clarence Waldron is the former senior editor at Jet magazine, an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Journalism, and former publicist for the late Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.)
