Music

Ruarri Joseph has had an amazing couple of years.

After that decision Ruarri's life has been a blur - he signed to the world famous Atlantic Records - home to stars like James Blunt, Missy Elliott and Gnarls Barkley.

Ruarri made a guest appearance on the David White Show, on BBC Radio Cornwall on Monday 9 July 2007.

If you missed the interview and acoustic session, then click on the link below to hear it all again:

To hear Ruarri Joseph sing is like being transported back to a world of fragile, folk inflected troubadours like Nick Drake and John Martyn.

The roots may be in the past, but the music is the sound of today, and tomorrow. Joseph's laid back acoustic lullabies conjure up images of blissful, carefree days on Cornish beaches.

His debut album is a compelling statement of intent. There are many stand out moments. 'Patience' is a brooding passionate affair, and 'More Rock n Roll' takes a typically self-deprecating tone, casting a sceptical eye over the trappings of a supposedly 'rock n roll' lifestyle.

Ruarri grew up in the small Cornish village of Callestick. A move to Newquay when he was 11 saw him pick up the guitar for the first time. At the same time his parents split up.

"Songwriting suddenly became a really natural thing to retreat into," he explains.

"I'm not saying I was some hopeless misfit, but at the same time I wasn't out playing football, or drinking with the other kids. I wasn't Johnny Popular. So I just sat at home writing songs."

Back then it wasn't all about sun-kissed balladry. Grunge was in full swing when Ruarri was growing up. He has fond memories of shredding his vocals to anthems by Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

At 17, Ruarri joined a series of local bands including Eli Bowen, The Rhythm Doctors ("A Jazz Cabaret band," says Ruarri. "We played Glastonbury and did the infamous 5 minute one note bass solo), and Joseph and The Dads.

In 2005 Ruarri went solo in 2005, and things really took off. Having signed to Atlantic Records in 2006, weeks later the singer was working on his debut album at Airfield Studios, where Rootjoose had recorded years earlier.

"Airfield is an amazing place," he smiles. "It's in the middle of nowhere - you can't even get a signal on your phone, so it has a really tranquil vibe. It used to an army base, and there's an old hospital and cinema, which people say is haunted.

"I'm not massively hungry for fame," he muses. "I'm not chasing after a number one hit. All I want is to create a body of work that lasts. In the old days people used to release an album every year. I love that idea."

Catch Ruarri's next set on 11 August at 5pm as part of the Unleashed Festival in  Newquay.