Yet the record has become more than just a means of paying respect. The sheer scope of artists covered across ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ reveals Rumer’s trainspotter-love of forgotten greats. “The songs don’t always sound that much like the originals by the end,” suggests Rumer, “but they are emotional impressions of them.” By using this nascent intuition, and applying a mixture of detachment and interpretative nous, Rumer may be poised to cast a generation of lost songs into a new light. Even the more well-known artists – Leon Russell, Isaac Hayes, Bob Marley – have had their relatively forgotten tracks revisited, and re-imagined. “I feel more like an actor or a painter when tackling their work, as you’re just trying to find the character underneath.” This cast of characters is nothing short of formidable, spanning the likes of Todd Rundgren, Townes Van Zandt, Ronnie Lane (and Ronnie Wood) and Tim Hardin. “I just love songwriters,” says Rumer, when introducing the project. ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ is a collection of lesser known songs from the 1970’s, all of which were originally sung by men. Rumer spent 2011 quietly completing work on a brand new studio project: the tantalisingly-entitled ‘Boys Don’t Cry’. With little time to take stock amidst the euphoria, it’s been an exhausting as well as elating period of activity for Rumer. Famous fans were soon forthcoming, but it was Elton John who perhaps summarised Rumer’s story most succinctly: “it’s great to have a singer like that in Britain. Along the way, she has been nominated for two BRIT awards, been named the much-coveted Breakthrough Act at the Mojo Awards, reached number 1 in the American iTunes chart and played shows everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. ![]() The rise of ‘Seasons Of My Soul’, which has now sold over a million copies, has taken Rumer from the North West Frontier of Pakistan to the Californian home of Burt Bacharach. It took Rumer ten years, but she was an overnight success. Fast forward to the autumn of 2010, however, and ‘Seasons Of My Soul’ has charted at number 3 and, off the back of significant critical acclaim, gone platinum in six weeks. Then factor in the decade spent in pursuit of a record deal, plus an emotionally-eventful personal history, which can all be felt across her music. Consider that just before her debut album – ‘Seasons Of My Soul’ – was released, the 31-year old was a completely unknown singer and songwriter. ![]() The last eighteen months or so have been an extraordinary time for Rumer.
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