She is.. Ruby Mills

Ruby Mills is an Australian, Queensland based vocalist with a love for the blues. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists and the history and sounds of soul, ‘she’s a gem, with a sparkling disposition.. a true breath of fresh air’ as Crush Magazine has written so perfectly. She has very quickly become known for her strong vocal range and captivating performances. 

Mills’ deep, earthy voice bridges the gap between blues and soul, to folk and jazz. Her ‘gutsy’ vocals have you mesmerised by every word she sings. She interprets her lyrics in a way that you believe she’s singing to you, when in times she is holding a 15,000 person crowd.

Ruby’s delivery has made her performances recognisable throughout her career. When asked about her opportunities at the Brisbane Jazz Club, “I get a great big sound there. So although I am a little bit jazz, I’m also slightly outside that box and that’s how I like to be.”*

Mills was born in Brisbane but grew up just outside of Bundaberg on a 40acre property. With her parents, Marguerite and Tony and one younger sister, Bonnie; singing came naturally from when she was a young girl. It wasn’t until she was 16 when she entered her first local talent Quest and won at the iconic Moncrieff Theatre in Bundaberg. With this recognition came a sense of belonging and a drive to sing and perform. With the guidance and encouragement of her family, Ruby then went on to the Top 50 of Australian Idol and started performing small gigs in her home town in a bluegrass band of local fisherman she had known since she was five years old, called Ruby and the Strolling Bones. With instruments like the Banjo, Mandolin and Harmonica; this generated a new sound for Ruby and one that she didn’t grow up listening to. 

When she was invited to study with Central Queensland University, she moved to Brisbane and graduated with a Dual Diploma in Music and Music Business. While studying, she experimented with Rock n’ Roll and started a band called The Honeydrippers. Covering artists like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Jimi Hendrix; Mills began to forge her own sound and recognised the strengths in her vocal range and ability to perform so comfortably. Ruby then changed direction in 2016 after making it to the Top 13 of X Factor Australia, pushing boundaries in both song choice and vision; she was exposed to pop music that she wasn’t familiar singing. With a massive exposure platform, especially for a regional artist like herself; she became a household name in Bundaberg and took on the opportunity and tried to make it her own.

Mills then went on to study at the Jazz Music Institute in Brisbane, Queensland in both jazz vocals and saxophone improvisation. Teamed with singing at the Brisbane Jazz Club, this is where she started to further appreciate artists who are now some of her favourites; Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Ruth Brown, Billie Holiday then Sharon Jones. But Etta James, “She changed everything for me!”*

Ruby went on to start an acoustic Duo with a local friend Dan Hardy, and still playing together now, she has performed at projects like TEDx, ABC Wide Bay, Childers Festival, TripleM’s Carols by the Dashboard Light as well as private functions and weddings. 

Then comes the biggest play of her career. When going to an acoustic-instrumental gig of award winning musician Nicky Bomba, Ruby joined him on stage for a jam session after he offered his spare microphone to anyone who wanted to join (See Nicky’s words in Testimonials). After the gig, Bomba quickly offered the invitation to join his project the Melbourne Ska Orchestra; Mills jumped at the opportunity having followed them for years prior. Ruby has spent two years touring with the 32-piece band as their Guest Vocalist and band member, during which time they won two Aria Awards and performed at sold out shows across the country and events like Byron Bay Bluesfest, The Lost Lands and Gympie Muster.

Ruby has previously worked for Tasman Fighters and Fortitude Boxing singing the Australian National Anthem for the Australian Title Fights, broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo.

After losing numerous friends who suffered with their mental health, Ruby’s home in Bundaberg, for now, planning an event in Wallaville to raise funds for Marcus Mission and help reduce the risk of suicide in young men. She’s studying to be a Teacher Aide to deliver Music Therapy and working on two EP records of covers and original tracks.*

If you haven’t seen Ruby perform, the time is now. 

If you have, no one will need to convince you to return.

Her stamp on the music industry has only just begun and while her warm personality may pull you in, her voice will make you remember her name.

*Excerpts from Crush Magazine*