Ruston Kelly Pickleball Song: Singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly is releasing a new album on September 12 titled Pale, Through the Window. One of its standout tracks, “Pickleball,” was inspired by a sporty first date with his girlfriend, Tia Cubelic. The song blends pop-punk energy with personal storytelling.
A Song Born from a Date
In a July 11 article by VICE writer Stephen Andrew Galiher, Ruston Kelly shared how the song came to life after his very first game of pickleball.
“I asked [Tia] to hang out in Nashville, and she’s like, ‘Okay, like, Do you play pickleball?’” said Ruston Kelly. “In my head, I was like, ‘I’ve never played pickleball in my life’ … I rolled up there not knowing what to expect, and kind of just like completely dove into a new scenario.”
The match didn’t go in his favor.
“She kicked my ass when we played. She’s really good,”. “I was just like sweating actually, [which] I say in the song. Like, I was sweating bullets.”( Kelly told Stephen Andrew Galiher)
A Sound Inspired by the Early 2000s
Stephen Andrew Galiher compared the song to popular pop-punk hits from the early 2000s.
“From the get-go, it’s apparent that it shares DNA with 2000s-era Blink-182. kicking off with bass line chord progression that will have you thinking of What’s My Age Again? or Stay Together For The Kids.”(Stephen Andrew Galiher)
Ruston Kelly described how he found the sound for “Pickleball” by mixing musical influences.
“I whipped out the baritone electric and I was like, ‘Alright, Dave Matthews is kissing Box Car Racer on the mouth. What does that sound like?’”. “It’s like, ‘What if that song just wasn’t folky at all? What if it was an absolute banger?’”(Ruston Kelly)
https://youtu.be/iSVldvTyqbM
A Funny and Honest Story
The song “Pickleball” turned a sweaty, slightly embarrassing first date into a catchy, high-energy track.
“Joking about how he ‘met [his] match’ with this ‘beautiful girl’ who was ‘absolutely dominating me on the court,’ Ruston says he eventually realized there was a song here and its name was Pickleball,”
explained Stephen Andrew Galiher. This blend of humor and honesty gives the song its charm.
What This Means for Ruston Kelly
Ruston Kelly’s new single gives fans a fun peek into his personal life. It also adds something fresh and upbeat to his upcoming album. With Pale, Through the Window set to release on September 12, “Pickleball” may become a fan favorite thanks to its real-life story and strong sound.
News in Brief: Ruston Kelly Pickleball Song
Ruston Kelly’s new song “Pickleball,” part of his album Pale, Through the Window releasing September 12, was inspired by a sporty first date with girlfriend Tia Cubelic. The upbeat, pop-punk track shares the sound of early 2000s hits and tells the story of how Kelly was “sweating bullets” on the court.
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