Rough & Ready

Ruthven announces full details of his long-awaited debut album. The South London singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer releases Rough & Ready on 25 October 2024 via Paul Institute / XL Recordings. 

Ruthven - aka Sean Nelson - has always had a certain fervour associated with him. He first broke in 2017 as a founding member of Paul Institute, the label founded by A.K and Jai Paul, while also working as a member of the London Fire Brigade. In the long hours awaiting call-outs, when the truck was fully serviced and his breathing equipment was ready for the next job, Ruthven wrote the foundations of his debut album,  Rough & Ready, which includes the previously released “123 Days”, “Don’t Keep It To Yourself”, and “Have You Decided?”. The resulting 12-track record marks Ruthven’s arrival as a true artist in his own right. Rough & Ready leans into classic songwriting while maintaining lush instrumentation, creating a portal that traverses decades. With appearances from A.K. Paul and Francis Anthony 'Eg' White, Rough & Ready is a bold statement of Ruthven's artistry.

Speaking on Rough & Ready, Ruthven says: 

“A central theme to the album is playfulness. So many genres inspired me in making this album. It’s partly jazz-influenced but I was profoundly inspired by Prince. That era, including yacht rock artists like Michael McDonald and Steely Dan, deeply influenced me. I admired their songwriting and musicianship, which seemed universally recognised as exceptional. Being a former wedding band musician, I always wondered how their music had a timelessness to it, and that’s what I tried to capture here. 

While still a firefighter, I created many early sketches for what would become Rough & Ready. Some songs on the album, like “Don’t Keep It to Yourself,” were initially an upbeat funk tune, but it has evolved. Unfortunately, I lost much of my early material, pushing me to create even stronger work.  I found working with Anup (A.K. Paul) was helpful. We would crack up in the studio over some of our decisions, the musical segues, and flourishes. That infectious fun energy became a core component of the album, a reminder that music should always be fun.

1. Cautious

2. Indulge

3. Don’t Keep It To Yourself

4. Itch

5. Thru The Walls

6. Afterglow

7. 123 Days

8. POV

9. Space = Time = Money

10. I Can’t Go There

11. The Window

12. Drive It