White Denim is very much a product of Austin’s eclectic—dare say, weird—music scene. A jam band reconfigured for millennial ears, White Denim began as a power trio a little less than two decades ago, incorporating dub, psych, punk, prog and more into an experimental stew highlighted by aggressive looping work and unconventional song structures. Over the years, singer/guitarist James Petralli’s musical sphere of influence has only become more inclusive, co-opting elements of funk, calypso, soul, blues and even power pop. An early version of the ’70s-flavored “Ruby” can be traced to a period a few years back when White Denim was leaning in a jazzier direction.
“I cut a version on my own back then that remained unfinished and neglected,” says Petralli. “But every few months, the melody would pop back into my mind for a while before drifting out again.”
Not long after a move to Los Angeles in 2023, Petralli picked up a few old cassette recorders at a neighborhood flea market that “warbled audio” in a way that reminded him of the first few bars of the Stones’ “Street Fighting Man.” That was enough for him to begin chasing a classic-rock-inspired resurrection of “Ruby” (think Bachmann-Turner Overdrive meets Badfinger) in earnest.
“I get really excited about making direct connections between my work and the history of rock ’n’ roll,” says Petralli. “I’m not really a purist—at least not to the extent of doing musical cosplay. But I do feel that attempting to build something new upon existing foundations is enjoyable and life-affirming.”
We’re proud to premiere White Denim’s “Ruby.” New album 13 is out April 24 via Bella Union.
—Hobart Rowland
See White Denim live.
