With his new EP “Pretty Little Thing” officially out, Ruari Brownell is making a bold statement about who he is as both a vocalist and a storyteller. The project captures the early stages of an artist finding his footing. Brownell doesn’t hide behind metaphors or polished facades. Instead, he brings listeners straight into the heart of his experiences, singing with a sincerity that distinguishes him from the pack.
“Pretty Little Thing” is driven by stories rooted in Brownell’s life experiences. Each track comes from a relationship that left a mark on him, whether for the better or for the worse. On “Devil’s Hallelujah” and the title track, he reflects on moments where he finally recognized that walking away was the healthiest choice he could make. There’s a calm confidence in the way he approaches these songs, as if he’s acknowledging the struggles without carrying the weight of them anymore.
The EP’s more delicate moments come through on “If I Was a Betting Man” and “Terrified of Losing You.” These songs explore love from a different angle where emotion is uncertain, hopeful, and vulnerable all at once. Brownell leans heavily into his vocal strength here, giving the listener a sense of what those relationships meant to him in real time. The lyrics expose both hesitation and longing, and the performances sit right at the intersection of tenderness and grit.
A big part of Ruari Brownell’s ability to write this way comes from where he grew up. His childhood in rural Iowa, surrounded by farmland and framed by long drives with country radio humming in the background, shaped his instincts long before he ever wrote his first lyric. Music was woven into the rhythm of his everyday life. And even though he explored jazz, rock, blues, and R&B throughout his musical development, his heart always found its way back to country.
The creation of “Pretty Little Thing” also came with its share of defining moments. One of the most memorable was the spontaneous birth of “Terrified of Losing You,” which was written the night before a rehearsal and recorded live in a single uninterrupted take.
Ruari Brownell also credits much of the EP’s direction to producer Logan Murphy, whose resume includes multi-gold and multi-platinum releases. Their collaboration was effortless from the start, built on mutual trust and a shared vision. Together, they shaped the sound Brownell had been searching for, blending his mix of red dirt, blues, rock, and R&B influences into something that still feels authentically country.
Now that the EP is out, Ruari Brownell is focused on performing, writing, and continuing to build on the momentum that “Pretty Little Thing” has created. What began as a spontaneous open mic performance in college has turned into a full-fledged artistic journey and this release marks his biggest step forward yet.
Listen to “Pretty Little Thing” out on all streaming platforms now: