Weaving Worlds: Ruth Lyon on Artistry, Advocacy, and the Power of Imperfection
Ruth Lyon’s session was a profound exploration of what it means to be a truly multifaceted artist in the contemporary music scene. As a singer-songwriter, composer, fashion designer, and a powerful advocate for disability rights, her talk wove together threads of creativity, resilience, and a deep commitment to authenticity. What I found particularly captivating was her holistic approach to her art, where music, visual identity, and personal experience are inextricably linked, and her courage in challenging industry norms.
A Journey Through Sound and Style
Ruth began by sharing her extensive background in music, including a decade as the lead singer and songwriter for a seven-piece folk-rock band. It was fascinating to hear about their significant touring experience across Europe, playing major festivals like Glastonbury, and achieving notable sync placements, including a track in the film “Ocean’s 8.” This period clearly provided a wealth of experience before she transitioned to focusing on her solo career as a performer and composer over the last five or six years.
Interestingly, Ruth didn’t study music at university; her degree was in fashion design. She emphasised that various paths can lead to a fulfilling music career, and that skills learned in one creative discipline often enrich another. This was a refreshing perspective, and it certainly illuminates her hands-on approach to her visual presentation.
As an independent, self-managed artist who owns her master rights, Ruth highlighted both the creative control and the financial responsibility that comes with this path. She spoke about the importance of grants like the PRS Foundation Momentum Award in funding her work, allowing her to bring her vision to life without the backing of a major label.
The Visual Language: Fashion, Film, and Deconstructionism
Given my own interest in photography, I was especially drawn to Ruth’s insights into the visual aspects of her artistry. Her fashion design background is not just a footnote but an integral part of her creative output. She designs and directs many of her own music videos, conceptualises choreography, and even makes the costumes, as she did for her “Palm” video. Her aesthetic, she explained, is inspired by Deconstructionism and designers like Rei Kawakubo, celebrating imperfection, raw edges, and the beauty in the “worn out, tested, old, used, repaired.”
Advocacy and Action: Changing the Industry from Within
Beyond her music and visual work, Ruth is a dedicated disability activist. As a wheelchair user, she has faced significant barriers in the industry and shared a sobering personal experience of having a tour cancelled due to a promoter’s lack of preparedness for her access needs. This fuels her work as an Artist Ambassador for Attitude is Everything and the Featured Artists Coalition, and as a board member for The Glass House.
She spoke passionately about the “Just Ask” campaign, which aims to shift the responsibility for access from disabled artists to venues and promoters, fostering an environment where needs are proactively addressed. Her commitment to making the industry more inclusive, including speaking in Parliament was truly inspiring. She emphasised that normalising disability and ensuring representation can significantly shift stigmas.
Ruth Lyon’s session was a powerful reminder that art can be a vehicle for profound personal expression and a catalyst for change. Her embrace of imperfection, her multi-disciplinary creativity, and her unwavering advocacy make her an exceptional and thought-provoking figure in the music world.