Exclusive Artist Review: Juan Manuel Ruiz – “Cutouts” Album

Posted in Album, Careers, Classical, Emo, Indie, Instrumental, Music Review, Press Release, Soundtrack by

Hailing from the landscapes of Spain, recording artist and composer Juan Manuel Ruiz began his journey into the market when he released his debut album ‘Will’ in 2018. Since that time, Ruiz has manifested into a multifaceted and versatile artist with distinctively glistening compositions and melodies, creating a signature sound that is dynamic, emotional and progressively innovative. Ruiz throughout 2019 and 2020 would continue to write, compose and put together another album of songs that would enhance his stylization and showcase his compositions in a way that is genuine and effective; subsequently raising the bar since his debut. Now, in 2021, he has brought these songs to fruition with his newest sophomore release ‘Cutouts’, comprised of 10 visceral tracks that are crafty, creative and completely self-written and produced.

One thing you’ll immediately notice on this album is Ruiz’s composition style and ability to construct a strong melody. He takes a distinctive chord progression and diligently enhances its foundation into a glowing instrumental that really gives you a visceral listening experience. Opening title track “Cutouts” is a direct example of this and really showcases the anthemic aura that encompasses just about every song on the album. With the production value adding textures of chorus and reverb to give the song a more subtle tone, this track dynamically emanates passion, emotion and moods combined with rhythmic touches. It’s one of the unforgettable songs on this record and really casts a crucial spotlight on Ruiz’s musicianship factors. Another notable song with a similar approach is “In My Dreams”, which easily compliments the opening track in a very effective way, delving deeper into Ruiz’s overall signature sound. This song especially has an emotion-driven melody that brings out many angles of his talent, and really captures a melodic atmosphere that is heard throughout this album’s duration. These first two tracks start the album out very strong and really set the tone for what’s to come in the subsequent songs.

Another track that really grabs at your attention is “Fata Morgana”. Definitely one of the more upbeat tracks on the record, this song has a haunting melody that is ominous and mysterious. It’s a multi layered song with colorful interludes and transitions, giving it a more story-telling feel similar to a film score or soundtrack. This track especially explores many facets of Ruiz’s songwriting structures and really casts a spotlight onto the production value and artistic merit that is made apparent throughout the album. It’s a diligently crafted piece that is highly versatile and effectively showcases Ruiz’s skills both as a musician and producer. Overall, ‘Cutouts’ is a triumphant effort that will capture many musical hearts and fans of rising composers. It’s a glistening follow-up to his debut record that continues to set the bar higher as each fan discovers him. You can get your copy of the album on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and several other digital music streaming platforms. You’ll be more than glad we recommended it.

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