Ruel Credit: Photo by Michelle Grace Hunder

Last April, after a few years of breaking into the music business by opening for Khalid and Shawn Mendes, Ruel Vincent van Dijk finally released his years-in-the-making debut album 4th Wall.

The record was inspired by three separate ideas the 20-year-old Aussie had during COVID lockdowns: A concept album based on “The Truman Show,” a collection of depressing folk songs, and a collection of upbeat pop songs. The album displays both genres mentioned, and even gives a nod to the 1998 Jim Carrey flick on album closer “End Scene.”

Ruel fulfills the, err, fourth date of his 4th Wall tour at The Ritz on Tuesday night as part of his first full U.S. outing.

Tickets to see Ruel play The Ritz in Ybor City on Tuesday, June 6 are still available and start at $30.

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This article appears in Jun 1-7, 2023.