RuthAnne: ‘Endometriosis affects the whole body, mentally and physically’
We chat to Grammy-winning Irish artist RuthAnne Cunningham about her new song ‘The Way I’m Wired’, living with endometriosis, and her upcoming book, It’s Not Just a Song.
Grammy-winning and BRIT-nominated singer-songwriter RuthAnne Cunningham has quite the repertoire of hits under her belt. The brains behind ‘Too Little, Too Late’ by Jojo, ‘Work B*tch’ by Britney Spears, ‘Slow Hands’ by Niall Horan and many more, RuthAnne’s own solo work includes the viral hit, ‘The Vow’, and her new powerful single, ‘The Way I’m Wired’.
The mastermind behind Irish Women in Harmony (who will be playing support for Alanis Morissette’s Dublin show in June), RuthAnne will soon be adding yet another string to her bow with the release of her book, It’s Not Just A Song.
The book will serve as an essential guide for aspiring songwriters, featuring insights from industry heavyweights and candid discussions on navigating the music business and sustaining a career. Exploring the psychology of the writing room, building relationships, production, what makes a good (or bad) deal, royalties and revenue, and the art of staying inspired, the book will also delve into Ruth’s experience navigating the traditional music industry ‘Boys’ Club’ and provide invaluable tools for female artists to get a step ahead in their early career.
Read on for our interview with RuthAnne…
Tell me about your start in the industry. I’ve read that you began writing music at the age of seven, equipped with a mic and tape recorder — was a career in the music business always something you aspired to?
Yes, absolutely – I always knew it’s what I wanted to do.
Tell us about your new song, ‘The Way I’m Wired’. The lyrics are so poignant — was writing this a cathartic experience?
Yes, I actually wrote it during a really bad endometriosis flare up. I’d been flown abroad to write with an A-list artist but when I arrived I was too sick to work – I couldn’t get out of bed and so I had to cancel on the artist. I wrote this song on the bed crying – I only wrote the chorus and I didn’t think I would finish it. But then a month later the same thing happened again and I knew I had to finish the song. I knew I was ready to talk about it now. I called up producers who I worked with on ‘The Vow’. They provided a safe space for me to say exactly how it feels in those moments dealing with chronic illness.
Many women who suffer with symptoms of endometriosis and struggle to get a diagnosis report ‘medical gaslighting’ and a dismissive attitude towards their pain. Why do you think it’s so hard for this disease to be taken seriously?
Yes, I have experienced that same medical gaslighting. I think it is because there hasn’t been enough research – endometriosis is very hard to diagnose so often it is the last place that doctors want to go. There are long waiting lists to get a laparoscopy, so often doctors want to test for everything else first. Often doctors are not specialists in endometriosis and all cases can be very different, so it can be complex. There needs to be faster ways to diagnose and more research into the condition.
What would you say to the women who have been ignored, had their pain invalidated, and are now losing hope with the Irish healthcare system?
They need to keep fighting to be heard and need to keep being their own biggest health advocate and to keep seeing doctors until someone listens, because there are doctors that will listen. You know your body the best. You know when you feel good or don’t feel good. Trust your gut. Don’t give up hope – there are doctors out there that will help.
What do you wish everyone knew about living with endometriosis?
Even when you look fine on the outside, you can be in the most severe pain and experiencing intense fatigue. Oftentimes people living with this condition are pushing themselves to do simple things like take a shower, go out with friends, put makeup on. They can then be crippled with pain in bed for days after. It’s a full body condition – not just a reproductive one. It’s not just about periods. It affects the whole body, mentally and physically.
What was your vision when making the powerful music video to accompany the song?
The vision was to show the brave, everyday woman who is living with this condition and to also show the body paint. We wanted to start off looking fine to the camera, and then reveal the body paint to illustrate what it feels like. That image went viral in 2020, so it has been five years with little to no progress. We wanted to redo that image, to point out there has been so little progression for women. But we also wanted to use the video to show people that we are not alone – there are so many people out there suffering with chronic illness.
How did you get involved with the Pieta Darkness Into Light campaign?
I have been quite open about my mental health struggles and when Electric Ireland asked me if I’d like to be an ambassador for this year’s Darkness Into Light campaign, it was an absolute yes from me. I am very proud to be involved in such an amazing cause. I know how important it is to have someone to talk to when you are going through a hard time, and Pieta provides such an important service — anything I can do to help, I’m happy to use my platform for. It’s so important that everyone registers because each sign-up fee of €22 allows Pieta to provide two potentially lifesaving phone calls, so I’m encouraging everyone to sign up for Darkness Into Light 2025.
Between assembling Irish Women in Harmony and writing for some incredible big-name stars, what has been the highlight of your career so far?
Honestly, I feel so lucky that I’ve had so many highlights. Just getting up and getting to do what I do every day is a highlight. Obviously, being nominated for a Grammy was incredible and the success of my song ‘The Vow’ has been amazing but for me, just being able to connect with people through my music is a highlight.
You’ve recently announced that you’ll be releasing a book, It’s Not Just a Song. How did you decide to create this guide?
It’s the book I wish I had when I was starting out as a songwriter and a singer. What I realised over 20 years of doing this professionally is that writing the song is one thing, but navigating the music industry is another. There are a lot of artists that don’t understand how it works – from reading a contract, or getting a manager, to the psychology of the writing room… and then navigating all of that as a woman.
I want this book to inspire and empower creatives and help them learn from all the mistakes that I made. They will also get insights from all the biggest songwriters and producers I interview in the book — some of the best in the world. It also includes tips on how to write hit songs for any aspiring artists.
Who are some of your big sonic inspirations?
Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, Coldplay, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Carole King, Jeff Buckley, Mariah Carey.
What are your thoughts on the Irish music scene?
I think the Irish music scene is thriving, there’s so much talent coming from within our country. It is such an exciting time for Irish music, it’s just important that we champion our own, break more artists within our own country, and play more Irish artists on the radio.
What is the main piece of advice you would give an up-and-comer in the industry?
To trust the process – not everyone’s journey is the same. There are several ways to get into the industry; you just have to find your own path. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Believe in yourself and don’t give up.
What do you hope your music evokes in the listener?
For me, I always wanted my music to make people feel something. My mum always used to say to me that this is my gift. When I asked her what I should do with it, she said I just need to share it with people. So I want my music to bring people together, to connect with people and have an impact on people’s lives. I want people to carry my songs with them through their life and connect with them whenever they need it.
What’s your favourite lyric from a song that you love?
One of my favourite lyrics is from ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay – ‘Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you’. I love conversational lyrics that you feel like you could have said to someone. Especially being an ambassador for Darkness Into Light, this lyric shows that human empathy of trying to fix someone and help someone through. I just love how simple it is but also how visually beautiful it is.
Who is your dream collaborator?
Jeff Buckley but he’s gone, Amy Winehouse but she’s gone… So of the living, John Mayer.
Who are three up-and-coming acts we should have on our radar, Irish or otherwise?
MOIO, Allie Sherlock and Tolü Makay.
Do you have plans for your next release?
I have an album coming and I’ll be releasing a song every six weeks from the album. I am really excited for people to hear it – keep your eyes peeled.
Finally, what is it about making music that sets your soul on fire?
Music is like air to me – I know that sounds cheesy but it’s everything that I love to do. It keeps me sane and it’s my way of expressing myself. It’s how I get out all my creativity and my art. The process of making music is my favourite part, before you start to get opinions and before it belongs to the world. When you are making it, it’s just yours. The process of it is so pure and inspiring for me, and getting that finished piece of art that you’ve made—I don’t even know where it comes from—is always so exciting. You just blink and you have a song. It’s an insane experience when it happens. I live for that feeling of making music in the moment.
Keep up with RuthAnne and follow along with her journey here.
