ALTERNATIVE rock-pop band The Rubens are already on a roll this year.
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On Friday the NSW-based five-piece band will release 0202, which has been billed as a forward-thinking album for a backwards year.
It features one of the biggest domestic singles of 2020, Live In Life, which was nominated for ARIA Song Of The Year and landed at Spotify's third most streamed Australian song for 2020.
Another single Time Of My Life generated a powerful video made up entirely of Year 12 students; a concept that was inspired by teenagers doing it tough in a year like no other.
The Rubens' keyboardist Elliott Margin said the band could never have predicted the context in which they would release this album.
"We wrote Time Of My Life before COVID, but we knew it made us feel a certain way," he said.
"We hoped it helped other people in some way.
"Once we started getting emails from Year 12 students and teachers, we realised it could be more meaningful.
"There were lots of stories; they were very impactful and made us stop to think."
The band teamed up with collaborative partner Russ Fitzgibbon to direct the video, which became a homage to the Year 12 Class of 2020.
It gave the band a focus after its Live in Life tour was postponed mid-year amid the global pandemic.
In lockdown mostly in Sydney, they worked on recording when they could all get together at the studio.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Margin said they kept themselves busy in the downtime.
Already a maker of sourdough bread, he said suddenly everyone wanted some of his starter.
"The whole world got better at the one thing I was already doing," Margin quipped.
"Then I was the one who was sh** at it!"
The arrival of The Rubens' fourth album on Friday - almost 10 years since their first upload to triple j unearthed as teenagers - speaks to their work ethic.
After the second postponement of their Live In Life tour, it was rebranded to the 0202 Album Tour.
From April to June, The Rubens will play cities for the first time since their 2018 LO LA RU album shows as well as regional venues - including Beer Deluxe Albury - across the 24-date run.
"The last time we did two shows; we had a break in between them and we went to Intencity for the day," he said.
"We may have to get back there to win some more tickets!"
THE LOWDOWN
WHAT: The Rubens 0202 Album Tour, Beer Deluxe Albury
WHEN: Wednesday, June 9
