Ruel is officially jumping into a new era. The Sydney-born artist has released his long-awaited second album Kicking My Feet today, October 17th, via Giant Music — the follow-up to his acclaimed 2023 debut 4th Wall.
The 11-track record marks a confident leap forward for the 22-year-old, blending emotional honesty with the rich, genre-blurring sound that has defined his rise from teenage prodigy to international star.
The album features an impressive roster of producers, including Julian Bunetta (Sabrina Carpenter, One Direction), Kenny Beats (Dominic Fike, Ed Sheeran), Dan Wilson (Adele, Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton), Taka Perry (KATSEYE), and longtime collaborator M-Phazes (Eminem, Kehlani, Ruel’s debut album).
Led by the focus single “Not What’s Going On”, Kicking My Feet sees Ruel wrestle with love’s lingering ghosts: the kind that haunt, heal, and ultimately help shape who we become.
“With the lack of restrictions I gave myself, I still feel like I had the clearest vision I’ve ever had going into making a project,” Ruel says. “And there was a lot of certainty on how I wanted it to be perceived, the kind of artist that I want to be perceived as, and the things I wanted to say.”
That clarity shines through on previous singles “Wild Guess”, “I Can Die Now”, and “The Suburbs”, where Ruel channels the raw vulnerability of heartbreak and the quiet beauty of self-discovery. The result is a coming-of-age album steeped in introspection — the sound of someone finding their footing in the world and learning to stand tall.
Alongside the album, Ruel has dropped the official music video for “Wild Guess”, co-starring actor and comedian Mary Beth Barone (Overcompensating) and directed by Jackie Zhou (Chappell Roan’s “Hot To Go!”). Set in a tongue-in-cheek Wild West universe, the clip casts Barone as Ruel’s ex, forcing the pair to reunite as on-screen lovers who can’t quite bury the hatchet. Between the petty arguments, loaded glances, and chaotic chemistry, the video unfolds like a rom-com gone wrong.
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“I was so excited to play the ex love interest of a 22 year old in a music video. It’s just an honour to be thought of in that way as a woman in my 30s,” Barone says. “I think it’s a step forward for filmmaking, storytelling, and culture in general. And the song being about a breakup, it just felt right… My heart goes out to anyone who has to work with their ex, especially in an on set environment. Ruel is a total professional and very kind so maybe the youth really will save us.”
Ruel’s ‘Kicking My Feet’ is available now via Giant Music.
