Rumer talks Into Colour: 'New album is hopeful, but you can hear the damage'

Don’t be fooled by the uplifting title or glowing artwork; there’s still plenty of darkness to be found on Rumer’s new album. Two years after Boys Don’t Cry – an album of little-known ‘70s songs reworked in her own style - she’s back with Into Colour; what she’s calling the “proper follow-up” to her million-selling debut Seasons Of My Soul.

“I’m really excited about it because I think it’s really good,” she reveals excitedly, speaking to Official Charts. “And I’m not just saying that! It’s a progression from Seasons Of My Soul. Boys Don’t Cry was a weird record, but a necessary step before Into Colour. I met a lot of the people I ended up working with on this album on Boys Don’t Cry.”

Since her last record, the 35-year-old singer/songwriter born Sarah Joyce has relocated to Arkansaw, Wisconsin, where she lives with her composer fiancé and Into Colour’s co-producer Rob Shirakbari. Currently in London for promotion, she admits to being surprised by what she misses most about the UK. “I miss the pubs most. It’s funny, when you’re from the UK you think, ‘we don’t have any culture!’ It’s not until you go away that you realise we have loads of culture. I’m not a big boozer, but I used to love sitting in the pub by myself with a paper and half a Guiness.”

With the wedding planned for May next year and the album’s upbeat lead single Dangerous taking influences from disco, there’s little from the outset to suggest Into Colour could be as dark as her debut, which was written and recorded over the course of 4 years while she held down a full-time job and dealt with subjects including depression and death. “It’s definitely a warmer and more hopeful album,” she explains, “but I think you can hear the damage on there.

“It’s about trying not to let the damage really permanently change you,” she continues. “Whether it’s about depression or recovery from things like that. The difference here is that every song has a silver lining.” She describes tracks such as Reach Out or Sam being about “facing but also coming out the other side of depression,” adding: “It’s about saying although there’s damage there, don’t turn into a bitter and cynical person because someone hurt you. There’s good and bad sides to every song but each song ultimately is about the light in those dark subjects.”

I ask whether it was difficult dealing with such heavy subject matter while working with a then-new boyfriend. “I think what Rob’s done on this album is incredible,” she insists. “He hasn’t done this kind of producing before – but on this album he’s done string arrangements, musical direction, composing, co-writing, conducting…his talent is extraordinary.” Did it ever put pressure on their relationship? “Hopefully we’re still be getting married at the end of this! We’ll be living together on the tour bus after having made, recorded and promoted the record together. We still like each other now, so hopefully it can work, right?”

Having previously been diagnosed with bipolarity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder as result of her gruelling schedule, Rumer says she’s looking forward to touring a generally more upbeat record. “Seasons as an album is just so down. When I’m singing those songs I have to summon all the feeling that come with them. Singing them over and over again night after night starts to do something to you.”

She continues: “I’m glad there’s more uplifting music on this because obviously I’ll be touring it, and I don’t want to keep revisiting songs that are so upsetting. Will she still perform Seasons songs? “Of course I’ll still perform them – as the title of album suggests they all always come around and never go away. In fact, they’re still as important as ever.”

Looking ahead, Rumer reveals it’s unlikely she’ll settle down in Arkansaw for long. “I think we’ll go back to LA if I’m honest. I’m a natural gypsy though, so I’ll always move around. I’m happy to live wherever I lay my hat, really.” I ask if she has similarly carefree approach to her music career. “I’m just excited about people hearing the whole album and enjoying it.

“I’m not one of these hugely ambitious people who will stop at nothing to succeed. I’m just happy to be here, get in the game and release some music. If anyone wants to listen to it, they can. If you’re meant to hear it, people will pass it on. The best albums spread by word of mouth. Truly great music will always succeed in the end.”

Rumer's new album Into Colour is out now.