Ruby Rae’s "Memphis Honey" Is a Ride You’ll Want to Take Over and Over Again

Every now and then, a song rolls through that makes you want to throw your phone in the passenger seat, crank the volume, and just go. Ruby Rae’s latest track, “Memphis Honey,” is exactly that kind of song — a dusty, dreamy road trip wrapped in sultry nostalgia and the wild spark of escape.

Written during a very real moment of cabin fever, “Memphis Honey” is rooted in a spontaneous 24-hour trip Ruby took in a black Mustang, six months into the pandemic. After months of solitude, she was chasing adventure — a hit of life again. The result is a sound that hits somewhere between retro soul and modern Americana, like Dusty Springfield grabbing coffee with Waxahatchee on the way to a Jenny Lewis show.

Recorded live at The Hideout in Nashville, the track brings together a group of seriously talented players — Aaron Berg (bass), Chris Benelli (drums), Sam Hunter (guitar), and Reed Pittman (organ) — all under the direction of producer Ryan Poole. No heavy layering, no endless overdubs. Just one room, one afternoon, and a whole lot of magic. "It was absolutely thrilling to hear the song come together in an afternoon with a room full of talented artists!" Ruby shares.

And it feels that way when you listen. The groove is loose but locked in, the vocals are effortless, and the vibe is pure road trip freedom. “I hope this song makes people roll their windows down, tap their steering wheel, and eases their lonely hearts for a minute,” she says — and mission accomplished. It's that sweet, slightly aching kind of tune that makes you feel a little more alive.

But “Memphis Honey” is just the latest chapter in a much bigger story. Ruby Rae doesn’t do cookie-cutter. Her music defies simple genre tags — and that’s the best part. There’s vintage grit and shimmer, but also poetic weight and conceptual storytelling that sticks with you.

Her earlier work like 2012’s Night of the Psychopomp explored death, spirit guides, and the layers of grief through a mythological lens, proving she’s not afraid to go deep. A few years later, she followed that up with a record written during an artist residency in Mexico, soaked in Mayan legends, noir tones, and the dreamy haze of hiraeth — that aching nostalgia for a place you've never quite known.

Then came True Crime in 2022 — a cinematic mix of neo-surf noir, rockabilly swells, and torchy slow burns that felt like a lost soundtrack to a pulpy paperback. She doubled down with Blue Prints, a stripped-down acoustic version, and Misdemeanors, a remix EP that brought in fresh voices and moods from a wide array of collaborators. Always reinventing, always evolving.

With “Memphis Honey,” Ruby Rae signals a return to something raw and alive — the energy of a live band, captured straight to tape in real time. It’s a contrast to her recent more layered, produced work, and it hits differently in the best way.

Whether you're new to her music or have been riding shotgun since Psychopomp, now’s a great time to get familiar. Ruby Rae is writing from the heart, living in the moment, and making sure the soundtrack sounds incredible along the way.

So go on — roll those windows down. "Memphis Honey" is already playing.