Coledale local Alysha de Ruyter shares the story behind her new song, Broken.
Music always brings me back to myself. I grew up in the Illawarra always passionate about singing, but moved to Sydney several years for my studies. After finishing at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor in Contemporary Music (Honours), I’ve returned to my family home and this welcoming area. While at the Conservatorium, I spent my final year working on an album under the mentorship of Toby Martin (Youth Group), the indie folk singer-songwriter who recently visited our own Frank’s Wild Years to debut a new release. His guidance has helped me refine my songwriting skills and give me the confidence to share honest lyrics.
One of the songs that came out of this process was Broken, which I’ve just released under the name Alysha de.
The song is a moody but dreamy exploration of overcoming trauma, layering acoustic guitar and vocals into an ambient wash of sound. Broken was recorded live with my drummer MJ Whyte and bassist Faisal Hussain at the Conservatorium studio before we completed the production from my bedroom. I love how it’s come together, as the rhythmic layers help propel the verses and allow the music to envelop a listener.
Although Broken is one of my sadder and more dramatic pieces, I find the modal sound and repetitious loops provide a soothing place for my mind to be. Writing the song helped me move past my own emotional wounds, and I hope that listening can help people heal the same way.
Broken has been shared on the Sydney-based radio station 2ser, played live at Society City Wollongong with my band Sand People, and at the Coledale RSL over Easter celebrations. I’m loving being back in my beautiful hometown to share my music, gigging locally with my brother as Andre and Alysha de.
I now look forward to the release of my next single, Love Never Had A Chance, which is a bit more up beat, while in keeping with the indie folk and ambient soundscape of Broken.
About the writer
Alysha de Ruyter is a local musician and performer in several bands. With an honours degree in Contemporary Music Practice from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Alysha is a keen learner of how communities interact through music and its social functions. Her thesis on how meditation can impact creative music practices is in the process of being publicised. Alysha’s songs blend the energetic contemporary influences of rock with the ambient affects of sound healing.
To hear about releases, gigs and events, follow @alysha_de._ on Instagram or Andre and Alysha de on Facebook.
Hear Broken by Alysha de on streaming services like Spotify.
