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"A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.�
Proverbs 31:10
Becoming a woman of worth isn�t something girls are necessarily encouraged to pursue in today�s culture. It certainly isn�t modeled for them by the current group of party-hopping celebs whose exploits dominate the tabloids and TV�s entertainment coverage.
Enter The Rubyz.
Here to fill a void in Christian music and cast some much-needed light in the current pop culture wasteland, this talented teen trio, which ranges in age from 13 to 17, was hand-picked from hundreds of hopefuls. As a flagship group for Advocate Entertainment�s iShine label, helmed by President and CEO Robert Beeson and Vice President Troy Collins, The Rubyz have support behind them that many aspiring artists can only dream of. In addition to their label, Dove Award-nominated artist Joy Williams has also been involved from the beginning, lending support, advice and her songwriting talent.
For Beeson, a father of three girls, working with The Rubyz was a simple choice. �This younger market is hungry for music and they want something that applies to their lives, something that they can connect with,� he explains. �And as far as the Christian community is concerned, there is a real lack of music being made for this age group.�
That won�t be the case for long. The Rubyz� self-titled disc is scheduled to debut April 1st, and the girls - Alexis, Marissa and Cammie - couldn�t be more excited to begin sharing their positive message with their peers. Their fresh, relatable pop-rock will resonate with kids, tweens and teens of all ages. In fact, you might even catch Mom singing along.
Most importantly, The Rubyz pair a meaningful, moral message with an energetic, high-quality sound that holds its own next to chart-topping teen discs like High School Musical or Hannah Montana. Or as Alexis puts it, �Our sound is meaningful and fun all in one.�
That sound was born over weeks spent in the studio with producer Chris Omartian (Hilary Duff, Pink, Jump5). While recording was definitely serious business, the girls always found ways to make the process fun, from decorating the studio kitchen with hand-written notes to secret handshakes and sleep-overs at each other�s homes.
When it came time to choose songs for the girls, the focus was on the variety of issues faced while growing up and discovering who you are. Williams, who began her own music career as a teen and serves as an executive producer on the project, contributed the tune �Time of My Life�, which talks about living life to the fullest while trying not to grow up too fast.
The track �Outrageous�, which Cammie says reminds her of �This Little Light of Mine,� is about letting the difference Christ makes inside shine through. It will also be the subject of one of the group�s first videos. �We get to take over a school for an impromptu concert,� Cammie explains with excitement.
Meanwhile, Marissa�s favourite song on their debut is �Just Like You�, which she says, �Chris Omartian wrote just for us. It�s about friendship and how God is the best friend we can have.�
The Rubyz are about much more than just making music, though. �So much of the focus in music has always been on the moment or the song,� Beeson says. �Why not make it about something more than just a CD? Why not make it about a movement, about a genuine desire to instil change and impact?�
Each member of The Rubyz is undeniably talented, but at heart, they�re just normal girls content to act their respective ages. Most days you�ll find them in jeans and hoodies, talking animatedly about everyday things from friends to school to youth group. And when this new opportunity does lead to something out of the ordinary? The girls are still buzzing with excitement over meeting Steven Curtis Chapman or getting to keep the clothes from a recent photo shoot.
�Not only are they incredibly talented, but they have such great hearts for God as well,� Collins says. �For girls so young, they have such a precise understanding of what God has called them to do and how important that call is.�
They already have Williams� stamp of approval.
�I had a great time writing for this project. Knowing the girls personally and the true heart behind the Rubyz made the creative process all the more inspiring,� she says. �The girls have done a fantastic job in the studio. They have each pulled some long hours in the vocal booth, but their teamwork and talent continued to grow each day. I am eager for this next chapter as they release the record.�
Fun Facts
Meet The Rubyz:
Alexis Slifer
Birthday: September 3rd, 1993
Home state: Ohio
School: home schooled
Activities: studied dance for 11 years, including everything from lyrical and ballet to jazz and hip-hop; plays piano
Early spotlight moments: Appeared in public service announcements and did some radio work as well as a lot of regional theater
On their age differences: �I was worried when I first met Cammie because she was so much older, and then I thought she looked a lot like Joy and I liked her a lot.�
Marissa Milele
Birthday: February 23rd, 1995
Home State: Tennessee
School: Home schooled
Activities: dance, cheer, tumbling, piano
Early spotlight moments: local commercials including for middle Tennessee�s weather mascot Snowbird, Christian projects Powerplay and Worship Jamz, voiceover work, sang the national anthem at football games
On working with Joy Williams: �She was one of the judges, but I wasn�t nervous to meet her until I looked her up online. The first time we all went out to eat, we were so nervous we didn�t eat anything.�
Cammie Hall
Birthday: December 21st, 1990
Home state: Tennessee
School: Attends public high school
Activities: theatre, dance, school choir, plays bass and drums
Early spotlight moments: Appeared in music videos (including Carrie Underwood�s �So Small"), commercials, Christian CDs
On getting the news she was in the group: �I was at my friend�s house, and I got a call from my dad. He was making it sound really low-key. I was so excited, but I still didn�t know the name of the group. I was afraid it was going to be The Prayer Gals or something.�
What�s In a Name?
The group�s name definitely evolved, the girls will tell you. First it was The Fun Girls then The Sun Girls, The Ruby Girls and finally The Rubyz with a �z�. |
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