Ruby Gold is the musical persona embodied by South African vocalist and songwriter Carla Klassen, an artist whose distinctive sound draws together elements of jazz, soul, R&B, electronic music and African-influenced rhythms.
Born and raised in Johannesburg to a Portuguese mother and South African father, Carla grew up surrounded by an eclectic mix of musical influences. Her early musical landscape included R&B, hip-hop, house, rave, kuduro and Passada, before she developed a particularly strong connection with jazz.
As Ruby Gold, she developed a highly individual musical identity she describes as “trance-jazz” — a fusion drawing on the hypnotic, gradual rhythms of trance and the sensuality and improvisational qualities of jazz. Her approach has also been influenced by artists including Billie Holiday, Grace Jones, Yukimi Nagano and Portishead, alongside the spiritual qualities of traditional musical practices.
Her songwriting explores subjects including femininity, spirituality, human connection and the experience of living within an increasingly technology-driven world. Rather than being restricted to a single genre, Ruby Gold’s strength lies in her ability to move between musical worlds while maintaining a distinctive vocal and artistic identity.
Throughout her career she has worked as a freelance vocalist, collaborating with both established and alternative South African acts. Documented collaborations include Revolution, Monotone and Meat The Veggies, demonstrating the versatility that has characterised her work both in the studio and on stage.
Ruby Gold offers audiences something decidedly different from a conventional vocalist. Her combination of soulful vocals, jazz sensibility, electronic textures and alternative influences creates an atmospheric performance style suited to audiences looking for sophisticated, contemporary and left-of-centre South African music.
Ruby Gold is Carla Klassen’s space for musical experimentation and expression — bringing together voice, rhythm, spirituality and genre-defying sound in an artist identity that is uniquely her own.
