Matthew Ruth takes on 88.7 WSYC

If you happened to turn on WSYC radio this past Sunday, between 4 and 6 p.m., you may have heard the soulful voice of Matthew Ruth. The 26-year-old York native stopped by the campus radio station to perform live for the listeners of the “Two Glasses and a Hat” show and talk a little “crap” about issues such as paying to play, problems with open mic nights and the limitations of what you can say on a radio station.
Ruth discovered his love for music as a teenager and aspired to have a music career of his own. He taught himself how to play the guitar and has been performing ever since. When asked about his big music dreams, Ruth says he is not in a rush to fame and prefers to go with the flow of life and continue playing where anyone will listen to him. Ruth was kind enough to play a few of his own songs for the listeners of WSYC, including “Ghost and Goblins,” “Just Happy To Have” and “Holding On To Love.”
His inspirations were the local singers he heard while growing up and some of his favorite bands; Bayside, Brand New and Balance and Composure. Now, he writes his own music, stating that there is more feeling in original songs than in just performing covers. His style can be classified as indie/acoustic, with an attention grabbing voice and a strong affinity for guitar playing.
Along with performing his original music, Ruth is also a comedian. His material comes from his own personal experiences, such as funny moments from his childhood or comical events that he has personally witnessed. Along with his stand-up comedy, Ruth also plays musical comedy. The topics of his humorous songs are controversial, to say the least, and are probably not songs you would want your grandma to hear.
Ruth is an adequate role model for aspiring young musicians. Getting into the music industry is no easy feat, but Ruth is surely on his way, with his refreshing talent and desire to bring good music to others. Before Ruth departed from Shippensburg, he left some advice for anyone trying to break into the music business. “If you want to succeed, you have to stick with it. It’s like a roller coaster ride; it has its ups and downs, but if you love what you do, you keep doing it.”