Australian singer-songwriter Ruel is back with his highly anticipated new track, “Don’t Say That,” now available via Giant Music.
“Don’t Say That” offers fans a compelling preview of what’s to come from Ruel’s upcoming 10-track album, Kicking & Screaming. The song masterfully combines the emotional depth of a Freddie Mercury ballad with the vibrant energy of a pre-summer pop anthem reminiscent of Gracie Abrams. Fans have been eagerly awaiting its release ever since it was teased as “dst (outro),” the closing track of Ruel’s sophomore album Kicking My Feet. The excitement has been building online, with fans worldwide demanding its release after months of teasers on social media.
Following the success of Kicking My Feet, released last October, Kicking & Screaming arrives as a fresh collection of 10 new songs that expand on the themes of its predecessor. The album features an impressive lineup of collaborators, including Julian Bunetta (Sabrina Carpenter, One Direction), John Ryan (Olivia Dean, Harry Styles), Kenny Beats (Dominic Fike, Vince Staples), M-Phazes (Demi Lovato, Eminem), Dan Wilson (Taylor Swift, Adele), and Leroy Clampit (Lily Allen, Justin Bieber). This new body of work is reflective, melodic, and sonically resonant.
Co-written by industry heavyweights Joel Little (Taylor Swift, Lorde, Gracie Abrams) and Sean Douglas (Selena Gomez, 5 Seconds of Summer, Lewis Capaldi), “Don’t Say That” explores the painful reality of watching a partner drift away and the struggle to accept the end of a relationship. Beneath its catchy melody and upbeat tempo lies a layer of vulnerability, with a standout moment in the bridge where the instrumentation simplifies, highlighting Ruel’s raw vocals as he sings, “Maybe it’s time to accept that it’s over / It’s best that you go / it’s been so nice to know you.” His emotional delivery captures the bittersweet tension of holding on versus letting go.
Ruel shares an unexpected perspective on the song: “At first, I didn’t think ‘Don’t Say That’ was right or ready for Kicking My Feet… but as Joel, Sean, and I revisited it, my feelings changed. Now, it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve written. M-Phazes added the perfect edge, and it felt like the ideal way to kick off this new chapter. Now, here we are, releasing it as the lead single from the upcoming album.”
The music video, directed by Jackie Zhou (Chappell Roan’s HOT TO GO! and Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl), features Ruel in a stylized, non-descript subway station. The cinematic clip blends subtle choreography with a poignant narrative, showing Ruel trapped in his emotions while fellow commuters go about their day—occasionally engaging in carefully staged movements. During the bridge, Ruel stands isolated, surrounded by bystanders with lighters as he delivers his heartfelt lyrics. The powerful visuals symbolize the enduring nature of life amidst the pain of parting.
Currently, Ruel is touring South America as part of the Lollapalooza festival circuit in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, followed by performances at the Estero Picnic Festival in Colombia. After completing his Latin American dates, he will embark on the second leg of his North American Kicking My Feet Tour, supported by emerging soul-pop artists Chelsea Jordan and Mercer Henderson. The tour will visit cities including Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, and more, culminating with a final show on April 8th at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
RUEL 2026 TOUR DATESwith Chelsea Jordan and Mercer Henderson
Wed, Mar 25 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Masterpiece
Fri, Mar 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
Sun, Mar 29 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
Mon, Mar 30 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
Thu, Apr 2 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Sun, Apr 5 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
Tue, Apr 7 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
Wed, Apr 8 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
Stay tuned for more updates as Ruel continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his music and live performances.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
