Ruby Gill Discusses New Album 'Fishing is not about fishing' and South African Roots

Ruby Gill, a musician originally from South Africa, has unveiled her third album titled 'Fishing is not about fishing,' which delves into concepts of home, identity, and love. In a conversation with frankie, she describes the album as an existential love song dedicated to her past, parents, partners, and even prawns, emphasizing the significance of our evolving selves and environments. The lyrics reference her hometown of Johannesburg, mentioning Zambuk lips in summer, a Soweto bar, and the Bree St gas line explosion. The final track, 'Librarian love,' alludes to her uncle's imprisonment for resisting conscription into the Apartheid army, while the opener, 'Lord, let me be a pastry chef,' tackles violence against women in South Africa. Gill acknowledges the influence of Southern African folk traditions and artists like Vusi Mahlasela and Miriam Makeba on her style. She reminisces about Johannesburg's thunderstorms and braais, while her new home in Australia has infused her music with jangle and roughness. The album was crafted during a 40,000km tour around Australia while living in a rooftop tent with her now-wife and recorded in London during a heatwave. The title track reflects on her third home in KZN, where her father taught her to fish, concluding that fishing symbolizes love.