Rubita is the musical project of electric guitarist and singer songwriter Rachel Kibblewhite. After spending her final high school year in Rosario, Argentina, while absorbing the Latino music and culture, Rachel Kibblewhite went to the University of Otago in the South Island of New Zealand to study contemporary music and Spanish language.
She became the first woman to graduate with a degree in electric guitar at Otago University in 2015, and from here, the music of Rubita began to form. Originally from Hamilton in New Zealand, Rubita relocated to Naarm/Melbourne in 2022, the same year her single 'Geraldine' was named one of the top 10 releases for 2022 by iconic New Zealand record label Flying Nun Records.
The latest single from Rubita called 'Nigel' came out this July, which featured in the Top 10 Tracks from Melbourne music station PBS FM for the week of July 27. A relaxed, indie-folk-Latino tune, her latest single 'Nigel' is inspired by the corporate office job world, reflecting on the reality of working for a company for years, yet the CEO doesn't even know who you are.
The Melbourne Rubita Band features local talents of Flynn (bass guitar), Christian (drum, percussion) and Kris (vocals). Having played at major New Zealand festivals such as Cuba Dupa, Splore and Newtown Festival, Rubita performs regularly around Melbourne, including her recent single release launch at Bodriggy, The Drunken Poet, Bar Oussou and Shed Shaker (Castlemaine).
The Story of Geraldine
Inspired by the likes of Ainsle Willis and Django Django, Geraldine is an anthemic, indie pop-rock masterpiece that fans of Rubita have been begging for her to release since it was first performed in 2019.
Rubita's music has an ability to transport you into another universe through her vivid lyrics and guitar-hook driven songs, and her latest song 'Geraldine' is no exception to that. This song will take you on a journey that the Rubita Band experienced a few years ago, in the south island town of Geraldine.
The song Geraldine all started when Rubita and her band went on a South Island tour a few years back, and their van broke down just outside of Geraldine. At the same time, Canterbury started to flood and all roads surrounding Geraldine began to close - so they soon realised there was no way out of Geraldine.
"Although we were stranded in this small, north Canterbury town, the amount of support and kindness we received from the locals of Geraldine was unreal. I mean, the owners of a local cafe that we had known for about an hour, literally just gave us their whole house to sleep in for a night. The story of Geraldine is about feeling lost in a foreign place, yet feeling a strong sense of love and support all around you" - Rubita
Geraldine is the second single to be released from Rubita this year, after the release of 'Lethargic Tides' which came out May 18.
Musical Journey
Rubita's interest in guitar was sparked when she watched the scene in 'Back to the Future' where Marty Mcfly blows everyone away with his talent playing an electric guitar. With an unstoppable determination to be as good, Rubita started guitar lessons, and at age 16 she started song writing.
For her final year of high school Rubita spent the year in Argentina on a school exchange. Engrossed in the passionate Latin culture and music, her music became enriched by these Latin American flavours.
Her musical adventure went to new heights during her music degree at Otago University, where she studied electric guitar and played alongside successful musicians from the likes of 'Soaked Oats', 'The Shambles' and 'Earth to Zena'. The student life in Otago inspired many of the songs which feature on the debut album.
Rubita was the first female to graduate with a Bachelor in Music, majoring in electric guitar in 2015.
Distinctive Thrill
She gained an abundance of performance skills during university, and soon decided to form 'Rubita' alongside other talented musicians in 2016. The band includes Luke Kibblewhite on Saxophone, Seth Clement on drums and Hon Man on bass, and together they released her first E.P 'Brutal yet Dulce Soap' the same year. The E.P was fine-tuned and perfected with the help of well-renowned producer Scott Newth, who has been heavily involved with Rubita's success.
Her much anticipated album 'Distinctive Thrill' was released last year, which was received with sold out shows across the country.
"'Distinctive Thrill' was inspired by my years living as a student in the cold southern city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It describes all of the positive and negative thrills we experience as we discover ourselves." - Rubita
Her years of studying music and various influences are evident across Distinctive Thrill, which spans a diverse spectrum of sonic flavours.
Opening with the jazzy fresh 'Feel Alive', the album is exciting from the moment the first note hits. From there, her love of Latin music rears its head in title track 'Distinctive Thrill' while the likes of 'Let Me Know' shows a more stripped-back side of Rubita.
Powerful, energetic and intoxicatingly dynamic, Distinctive Thrill is like a musical degustation that hits all the right notes. - Beat Magazine
Since moving to Wellington Rubita has formed another Rubita Band with amazing local musicians Chris Moses on bass, Josh Brown on drums and Theo Sekeris on keys, flute and the accordion.