We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful April Rucker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with April below.

April, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

The middle school I attended had each student choose an elective for their remaining two years before high school. Some electives required auditions. I’ve been a singer since I could form words and sounds so auditioning for the Select Choir was an obvious choice. I wasn’t clear on the structure for the next two years and also had an interest in Drama. I auditioned for both Choir and Drama. The Drama teacher approached me one day and said, “I noticed you auditioned for Choir as well as Drama. You know you can only commit to one for the next two years? You have to choose.” It was in that moment, faced with a decision, that I knew I wanted to commit my musical interests. I remember telling my mom I wanted to be singer. I knew then I would chase the dream until it became my profession.

Upon exiting middle school and deciding whether I wanted to continue attending an Academic Magnet School I made another decision to attend a Performing Arts Magnet High School. I told my parents I wanted to attend and my laser focus on making a career in music happen began. My musical studies and interests strengthened when I decided to study Commercial Voice at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

April, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up surrounded by a musical family which inspired my love for music. I attended Nashville School of the Arts for high school. There I was able to focus on my craft and studied various genres. I feel like my teachers prepared me well for the music industry. In a full circle moment I’ve ended up performing along side of them on the same stages as an adult. I briefly attended Belmont University but left shortly after and joined the work force.

I toured with a gospel group (Pearls of Joy) I joined when I was 15 for a decade. In that group I traveled overseas for the first time and filmed my first television performances as a background artist for some huge names in Gospel Music. I started working more as a background vocalist locally and stepped out to pursue my solo career while holding down a desk job. I built my resume as a background vocalist supporting names such as Lalah Hathaway, Kevin Costner, Chrisette Michele, Kirk Franklin, and Yolanda Adams to name a few. I performed with my own band and my debut release “Here I Stand” earned me a Nashville Music Award for “Urban Recording of the Year” in 2009– an honor shared amongst major artists Taylor Swift and Kings of Leon in their respective genres. In 2010 I was awarded “Best R&B Performer” in Nashville Independent Music Awards and received another NIMA for “Best R&B Female” in 2011.

Eventually in 2014 I left my day job and began doing music full time. I started with my first tour singing background vocals for A Thousand Horses. I also worked on cruise ships for B.B. King Blues Clubs for several years. I started focusing on session work and touring with other artists. In 2018 I went on tour opening up for John Fogerty and ZZ Top on their “Blues and Bayou” Tour with Ryan Kinder. I’ve done work on screen appearing in music videos such as Lindsey Ell’s “Waiting on You” and Rita Coolidge ft Keb Mo’s “Walking on Water”. I’ve made a few tv appearances such as The Ellen Show, Late Night With Seth Meyers, CBS Saturday Morning, and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Celebration.

I’ve appeared on countless recordings for artists such as Nick Jonas, Anderson East, Rival Sons, and Mickey Guyton, NEEDTOBREATHE and Maren Morris to name a few. Last year I recorded background vocals for The Smashing Pumpkins’ latest release. I toured with Icelandic Rock Group KALEO on their “Fight or Flight Tour” in 2022 where we opened for The Rolling Stones in Brussels in 2022. This year I’ve toured with Wilder Woods and have the pleasure of joining Eric Church for “The Outsiders Revival Tour” this Summer!

Though I love the big stages I also love the intimacy of live venues at home in Nashville.. I still get to work at home when I’m not on the road. There’s nothing like the energy you get from those audiences and connecting face to face with 100% improvisation. You never know what’s going to happen! That environment certainly keeps you on your toes!

This year I made my movie debut playing myself and performing my original work in the BET+ Original LETHAL LEGACY which was released to major streaming platforms in April.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing who your art reaches and how it makes an impact. Some people may view entertainment as a frivolous career. It is my opinion the art is necessary. Music is universal. It connects us. It heals people. One of my most memorable moments was when a little girl was brought to my dressing room. She drew a picture of me with my bandmates. It was detailed down to my dramatic eyelashes. Her father told me she was attending an arts school and she told him she wanted to be a singer after watching me perform. There are so many others that have been inspired watching me do what I love that it motivates them to follow their dreams. Those things matter.

The most memorable moment was a letter received from a woman whose father had Dementia. It’s devastating to watch someone you love go through an illness that seems to erase them. The woman commented that during our band’s performance her father got up and danced. She hadn’t seem him enjoying life or witnessed him be himself in a long time before that moment. To know you’ve had an impact on someone’s life in that way… to know you could be a part of something so significant….those are the moments that are the most rewarding.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I’ve definitely learned is perfection isn’t the goal when it comes to creativity. Flaws can be “perfection”. I used to do so much by the book when it came to music. The notes couldn’t be off. Everything had to be precise. I had a picture of exactly how something should go and the way it needed to be done when I was younger. So much was technical, rehearsed and not necessarily with feeling or improvisation. I watched a reality competition show. There was a character I thought was really thriving and stood a chance at winning. The deeper I got into the show, paid attention and listened to critique I became aware that though she was doing everything perfectly, something was missing. She was so focused on the technical aspects of the task there was no soul in what she was doing. It was as if she were a robot performing her creative tasks. It was in that moment I saw a. bit of myself in her. Discipline and accuracy are important but there has to be balance. I’ve had to learn when music is concerned (and life in general) that imperfections are what color us. Imperfection makes us individual and unique.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aprilrucker.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aruckus/

Image Credits
Angela Rissler Emily Sluss Photo (@emilyslussphoto) Justin Pagano (@thecontentgod) Jeff Simmons (@Jake_simmons_photography) Nora Canfield