It has been said that music is poetry made alive, but it could also be said that with her "rootsy" southern musical stylings, Ruby James is proving that poetry can be "sweet as sin," which just so happens to be the name of her debut EP. Her first full-length album is due out in November, and she has already received rave reviews, along with drawing comparisons to other great musicians.

You can find more information about Ruby's tour schedule, as well as her pending album release, at MySpace.com/RubyJames.

Q: How would you describe your musical style?

RJ: I would call it rootsy rock and roll. I have been called a lot of different things though, and I guess that has a lot to do with my influences; people sometimes say it is a bluesy rock and roll, or Americana, but I am really influenced by a lot of different stuff. My mom used to play Fleetwood Mac all the time, and my grandpa used to sing me old cowboy songs so I guess you can hear a little of all of that in my music.

Q: How important have your family and friends been regarding your musical aspirations?

RJ: My family has been really important, from my grandpa to my mom, each of them have given me something to take with me. And my dad, well he has given me the drive to keep going. My friends have been a great support to me. It wasn't too long ago I was going to give up on music all together and these really close friends of mine flew from Orlando to L.A. and encouraged me to keep going. I guess that was the turning point for me because after that I came to the East Coast to work with this small boutique guitar company and they put me out on the road. I have been touring ever since and things are finally starting to come together.

Q: You've been working on your first full-length album with a number of notable musicians, including Charlie Sexton; how did that union come about?

RJ: I have this friend, Matt McCormack, who is one of my favorite songwriters; anyway, Matt has a band called Rock Bottom Choir that I sing with every once in a while and Will Sexton plays in that band. They had a show in Austin, Texas, which I was lucky enough to be involved in. Through that I started working with Will and Charlie Sexton on the album. They brought in Mike Thompson of the Eagles to play keys and it was just a real magical experience for me.

Q: What's the most difficult aspect about recording an album that most people wouldn't know?

RJ: The time! There are a lot of long hours that go into recording an album. There are times when you are in the studio and just sitting. If there is a nice couch around, you try to catch a nap or something, but really the most difficult thing is waiting to hear everything once it's mixed. So I guess it is the long hours and the waiting.

Q: What do you enjoy most about touring?

RJ: Touring has been really great. I love meeting new people and seeing different parts of the country. I have been really lucky this past year; I was able to share a stage with Jackson Browne, Pat MacDonald and Jane Weidlin. Being in front of huge crowds is killer, but then, you go back to a smaller venue like the Continental Club in Houston and feel at home. Don't get me wrong, the road can be rough and if you don't take care of yourself things can go south pretty quickly, but this past year I have been in Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee and we have had a lot of fun.

Q: The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said "Without music life would be a mistake." How would you sum up what music has meant to your life?

RJ: Well I guess I would have to say that I wouldn't really know how to do anything else. If I couldn't play music, either alone or in front of a crowd, I think I would be lost. But music has helped me to make connections, I have a very strong bond with my grandpa because of music and I don't think there is a time in my life where it isn't around me; even if I am just listening to someone else.

Q: Of all your songs, is there one that you feel a stronger connection to than the rest?

RJ: If you asked me that question a year ago I would have had to have said "Passengers" but so many things have changed since then. That song is still very special to me and I have a great connection to it, but there are so many more songs now. One I feel particularly close to is going to be on the new album, it's called "Desert Rose" and when you hear it you will understand the connection. While the song has special meaning to me, it is just one of those songs that will mean something different to a lot of people and they can relate to in different ways. I hope you get the album so you can hear it.

Q: Your music has been well-received and your musical abilities have drawn comparisons to Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, and Annie Lennox to name a few. Do these comparisons add extra pressure to set yourself apart, or do you find them to be the reinforcement that you need?

RJ: I am really honored to be compared to all of those musicians, but I still find my own place. They are all really great, but there can only be one of each of them. So while I am honored, I also want to be recognized as me. I think reinforcement to me comes in different ways, like recently I found out that there were a couple of people covering my songs. That tells me that I am doing something right, I was really flattered and humbled by that more so than being compared to anyone else.

Q: What are your plans for the rest of the year?

RJ: Well first we are finishing up the album, which should be ready by November. In conjunction with that we are getting ready to shoot a music video and do some photographs for publicity purposes. I have some shows scheduled between now and the end of the year and we are hoping to get up into the Northeast hitting Boston, Philly, New York and places like that. If time allows, we also want to tour the Mid-West. I will probably have some down time between Christmas and the New Year and then maybe a radio tour for the new album.

Q: We end all of our interviews with word association, so I say "wombat" and you say...

RJ: Australia. Only because I know someone from there and he uses that word all the time, so I think that they must be from there.