Ruby Bell’s musical history is filled with pop of all stripes. From a childhood appreciation of new wave to a college spent discovering PC Music and happy hardcore—no doubt the poppiest of all the rave variants—Bell has a solid reference bank from which to build her songs, which combine elements of contemporary online music and high energy dance into digital pop nuggets.

Bell’s most recent single, “We were at the club,” is a hooky trance anthem that ends with a banging half-time dubstep breakdown. Produced by Dylan Brady of 100 gecs and released on Brady’s Dog Show Records, it points to an exciting future for the artist and the label. There are seemingly no limits to where her ecstatic brand of rave pop could go. We asked the artist—real name: Claire Montgomery—some questions about her influences

What are some of your earliest memories of making music on a computer?

When I was 12, my dad and I started using GarageBand to make covers of my favorite songs. He would make all of the instrumentals and I’d sing along over them. I think our first cover was a Naked Brothers Band song, I was really into them at the time. Then we did “The Hurting” by Tears for Fears and also “Like Woah” by Aly and AJ.

What kind of music did you listen to growing up? How about as a teenager?

My parents have really great taste and introduced me to a lot of amazing artists that are still the foundation of what I listen to now. I definitely credit them for my eclectic musical influences. My dad listened to a lot more rock influenced stuff, whereas my mom liked a lot of new wave and disco. From New Order, The Cure, The The, Gorillaz, Creedence Clearwater, Nirvana, Pet Shop Boys, Donna Summer, and the Beatles, you get the point. As a teenager, a lot of the music I was listening to I found from just being online; Of Montreal, Mgmt, Sky Ferreira, Charli XCX, Arca, etc. 

You went to college in Boston, right? Were you exposed to any life-changing music during those years?

Yea so in college around 2019 I met my friend Spencer, a.k.a. Gupi online. She went to Berklee College of Music, I went to Lesley University, for Counseling. We bonded over our love of music and it was through her that I found PC Music and that kinda just changed my life. Together we started making silly tracks together and from there I just started making music more and more frequently with Gupi, and my other friends. 

How important is raving to your music making process?

I love to dance. I've met some of my favorite artists and friends through raving. Some of my first live performances were with friends playing sets and I think that’s when I saw that people could connect and relate to the music I was making. If people don’t like a song you’re playing, there’s no hiding it. You can see it in the crowd, so I take a lot from seeing what people respond to and what moves them.

Do you feel like a part of a scene right now? Or multiple scenes?

I don’t know if I’d say I’m a part of a specific scene because there’s so many different types of music I connect to. It all comes back to the writing and the melody and trying to make sense of something and making it my own. Through different shows and raves I’ve found people that love the same kind of music that I do, and I’ve met people that introduced me to new music that I’m growing to love. 

Are there any scenes that you aren’t a part of, but still inspire you musically?

I’m always looking/attracted to a variety of sounds. If something sounds cool or interesting to me I’ll try to emulate it in my own way, so I’m always looking. 

Any dream collaborations?

I’d definitely love to work with A.G. Cook or Arca one day, also OPN. These artists really defined my music taste in college and it would be a dream to work with them. 

Do you have any major non-musical influences?

A lot of my non-musical influences come from fashion and the things I collect. I find so much comfort in being able to express myself through the clothes I wear, and the way I decorate my space. One of my favorite things about collecting is finding something that might seem unremarkable to other people, but I always find a way to make it fit into the full collection. Finding something that might not make sense at first, but in the end you see the full story. 

What is your favorite piece of gear or plug-in?

My favorite pieces of gear are the Apollo and my Shure mic. They’re the pieces most familiar to me. As someone who’s just learning to produce, I’m learning to expand that comfort and experience.