Roo and the Reverend

In this final episode of the podcast series, Roo and the Reverend discuss "On the Inside," a song inspired by the themes of friendship, belonging, and chosen family found in Roo's favorite book series, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater.

Ruthie shares how the song started as a simple ukulele and guitar composition. Once recording began, the song evolved into something grander with the addition of keys and drums, making way for one of the album's most sweeping and cinematic tracks.

Roo and the Reverend are thankful to all the listeners who have tuned in to these special episodes. We appreciate your support, and we sincerely hope you enjoy "Of The Lion." The album is available for listening and purchasing at [rooandthereverend.bandcamp.com](rooandthereverend.bandcamp.com).

In this episode, Roo and the Reverend discuss "I Know You Hate That About Me," a song born from the experience and tension of feeling rooted in a place while knowing that who you are sits uneasily with parts of the culture around you. Together, they dig into the song's core conviction: that naming uncomfortable truths is part of being in relationship with one another, and that everyone, without exception, belongs.

Roo and the Reverend also talk about the process of writing the song together - how their collaboration shaped the final result in ways neither could have arrived at alone.

In this episode, Roo and the Reverend discuss Track 8, "Blue," the very first song Ruthie ever wrote. Written during sixth grade in the early days of the COVID lockdown, the song was inspired by a guilty-pleasure novel that had captured her imagination.

Ruthie talks about the self-consciousness that came with writing a song for the first time and letting someone else hear it. Dan remembers trying to encourage her without influencing the song too much, a delicate process that often felt like tiptoeing through unfamiliar territory. Together, they revisit those early songwriting sessions, what inspired "Blue," and how a preteen who had never written anything before ended up creating her first original song.

In the next episode in our podcast series, "Making 'Of the Lion,' Roo and the Reverend explore the meaning behind track 7: "Before We Get to Harmony." Written in the Summer of 2020, when calls for racial justice had reached a fever pitch across the country, the song reflects on America's ongoing struggle to confront its history of racism. It also harkens back to the Civil Rights Movement and the idea that reparations — not just reconciliation — are necessary before true harmony can be achieved.

In the next episode of our Making "Of the Lion” podcast series, we take listeners behind the scenes of track 6, “It All Fell Apart.” Inspired by The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Ruthie reflects on reading the Shakespeare play in English class and delving into the themes of betrayal, revenge and tragic loss. From literary inspiration to songwriting choices, this episode offers a closer look at how classic stories still speak powerfully into modern music.

In anticipation of the release of our first album, we're bringing to you a podcast series where we talk about the making of said album, one song at a time. Give a listen to find out what inspired Roo to write the first track, "Clarisse" and how it all came together in the studio. You'll also get a sneak peak of the song.

Episode 5 of our Making “Of the Lion” podcast series is out now. This one tells the story behind track 5, “Memories of June,” as Roo and Dan are joined by a special guest—Mac De Leon who plays drums on the album.

Inspired by the enduring love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, “Memories of June” carries a bit of history with it. The song is a revival of one Dan originally wrote years ago for one of his former bands, “That’s Mister to You.”

In this episode, we talk about bringing the song back to life, reshaping it for Of the Lion, and the influence of Johnny and June’s story on the final version.

Episode 3 of our Making "Of the Lion" podcast series is FINALLY here!

This time, we’re diving into Track 3: “Francis.” In this episode, we unpack the story behind the song—centered on a book character close to Roo’s heart—what sparked its creation, and how it took shape over time.

We also share how the piano part Roo wrote and performs came together right in the studio, along with some of the creative, collaborative moments between all three De Leons that helped bring the track to life.

It’s another behind-the-scenes look at the heart of the album and the process that shaped it.

Tune in to hear the story behind “Francis.”

As we get closer to the release of the album, we’re back with episode two of our podcast. This time, we’re diving into the second song on the album, “I Can’t” — what inspired Roo to write it, how the track evolved, and the moments in the studio that brought it to life. Tune in to hear the story behind the song.

Episode 4 of our Making “Of the Lion” podcast series is here—and this one dives into “Nightbird.”

Like a few tracks on the album, “Nightbird” was inspired by a book character. In this episode, we talk about how that character shaped the mood of the track, how the arrangement evolved in the studio, and the moments where everything just clicked.

Listen in and step into the world of “Nightbird.”