Nate Ruess

Nate Ruess
Drew de F Fawkes · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Nate Ruess
Birth name	Nathaniel Joseph Ruess
Birth date	26 February 1982
Birth place	Iowa City, Iowa
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	2003–present
Associated acts	The Format, Fun, Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker

Nate Ruess is an American singer and songwriter known for his work as the frontman of the indie pop band The Format and the alternative pop supergroup Fun. He gained international prominence with the chart-topping single "We Are Young" and has collaborated with artists across Pop music, Rock music, and Indie pop. Ruess's songwriting and distinctive baritone have been featured on releases that won awards and achieved multi-platinum sales.

Early life and education

Ruess was born in Iowa City, Iowa and raised in Urbandale, Iowa, the son of Robert and Teresa Ruess. He attended Indianola High School and was involved in local music scenes influenced by touring acts from cities such as Des Moines, Iowa and Ames, Iowa. During his youth he participated in regional festivals and opened for bands associated with labels like Fueled by Ramen and Barsuk Records. Ruess briefly studied at a college in Arizona before committing full-time to music and relocating to Phoenix, Arizona and later Los Angeles, California to pursue songwriting and performance.

Career

Ruess co-founded The Format with Sam Means, releasing records on Elektra Records and independent labels before disbanding. He then formed Fun with Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost, recording for Fueled by Ramen and collaborating with producers and songwriters tied to Atlantic Records and Sony Music. Throughout his career Ruess has written with and been featured by artists and producers including Florence Welch, P!nk, Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Emile Haynie, and Greg Kurstin. He has contributed vocals and songwriting to projects connected to festivals such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, and tours alongside acts like Coldplay, Snow Patrol, and The Killers.

Mainstream breakthrough with Fun.

With Fun, Ruess achieved mainstream success through hits that combined theatrical pop arrangements and anthemic choruses. The band’s sophomore album, produced with collaborators including Jeff Bhasker and Emile Haynie, spawned "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monáe; the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned accolades from institutions like the Grammy Awards and chart recognition from Billboard. Fun performed on television programs such as Saturday Night Live and at ceremonies including the MTV Video Music Awards and the Grammy Awards telecast. The group's commercial peak involved synchronization placements in Glee and advertising campaigns airing during broadcasts of Super Bowl lead-ins and major network programming.

Solo work and collaborations

After Fun went on hiatus, Ruess released solo material showcasing a different approach to pop and orchestral songwriting. His solo album featured production ties to names like Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, and Jack Antonoff, and he toured with lineups drawn from indie and mainstream circuits including dates at venues in New York City, Los Angeles, and London. Ruess has been credited on tracks with performers such as P!nk, Taylor Swift, Foster the People, Bastille, and featured on charity singles alongside artists represented by Sony Music and Universal Music Group. He has also made guest appearances on televised charity events and collaborated with composers for film and television soundtracks screened at festivals such as Sundance Film Festival.

Musical style and influences

Ruess's vocal style is characterized by a high-register baritone and dramatic delivery influenced by performers associated with Baroque pop, Glam rock, and New Wave aesthetics. He has cited inspiration from songwriters and performers including David Bowie, Queen, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Steely Dan, Simon & Garfunkel, and contemporaries such as Brandon Flowers and Bono. Arrangements in his work reference producers and styles linked to Phil Spector, Mark Ronson, and modern pop producers affiliated with Interscope Records and RCA Records. Critics have compared Ruess's mélodic tendencies to liners from Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, and Arcade Fire.

Personal life

Ruess has maintained a profile that mixes public touring with private personal matters, residing at times in Los Angeles, California and spending periods in New York City and Nashville, Tennessee for songwriting sessions. He has spoken publicly in interviews about struggles and recovery related to personal health and relationships, appearing on panels and podcasts alongside figures from Rolling Stone (magazine), Pitchfork, and NPR. Ruess has been linked socially and professionally with musicians such as Jack Antonoff, Andrew Dost, and industry executives from Fueled by Ramen and Atlantic Records.

Philanthropy and public image

Ruess has participated in benefit concerts and charity compilations supporting causes associated with organizations like (RED), Doctors Without Borders, and disaster relief efforts coordinated with entertainment industry initiatives such as Global Citizen events. He has performed at fundraising galas and contributed songwriting to campaigns raising awareness for mental health, arts education, and disaster response, sharing stages with philanthropic artists including Alicia Keys, Bono, Sting, and Bruce Springsteen. Media coverage in outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Billboard has tracked his public image, noting both his artistic ambition and involvement in industry-wide conversations about artist rights and streaming via associations with trade groups and labels.

Category:American singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:1982 births