As the coronavirus pandemic forced all of us to isolate at home, independent artists began to thrive thanks to their ability to create and distribute content completely on their own. One of these content creators is Sherry Zhu, who goes by the stage name Rui Rui (pronounced “Ray Ray”). Zhu is a freshman finance major at Rutgers University, but she’s not just an average student. She writes, records, produces, and uploads her own music on a regular basis, and she is growing a respectable following. In our conversation on March 20, Zhu spoke to me from her dorm room as she described her inspiration for songwriting and what her plans are for the future.

To hear more of Rui Rui’s music, check her out on Spotify.