ABOUT LAST DAYS OF POMPEII CUTS
The Last Days of Pompeii, AKA Ru Stewart, is a producer, musician and DJ based in Edinburgh.
Having studied drumming at the Academy of Contemporary Music, he was taught by some of the country's top musicians and it was here that he became interested in U.K Bass and Jungle . His passion for these genres meant he picked up DJing and combined with his pro drumming skills allowed him to curate Drummer Vs DJ events in Aberdeen. Having worked extensively as a session drummer providing a solid foundation for a variety of ensembles, Ru draws on over 15 years of industry experience - bringing this to each cut.
​
The Last Days of Pompeii Cuts on a Presto 6N - there will be a documentary coming soon on the homepage soon telling the story of the lathe! A bit of back story for now though… the lathe was flown out from Arizona, and hand assembled in Ru’s Edinburgh studio - so your music will have quite the journey cut into it. All the cuts are done by hand which means; Ru set’s the weights, angles and prepares your track for cutting all in real time - no AI or robotic assistance in this process - if your track is 4 mins then that’s how long each cut takes. The lathe itself is over 70 years old and has been fully restored, modded and calibrated for cutting at 33 and 45 rpm, originally it was used to cut 33s and 78s in radio stations in the states. Then after each of your cuts are completed - Ru test each cut for fidelity and tracking again in real time - on both technic 1210s and budget record players. Finally your cut gets its own polythene protector, sleeve, label and card explaining the processes involved in its birth. Then it’s over to you for the artwork! If you need a hook up for printed designs Ru can recommend a fantastic local company or you can paint right onto the sleeves - make them as unique as your music! Here are some examples Ru’s son Sid helped with for Kirsten Adamson’s artwork!
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Ru cut his teeth DJing in his hometown of Aberdeen - as an eclectic music lover and avid record collector has been building his vinyl collection over the past 10 years. A lover of all styles of music he brings this passion to the cutting studio from Americana to House or from Soul to Jungle, Ru will be able to get your track sounding fresh and vibrant through his cutting lathe.
Ru’s 100% vinyl DJ sets consist of classics, rare jams and forgotten gems from a diverse range of styles - in particular boogie, groove, funk and disco. He’s quickly growing a solid fanbase with his energetic mixes and ease at weaving between styles.
In the studio Ru writes and records on an array of 80s synths and drum machines while the live show features him at the helm of loops, synths and live drums; able to remix tracks on the fly and adapt to the personality of the crowd. Drawing on inspiration from 80s groove pioneers Ru originally started “The Last Days of Pompeii” as a project blending live instrumentation and vocals with authentic analog and digital instruments.
His well received debut release “Make Me Believe” on “Fresh Take Records'' was followed up by “LXXXVIII” on “Precog Records”, and a stack of self releases on his bandcamp. While his dance floor heater “A Taste of Honey - Ain’t Nothing But A Party Edit” on “Disco Express” received support from such acts as Dirty Channels. His heavy hitting Xpress Edits EP was released on Disco Express and with a feature on Macka & Lowree’s debut album - Without The Music (I Don't Know Where I'd Be Dancin') - Ru brings his extensive knowledge of sound production to the cutting studio, making sure that each cut sounds clear and crisp with the lathe adding colour and character.
As an educator Ru has worked with youth groups and schools in developing and delivering DJing and music production education to young people.
​
Discography
The Last Days of Pompeii - Make Me Believe
​
The Last Days of Pompeii Soundcloud
The Last Days of Pompeii Bandcamp
​
​
