Born Ruffians announce new album ‘Beauty’s Pride’

Stream the New Single “Mean Time”

Born Ruffians return with their highly anticipated album ‘Beauty’s Pride,’ set for release on June 6 via Yep Roc Records. To celebrate, the band has shared their electrifying new single Mean Time, available now on all streaming platforms.v

Listen to Mean Time on all digital platforms or YouTube.

Luke Lalonde, the band’s singer and guitarist, describes Mean Time as both deeply personal and universal: “Nabokov wrote that ‘our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.’ Mean Time is inspired by that idea. It’s about the two black voids—before and after—and the extraordinary moments in between. The song came to me in a rush, and initially, I didn’t think it fit the band’s usual sound. Built around synth and drum samples, it was a departure. But when I played it for the band, they loved it. It became the heart of Beauty’s Pride, encapsulating many of the themes I was exploring, especially with my wife expecting our first child.”

Having spent over 20 years as the band’s principal songwriter, Lalonde admits: “Whenever we finish a record, I usually don’t want to hear it again, but this time, I actually like it!”

Formed in 2004 in Midland, Ontario, Born Ruffians have continuously evolved—from the scrappy indie rock of their early days to the polished indie pop of ‘Birthmarks’ (2013), the Richard Swift-produced ‘Uncle, Duke & The Chief’ (2018), and the anthemic, E Street-inspired sound of ‘JUICE’ (2020). ‘Beauty’s Pride’ marks another bold leap forward.

Produced by Roger Leavens and mixed by Gus Van Go (Metric, The Beaches), ‘Beauty’s Pride’ fuses the band’s alt-rock roots with electronic and experimental elements. The album opens with Mean Time, a euphoric, synth-driven anthem that Lalonde never imagined would fit in the Born Ruffians catalog. “I wasn’t writing it as a Born Ruffians song,” he says. “I just wanted to create something completely outside our usual mold.”

The album’s title, ‘Beauty’s Pride,’ hints at themes of transformation and legacy. While the phrase might suggest the bond between parents and children—a connection reinforced by a cameo from Lalonde’s own child on the closing track—it actually stems from an unexpected source. During a trip to India, Lalonde borrowed a friend’s child-sized bike with the words “Beauty’s Pride” emblazoned on it. The mix-up that followed sparked an idea, and the phrase became a fitting metaphor for the album’s overarching themes of renewal and growth.

For the first time in the band’s history, ‘Beauty’s Pride’ features a song written and sung by Maddy Wilde, who joined Born Ruffians in 2022. Her presence adds a fresh dimension to the band’s sound. “Her fingerprints are all over this album,” says Lalonde. “She brought new energy and perspective that expanded what we thought was possible.”

With ‘Beauty’s Pride,’ Born Ruffians prove they’re still pushing boundaries. While many of their indie-rock peers from the mid-2000s have faded away, Born Ruffians remain as dynamic and unpredictable as ever, refusing to settle into nostalgia or repetition.

‘Beauty’s Pride’ Track list

1. Mean Time
2. To Be Seen
3. What A Ride
4. Let You Down
5. All My Life
6. Athena
7. Can We Go Now
8. Incoming
9. Supersonic Man
10. The Knowing Is Easy
11. Do
12. Hi
13. In the Meantime

‘Beauty’s Pride’ arrives June 6—pre-order now and experience the next evolution of Born Ruffians.