The Stories Behind The Music
A message from me to you.
Before you start listening, there is something I want you to know. The reason this page exists is because I want to be transparent about the nature of my work. Over the past months, while working on the music for the final Kimberly books, I realized how important the emotional journey of these stories really is. Not only for the characters, but also for the people reading and listening to them.
Some people know me as an author. Some people know me through my music. And some people have never picked up one of my books. Because of that, I think it is important to explain what you’re about to step into.
The Kimberly albums are not random collections of songs. Some songs are directly connected to scenes. Some songs are connected to a character’s perspective. Some songs are connected to a feeling that exists within the story. Sometimes the story inspires the music. Sometimes the music inspires the story. And sometimes both grow together until I can no longer separate them.
This is also why my catalog sounds the way it does. I don’t create around one genre, one voice, or one sound. I create around emotion. Not every song is connected to a book. But every song is connected to an emotion.
If you are planning to read the Kimberly Series, I strongly recommend reading the books before listening to the albums. The music follows the same story. Many songs reveal emotions, character journeys, relationships, and moments that are much more powerful when experienced through the books first. I want you to discover those moments while reading them. Then hear them. Then feel them.
That is why my slogan has always been: Read it. Hear it. Feel it.
Current status:
Book One, The Call of Arabic Desire, is complete, including its companion album Give In.
Books Two and Three are currently in development, which is why this page already exists.
As you move deeper into the Kimberly Series, the story becomes heavier, darker, and more emotional. At its core, this series is about love, devotion, healing, safety, trust, family, and finding your way back to yourself. But it also touches on trauma, manipulation, abuse, assault, grief, fear, and loss. These topics are not included for shock value. They are not romanticized. And they are never presented as something desirable. The same applies to the music. Some songs are beautiful, funny or sexy. Some songs are painful and will hurt once you know the story behind them. But some songs may be misunderstood if they are listened to without the context of the books.
That is exactly why this page exists. I want readers and listeners to understand what they are stepping into. I want you to feel every part of this world. The good moments. The funny moments. The romantic moments. The heartbreaking moments. All of it.
But I also believe that comes with responsibility. If I ask people to enter my world, then it is my responsibility to prepare them for what they might find there. So please take the content notes and trigger warnings seriously. They are not there as a marketing tool. They are not there as a checklist. And they are not there as a menu of exciting things to look forward to. They are there because some of the experiences explored in these books and songs are real, painful, and deeply personal for many people. When trauma appears in these stories, it is treated as trauma. When abuse appears in these stories, it is treated as abuse. When someone gets hurt, the consequences matter. The songs tell the same story. Please keep that in mind while listening.
And if you’re new to the Kimberly Series, do yourself a favor. Read it first. Then hear it. Then feel it.
Welcome to my world. A world where storytelling no longer exists only on paper, but travels through sound as well. A world where books become music, and music becomes part of the story. Let the characters steal your heart. And when you miss them, let the music bring you back.
Love,
Ruby Darkrose