Classical Instrumental from Kristjan Ruus

Estonian artist Kristjan Ruus is quietly but confidently crafting a body of work that merges minimalism with memory, sound with space and music with meaning. Based in Tallinn, the composer, producer, writer and pianist is known for his conceptual approach to music, stitching emotion and personal history into expansive sonic experiences.

With his first output inspired by cinematic works like Interstellar and 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kristjan has embarked on an ambitious five-part EP series themed around space travel, beginning with the 2021 release of “Leaving Orbit,” the contemplative closing track of his debut TORQUE EP. That release opened the first window to what’s become a slow-burning, intricately unfolding musical journey. It was followed by “Ready for Takeoff,” the thematic inception of TORQUE, marking the beginning of the voyage.

Through these two pieces, Kristjan Ruus established his own style; minimal yet cinematic, abstract yet human. Now, he shifts his lens from the cosmos to something far more intimate via his latest work titled “House by the Lake,” a eulogy in musical form, written in memory of his grandfather who passed away in 2020. It’s a profoundly personal tribute wrapped in a quiet, reflective soundscape of instrumental classical piano music.

Informed not by the stars this time, but by childhood, family and the warmth of home, the piece recalls afternoons at a marina near his school, where his grandfather worked as Kristjan would sit in a little green guard cabin, watching the lake shimmer. While his grandfather lived most of his life in a stark nine-story brutalist apartment block, Kristjan chooses to picture him now in a peaceful lakeside house, reunited with his late grandmother.

Set up by the gentle sway of soft piano notes, the song progresses with delicate lead flutters and gradually blossoms with intricate trills and subtly bouncy rhythm, casting a spellbinding listening experience that paints a transportive picture even in the absence of lyrics. Grounded by the soothing walk of bass notes and dreamy balletic dance of airy leads, “House by the Lake” presents a dazzling display of Kristjan Ruus compositional talent and performance panache.

With this release, Kristjan also introduces a new project called Listening to my own music, a video series where he revisits his own compositions, both released and unreleased, by listening through them with the viewer in a single, unbroken take. Episode one naturally centres on “House by the Lake,” filmed in a location that holds personal significance where we see Kristjan lie back on a blanket by the water’s edge and listen to the piece through earphones, enjoying the peaceful serenity and memories conjured by the blissful piano piece. It’s a superb concept that offers a charming break from the relentless barrage of brief, often meaningless content we consume, instead offering a sincere and poignant chance to join the artist in experiencing the music together.

Watch the video for House by the Lake below

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