Free Time (EP)

Free Time is the second extended play (EP) by Australian singer-songwriter Ruel. The EP was announced in July 2019^[4] and was released on 13 September 2019 through RCA Records.^[5] "Painkiller" was released as the lead single on 30 April 2019.

Free Time
EP by Ruel
Released	13 September 2019
Length	25:12
Label	RCA Sony
Producer	M-Phazes
Ruel chronology
Ready (2018) Free Time (2019) Bright Lights, Red Eyes (2020)
Singles from Free Time
"Painkiller" Released: 30 April 2019[1] "Face to Face" Released: 8 August 2019[2] "Real Thing" Released: 30 August 2019[3]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
auspOp	[6]

David from auspOp said the EP has "There is something both modern and instantly classic about all the songs included here and as people tend to listen to playlists more and more than albums or EPs, this one draws you in from start to finish" adding "The musical maturity is here and that comes through on the lyrics as much as the arrangements.".^[6]

Debbie Carr from ABC called the EP "sophisticated" saying "Ruel is riding a rollercoaster that's only going up."^[7]

Broadway World said "The new body of work is the next step in the evolution of Ruel as an artist, demonstrating his deep maturity as a writer, able to seamlessly move through genres and pen relatable lyrics."^[8]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[9]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Don't Cry"	Mark Landon Ruel Vincent van Djik Sarah Aarons	M-Phazes DoXa[b]	3:07
2.	"Real Thing"	Alex Hope Landon van Djik	M-Phazes DoXa[b] Kito[b]	3:12
3.	"Painkiller"	Landon van Djik Aarons	M-Phazes Tele Fresco[a]	3:33
4.	"Hard Sometimes"	Landon van Djik Stephen Wrabel	M-Phazes Wrabel[b]	4:29
5.	"Face to Face"	Joseph Angel Landon van Djik	M-Phazes Tele Fresco[b]	3:23
6.	"Unsaid"	Landon Peter Harding van Djik Spencer Stewart Tobias Jesso Jr.	M-Phazes DoXa[a]	3:47
7.	"Free Time"	Landon Nick Long van Djik Stewart	M-Phazes DoXa[b]	3:38
Total length:				25:12

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer.
• ^{^[b]} ⁣⁣signifies a miscellaneous producer.
• "Don't Cry" features background vocals from Sarah Aarons.
• "Painkiller" features background vocals from Sarah Aarons.
• "Hard Sometimes" features background vocals from Wrabel.
• "Face to Face" features background vocals from Thief.
• "Unsaid" features background vocals from Siobhan O'Rourke, Thief and Tobias Jesso Jr.
• "Free Time" features background vocals from Camille Grigsby, Cassandra Grigsby-Chimm, Jason McGee and Quishima Dixon.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10]	3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11]	18

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)	Position
Australian Artist Albums (ARIA)[12]	36
Chart (2020)	Position
Australian Artist Albums (ARIA)[13]	40

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[14]	3× Platinum	7,500,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Catalogue
Australia	13 September 2019[15]	Digital download, streaming, CD	RCA, Sony Music	19075989982