It’s over a decade since dance-floor darlings Minuit called it quits. Now Paul Dodge, Ruth Carr and Ryan Beehre are back, kicking off a national tour by headlining Christchurch’s Go Live Festival. As Ruth tells us, this isn’t a comeback tour, just a back-for-a-bit tour. And we on!

Christchurch will be the first gig on Minuit’s Reunion tour – how are the nerves?

Pretty good so far! But you never know, that kinda thing can hit a moment before you walk on stage sometimes.

What can the fans expect? Any new material?

We won’t be playing any new material – coz we have none – but we will be smashing out some of our and our fans faves for sure. This isn’t a “comeback” tour, just a “back-for-a-bit” tour!  BUT we are releasing our debut album, ‘The 88’, on vinyl, and it has two new songs on it that we never got around to recording!

How has it been getting back into a rehearsal room with Paul and Ryan?

As annoying as it always was, ha ha ha!  I'm sure their answer will be totally different to that...ahem...

Minuit called it quits in 2014 – what have you been up to since? 

I moved from Welly and bought a house, fo’ real! So mainly building bits on it that are broke and fallen down; looking after son; screenprinting (and now screening my own stuff – website coming soon!!), and trying to up my vegan cooking game so I can land a Sea Shepherd mission sometime soon! (Son not impressed with the vegan cooking efforts, it has to be said...)

Plenty of memories, no doubt. We well remember Big Day Out in the Boiler Room with the sweat turning to rain and you chanting ‘I'm like a nomad and this is my tribe’. What about you? 

Yeah, rainsweat is a thing, huh. So gross. Re:Fuel in Dunners was the worst for that! (But still loved playing there Ōtepoti, don't troll me). Sometimes of course, the memories aren’t always the good ones, like how we cleared a dance floor at a St Petersburg nightclub...  Was it the Russians or was it us? I’d like to think it was the Russians but I’m pretty sure they think it was us... (It was definitely them).

You’ve hit the gym, we are told – what’s your routine? What works for you when it comes to fitness and wellness?

I don't mean to sound flippant but I seriously hate exercise and Lazy is my star sign – Chinese zodiac, Myers Briggs, love language and anything else going around.  Far from being supportive, all my mates burst out laughing when I told them I am going to the gym! You can’t choose your friends... But yes, I am totally going, I’m really proud of myself, I’m now up to three times a week. I still seriously dislike it every time but I have never been stronger and I have surprised myself – I even beat my brother-in-law in an arm wrestle last week! (Draw, but I’m calling it a win). So, relentless singing and dancing for an hour and a half on stage here I come, we on!

You are known for your style – what’s the favourite item in your wardrobe?  

What I really enjoy is being old enough to see the fashion cycle go round and round – it’s pretty fun. I often think, ‘Oh, I’m sure I’ve got something like that buried in my closet somewhere’, and I normally do.

If you could give the world one style/fashion tip, what would it be?   

I love how “fashion” seems really deconstructed these days. The old rules don’t apply, just coz they say it is “in” does not mean it has to be “in” for you – I think that is great and adds so much dimension to people-watching.

What are you listening to at the moment? 

Well, I like hip-hop but when son was young I started listening to it in other languages (other than English I mean) so he wouldn’t hear bad stuff! And I loved it. I love not knowing what anyone is saying, so alt-language hip-hop is still my go-to these days.

Have any of the new crop of Kiwi musos caught your ear? 

I have to do a shout-out to my gurl, Imani-J, and the band JOLA BURNS fo’ sure!

Is there a person you’d love to collaborate with?  

As an electronic band, we didn’t necessarily collaborate with people but were more re-mixed by DJs and producers. I love that, and I like how that still goes on. The Big Fresh Collective did some remixes a year or two ago with all proceeds going to humanitarian assistance in Gaza which was pretty epic to be part of – ta bros!

Anything planned for when you’re in Christchurch?   

Really excited to catch up with friends! I haven't been down since earlier in the year, and I really love the food and drink scene in Ōtautahi so I’m looking forward to yum-yumming and drink-drinking!

Who’s your personal hero?   

People like Trevor Noah’s mum, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah.

What’s on the cards for Minuit after this tour?

Relax!!!! And keep going to the gym. Twice a week. Or maybe once a week...

Go Live Festival, Christchurch Town Hall, Saturday 23 August 2025