THIS WEEK:RUTH THEODORE

Ruth Theodore is a folk singer/musician with a difference & is based in East London.

I first heard her work when our own Tom Robinson (aka the guvnor 😉 played her wonderful song ‘Overflow’ (below) on his great saturday night radiogram show

I planned to write about Ruth a lot earlier without knowing she was in the midst of health issues. Halfway through recording her new album – ‘Dear Lamp Love Moth’  Ruth was rushed to A&E and ultimately into emergency surgery. In her own words “Everything stopped, a chrysalis formed, and the stars looked on through time with a concerned gaze… or maybe it was just the morphine”.

Recovering in hospital, Ruth had two main thoughts in her mind; “Firstly, I really like morphine. And secondly, I need to start over”. A clearer and better purposed sense of what the record needed to be, was emerging…

Now we find Ruth back to good health & stepping forward with that freshly released album – ‘Dear Lamp Love Moth’ . This album is well worth you taking a little time out to discover for yourself.

Its a bit unlike anything else out there & (happily imo) is hard to slot into a specific genre.Its feels a bit like dancing freely in a field as the sun comes up or dipping your toes in a gentle flowing stream whilst your brain goes ‘Ahhhh’ or running around a secret island dressed as an elf whilst barking at the moon & speaking in tongues (I’d imagine).

And when you first tune in don’t be fooled by Ruth’s gentle voice & tip toeing style-this is a lady who knows how to make powerfully original & unique music that kicks,swoops & swoops before ultimately winning the day.

Vivid imaginations like Ruth’s do not arrive on your doorstep every day & when they do they require patience & commitment to decipher what is going on, to allow the music to take you on a journey in the hope you will understand whats just happened to you.

Ruth and her full band will be performing the songs with their complete arrangements, along with re-imagined favourites from previous works `White Holes Of Mole Hills` and   ‘Worm Food` at shows around the UK this spring / summer.
Fri 28th June, WINCHESTER (Discovery Centre) 
Sat 6th July, LONDON (Westminster Reference Library)

This video tells the story of Ruth & her new album so well

Welcome to Prick and Ding 53 to the special talent that is Ruth Theodore,over to you Ruth.

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1. What are you up to at the moment?
I’m releasing my third record ‘Dear Lamp Love Moth’ so got some special shows coming up with my band. I’m also writing again so who knows what that means.

2. Favourite childhood memory?
Yesterday playing one sided hide and seek on a car ferry.

3. Hero?
Lassy

4. Villain?
Taps that are either really hot or really cold.

5. What makes you laugh?
Other people laughing

6. Describe what you do?
Basically I’m a masochist. I write odd broken story poem songs, and am so rarely contented by them I love it, but only because I shouldn’t.

7. Who’s hair would you like to have for just one day?
My own. That way I could have other peoples hair on all the other days, as many times as I liked.

8. Best musical experience to date?
Opening for Ani Difranco for two sold out nights at the union chapel in London… Mazing.

9. What artist inspires you?
I’m not sure how to answer. I’m more inspired by stuff than people. I like fossils and rock pools and planets and decay and luck but I suppose I’m inspired by the idea of all people within these contexts.

10. What does Fresh On The Net mean to you?
I picture thousands of flapping fish and eels and a sea legged Tom Robinson with a big white beard and a wild glint in his eye picking through seaweed and cuttlebone for tiny bits of treasure to show his children.