Ruth Moody is a two-time Juno Award winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin' Jennys and former lead singer of the Canadian roots band Scruj MacDuhk (which would later become The Duhks), she has performed in sold-out venues around the world, made numerous critically-acclaimed albums, received five Juno Award nominations and has appeared more than a dozen times on the national radio show A Prairie Home Companion.
Although best known for her work with The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth is an artist of exceptional depth and grace in her own right. Critics have lauded her ethereal vocals, impressive multi-instrumentalism and her talent as a songwriter. Written with a maturity and wisdom that belies her age, her songs are timeless, universal, and carefully crafted, all sung with an intimacy and honesty that is unmistakably her own.
Ruth has been recognized by the USA Songwriting Competition and the International Songwriting Competition for several of her compositions, including “One Voice,” which has gone on to be a signature song for The Wailin’ Jennys. It has been covered by countless artists and sung in concert halls, churches and schools throughout the world. Her song “Storm Comin,’” from The Jennys’ latest album Bright Morning Stars, recently won first place in the gospel category at the International Songwriting Competition.
In 2010, Red House Records released Ruth’s first solo album, The Garden, to rave reviews. Produced by David Travers-Smith, it was nominated for a Juno Award, a Western Canadian Music Award and three Canadian Folk Music Awards. Ruth follows this up with her highly anticipated album These Wilder Things, in the United States on Red House Records. Once again produced by Travers-Smith, it features her remarkable touring band and special guest appearances by Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas, Crooked Still’s Aoife O’Donovan and The Wailin’ Jennys.
These Wilder Things is full of such timeless tunes from the haunting gospel sounds of 'Trouble & Woe' to the bluegrassy 'One Light Shining' (featuring Jerry Douglas) to the Irish-flavored 'Life Is Long'. An impressive follow-up to her 2010 radio-charting debut 'The Garden', this recording delves deeper into darker, indie-pop sounds, especially on songs like the moody title track or 'Pockets', featuring iconic roots-rocker Mark Knopfler on guitar and vocals. "The album deals with some darker themes and has more of an urgency to it." Ruth says. "About half of the album I recorded with my band - so it certainly has lots of live energy". Featuring an all-star cast of players, the record includes performances by her remarkable touring band–Adam Dobres (guitars), Adrian Dolan (fiddle, mandolin, accordion), Sam Howard (upright bass) and her brother Richard Moody (viola)–as well as special guest appearances by Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas, Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan, The Wailin' Jennys and noted Celtic players Mike McGoldrick and John McCusker. It was actually John McCusker who first introduced Ruth to Mark Knopfler, who invited her to sing on his 2012 album Privateering (Universal Records). It went so well Ruth was invited to open for his upcoming European tour, and he agreed to sing and play on this new album of Ruth's. She gushes, "Mark is one of my favourite artists–it's been a bit of a dream come true". At times acoustic and understated and at other times electric and adventurous with organ and horns, These Wilder Things explores the midnight heartbreaks and morning revelations of love and loss, bringing us her most personal album to date. "It can be scary to go to some of those darker and deeper places," Ruth says. "But it was rewarding to face it all head on–that is where the real emotional intensity lives and I think that's what moves people." Even the one cover–Bruce Springsteen's 'Dancing in the Dark' - strikes a personal chord sitting easily alongside original radio-friendly tracks like 'One and Only' and 'Nothing Without Love'. Appealing to indie fans as well as lovers of folk and Americana music, 'These Wilder Things' confirms that Ruth Moody is indeed one force to be reckoned with.
