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Dearest friends, I am now so very thrilled to shar Dearest friends, I am now so very thrilled to share with you what has been the focus of my intention for very many months - my new single and video, Brave Ships. The video is premiering today in New York's The Big Takeover! Check out the link in my biog to enjoy!
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I feel that few of us are relishing this third lockdown and I certainly am weary of it all.. I hope this song will lift your spirits and carry you through difficult times for many years to come. 
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The official release date is 27th Jan and you can pre-order it on Bandcamp here: https://ruthblake.bandcamp.com/album/brave-ships-single-b-side
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Infinite  gratitude to producer Damien Mahoney @caulbearers and Filmmaker/photographer Paul Blakemore @blikmo @pblikmo for their friendship and collaboration, and to all the musicians who took part!
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@shunya_music on strings 
@matpicklesart played preliminary percussion @robturner808 on drums
@kirtanpete electric guitar, harmonium and piano 
Dave Tompkins on bass
Mastered by Shawn Joseph @vagabundostres
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With all my love, Ruth x
Over Comes a Cloud is out today!! 🎉🎉🎉 Woo Over Comes a Cloud is out today!! 🎉🎉🎉 Wooo woop!! If you are feeling like splashing out you can buy the track for £1 (yes that's one whole English pound!) from Bandcamp who are waiving their fees today so we musicians get the full amount - the link is conveniently in my Instagram biog. It's also available everywhere else, iTunes etc, including Spotify - do follow Caulbearers there and share with your buds if that's your vibe. There are lots more awesome tracks to come in the new year!

Damien has been working on these tracks for YEARS - I jest you not - so this first release is a really really special day and I'm just feeling so proud of him and joyful to be a part of it. It's a flipping funktastic track!

Extract from our first review @exhimusic :

"The blistering new single from Caulbearers veers from discordant, dystopian breaks & piercing guitars to soulful yet gritty Funk. The song builds to a crescendo as the battle between ‘the order and chaos’ of the lyrics plays out through the strings, horns, distorted textures and layered voices of Damien Mahoney & Ruth Blake.

The words are a call to lift the veil of nobility, pride and entitlement that empires throughout time have often hidden their violent & oppressive actions behind. The song asks if we can be conscious enough to see these shadowy impulses and desires in ourselves and not only look to blame others for their actions."

You can listen today!! 

Happy Friday everyone 😎💖🎧🎶🎷🎸🎼

Mixed by Seadna Mcphail
Mastered by Optimum Mastering
With artwork by Stephen Raw
Video by Stirzocular

#ruthblake #ruthblakemusic #caulbearers #overcomesacloud #newsingle #funk #nujazz #pompeii #teaservideo #sacredgeometry #review #exhimusic #newmusic #originalmusic #independentmusic #dissonant #indie #sax #saxophone #funkybass #breakbeats #bandcampfriday
Thank you to everyone who has listened to my music Thank you to everyone who has listened to my music this year! And an extra special thank you to all those who've followed me on any platform, added me to playlists or shared a song that's touched you with another... All these songs are wrapped in prayers that they may be delivered into the lives and hearts of those who need them, and you are all the angels delivering my prayers into the world! 🕊️

It's been a strange year and quite honestly, very frustrating not to have released much! But Damien and I have been working hard behind the scenes on so many different songs and ideas... As a naturally impatient person I'm constantly reminding myself to surrender to the natural flow of things, calling myself back into trust, trust, trust that things are just as they're meant to be! And I'm beyond excited for the unfolding of the next few months when I FINALLY get to share some of these fruits with the world! 🍓🍒🍎🍉🍑🍊🍌

With love and endless gratitude to all who support me as an artist,

Ruth ❤️

#ruthblake #ruthblakemusic #spotify #originalmusic #2020artistwrapped #independentmusic #thankyou
New Caulbearers single Over Comes a Cloud out Frid New Caulbearers single Over Comes a Cloud out Friday 4th December:

'Initially inspired by the remains of Pompeii, Damien Mahoney has crafted a reflection of sudden natural disaster visited on a culture built on inequality and brutality that reflects our strange times.
 
'Taking the lead vocal himself, Damien is backed by the ethereal voice of Ruth Blake throughout the song. The band has kept the fractured, funk style of previous release ‘Hollow Bones’ and added the 
dissonant guitars of Anton Hunter (Sloth Racket, Beats & Pieces Big Band) to Caulbearers’ signature heavy, breakbeat-style live drums. An early review praises Will Lenton’s sax lines, saying they ”align the song with the new UK Jazz scene and make it as equally at home on Jazz FM as Radio X”.'

Over Comes a Cloud will be available on Bandcamp this Friday 4th Dec - a day when Bandcamp waives their fees in support of independent music... To add your support, find the link in my bio. It will also be available across digital platforms, with full video to follow.

With my heartfelt gratitude to all who continue to support independent art and music 🙏🏼

Ruth ❤️

Photo by @janderful_xanadulce

#ruthblake #caulbearers #caulbearersmusic #newmusic #originalmusic #bandcampfriday #overcomesacloud #manchestermusic #newsingle #independentmusic #funk #nujazz it
Release date for new Caulbearers single is 4th Dec Release date for new Caulbearers single is 4th December, when it will be available on all online platforms! Do spread the news!! 
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You can pre-order it from Bandcamp here (link also in biog) https://caulbearers.bandcamp.com/album/over-comes-a-cloud-single . That would make us very happy and guarantee it making its way into your ears in the swiftest possible time 
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Brightsky interview with me and Damien with some acoustic versions of the songs online at 8pm on that very Friday - December 4th . Zoom and facebook live links below 
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https://www.facebook.com/events/418594822646388
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#ruthblakemusic #caulbearers #music #newmusic #originalmusic #independent #indie #manchester #funk #band #sacredgeometry #teaser #video #pompeii #romanempire #harmonies #overcomesacloud #musicasmedicine
With @caulbearers
Reposted from @caulbearers . Some new artwork for Reposted from @caulbearers
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Some new artwork for Caulbearers by Stirzocular featuring lettering designs by Stephen Raw. New single (with lots of Ruthy vocals!) coming soon!!
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 #manchestermusic #newmusic #band #funk #dystopian #soul #fusion #roots #urban #music #manchestermusicians #caulbearers #musicasmedicine #sacredgeometry #harmonics #original #overcomesacloud #artwork 
#ruthblake #collaboration #stirzocular
@stirzocular
Aside to my own music in recent years I've loved j Aside to my own music in recent years I've loved joining Damien Mahoney's Manchester-based band, Caulbearers. Here's a teaser for the first single they're releasing since I've added my voice, the first of an album's worth! It's called Over Comes a Cloud.
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“Archaic funk fables and soul migrations… bittersweet songs of the self, soul and society” and “roots music from the rainy city… psychedelic soul with poetic, social observation.”
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The teaser is joined by a really funky new website that we're all excited about so do check it out and find out more! I'll pop the link in my biog for a week or so, or just type in https://caulbearers.com/ ❇️
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#ruthblake #ruthblakemusic #collaboration #caulbearers #manchester #music #band #collective #dissonant #funk #psychadelic #roots #musicasmedicine #overcomesacloud
Elia woke up very early and couldn't get back to s Elia woke up very early and couldn't get back to sleep this morning... So at around 5.30am he ventured off for a walk. Circa 8.15am I'm woken up by a very proud and very sweet grin presenting the most incredible bouquet I've ever seen! It is so impressive that in my sleepy state it took me a while to believe that he'd made it himself! What a gorgeous start to the morning!
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#bouquet #wildflowers #homemade #doityourself #flowerarranging #summer #summerbouquet #wildflowerbouquet #bestboyfriendever
Grace 🐈 . Her happiness gives me great happines Grace 🐈
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Her happiness gives me great happiness, her restfulness infuses me with restfulness ❤️
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#howtorelax #zenmasters
#cats #catsofinstagram #grace #tortoiseshell #tortoiseshellcat #sleeping #chillax
"You are a bum-wiggling, warrior-shaped, astute-as "You are a bum-wiggling, warrior-shaped, astute-as-tits medicine channel who farts like a bin and is playful and silly and made of brains and heart."
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Apparently that's me! Both mushroomy heart of happiness and 'testimonial' by Jude Claybourne. Clearly too silly to share on social media 🍄❤️ #ruthblake #silliness #mushroom #heart #portrait
Do not assume the problem is only outside of you. Do not assume the problem is only outside of you. Each one of us must seek out the threads of this disease we have inherited and root. it. out. #blacklivesmatter #equality #dontbeabystander #solidarity #endinstitutionalizedracism #justiceforgeorgefloyd
Lots of yummy artists playing at Wild World Online Lots of yummy artists playing at Wild World Online Festival this weekend Fri 29th - sun 31st May. I'll be playing Friday 4.30-5.15pm so do tune in. It's free but you can make donations which contribute to tree planting projects as well as next year's festival 🌱🌳💚
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Facebook Event Link for more info and live streaming in my bio 🎶💖😎
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#ruthblake #ruthblakemusic #livemusic #online #festival #independent #music #wildworld #what'son #may2020
Yes yes lots of important things to think about, b Yes yes lots of important things to think about, but first... Have you ever wondered what I'd look like as a man?!!! .
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#ruthblakeasaman
Met a magical new friend to watch the sunset with Met a magical new friend to watch the sunset with us yesterday at Cley Hill 😍 Reminds me so much of the dragon, Falkor, in Never Ending Story!!! Anyone remember that?!!! .
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#saluki #salukisofinstagram #lurcher #dog #dogsofinstagram #sunset #cleyhill #falkor #neverendingstory
Recording two new songs (Love Again and River of m Recording two new songs (Love Again and River of my Tears), au naturale in the woods with my beloved Elia and my old friend and sound engineer @bencappsound. That's au naturale = acoustic in nature 🌳 not au naturale = naked 🙈
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2m away at all times, obvs. #lockdown
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Air raid siren interruption (totally normal of course) had the added bonus of encouraging me to get my phone out and say hello to you guys! I'm generally a bit pants at that - by the time a fun moment has been had, the moment for the camera always seems to have passed! I always marvel at people capturing good moments on camera. On the one hand, I generally prefer to just be in the moment. On the other hand, it's nice to let people know when I'm doing nice things. As you can see, I couldn't even wait to finish eating before making a start here. #Presentingskillz
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Don't miss the #crayfish getting his own back on Elia for being rudely removed from the water! Nb No crayfish were harmed in the making of this video 🦐
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Watch this space for new musicy things, coming soon ✨
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#ruthblake #ruthblakemusic #newmusic #live #recording #inthewoods #loveagain #riverofmytears #lockdownstudio #lockdownrecording #original #music #frome #whattod#thingstodointhelockdown #airraid #siren #nofilter #lovenature #bytheriver
A conversation . PERSON 1: . The Book of Job I t A conversation
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PERSON 1:
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The Book of Job I think says there is nothing new under the sun, and at the going down of the sun there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.  I forget the last bit, I think the sun will last a bit longer. One of the lessons you learn over a longer life is that human society has always had a dark and destructive side and that, however much one generation might achieve, the next is always capable of taking it apart.  Knowing what people are capable of means some of us could work our butts off trying to save the planet whilst others sit back and wait to collect.  We might agree the planet needs saving but achieving any kind of agreement on how it's likely to be is almost impossible, if not the rock we founder on eventually.
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PERSON 2:
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For me, what you are talking about here is cycles. Creation and destruction go hand in hand, like birth and death, day and night. One cannot exist without the other. The sun rises every morning, despite the fact that night will always follow. It does not give up in despair. To decide not to bother creating, living, repairing, growing etc because we know that things will ultimately  come apart again, or somehow be destroyed, is basically despair. But the opposite of despair is hope, and it really just depends from which side you look at it. And it's not to say  that one perspective is more true or valid, but simply to ask, which perspective is more healthy and constructive in this moment? Which brings more joy and peace to my heart? To trust that the sun will always rise, or to despair that we will always fall back into shadow?
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The most essential thing to remember when considering this is not that we must tolerate the bad in order to enjoy the good, but that what we see as 'bad' is somehow essential (though sometimes beyond our understanding) to feed or create the 'good' . The lotus is used as a symbol of this - a beautiful flower that grows out of the mud. Without night , day is meaningless and in fact would become a lifeless torment. We look at a forest as a sublime living ecosystem, but within the forest everything must die, all is continually... (cont in comments)
People of Instagram and beyond! Will you join me i People of Instagram and beyond! Will you join me in making a music video to warm and inspire hearts at this unique time in history?!🎶📹🎶
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For all those looking for something to do that has the capacity to be fun, creative, meaningful, useful and connected to others (whilst appropriately far away)... This may be for you ❤️
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Some of you will know I'm currently recording a song called Brave Ships. It really sums up what I want to communicate to the world right now, and so I'm itching to release it as a single. I've been planning a video, an important aspect to carry the song into the realms of YouTube etc, and a tool to emphasize and support the message of the song. Like most of us, Queen Corona 👑 made dust of my original plans!! But all is not lost!! Out of the ashes, new blooms be blooming .. So how can I make a video without people gathering together? That's where you come in. . 
The video will be a montage that shows firstly the myriad challenges, fears, and vulnerabilities of this time, and then to progress by showing images of generosity, community spirit and acts of kindness, creativity and ingenuity, both large and small, silly and serious, including playful and creative ways that people are turning this situation into something positive. I know you're all doing some cool stuff, whether it's spending more time with children, making instruments out of melons, remembering how to do that thing you love, or helping your neighbour with the shopping, I want to see it.
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So this is my request to all those willing. I need video clips to make this work. Firstly , ONLY FOOTAGE THAT'S YOURS, THAT YOU GIVE ME PERMISSION TO USE in a public video. If you send it, I assume permission is given. I will edit them together to create the final video.
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I'm looking for what people are dealing with right now and all the different responses you're coming up with - short clips that illustrate what you're feeling (lonely, fearful, anxious, angry, curious, creative, calm, excited, confused, silly, connected, disconnected, etc), or practical things that you're dealing with (faffing around with gloves and masks, trying to home school kids,
- continued in comments...
Join me on Monday lunchtime (9th March) at St Step Join me on Monday lunchtime (9th March) at St Stephens Church on St Stephens Street in Bristol. I will be playing solo from 1.10-2pm, free entry x
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#ruthblake #ruthblakemusic #live #music #gig #concert #singer #songwriter #bristol #whatsoninbristol #freeconcert #lunchtime #church #ststephenschurch #guitar #folk #folkmusic #acoustic #solo #indie #independentmusic
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