Homegrown folk-sass: this album takes you from the ol' porch swing to the bar downtown and back. Thick guitar work, rich imagery, and haunting melodies.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (38:27) !
Related styles: FOLK: Alternative Folk, COUNTRY: Americana

People who are interested in Joni Mitchell Patty Griffin Lucinda Williams should consider this download.


Details:
Melissa Ruth is a classically trained musician with front-porch sensibility; Melissa Ruth and her music are homegrown folk-sass. Growing up in rural British Columbia, she was raised on a balanced diet of borsht and Bob Dylan and was exposed to art and culture from an early age. As a child and teenager, when she wasn't busy climbing trees or hanging out with the wrong crowd, she studied classical flute and gigged locally. By age 15, Melissa added guitar to her musical practice and began writing her own songs.

In May 2005, Melissa graduated with a degree in music Performance and Education from Humboldt State University. She was nominated for Outstanding Student of the Year in Fine Arts that same spring. While studying classical music by day, by night Melissa was active in the folk scene of Humboldt County. She played through-out the area in a variety of settings; open mics, art shows, street corners, and coffee houses before relocating to Eugene, Oregon to teach and to pursue her budding career in music.

Ruth draws much of her inspiration from her experiences traveling and teaching. Having lived in many cities, towns and country cabins through out the Western United States and Western Canada, Ms. Ruth speckles her music with home-town observations. From her âHumboldt County sky underwaterâ to her âbarstool with your name on it right here next to meâ Melissaâs music is known for its intimacy; itâs willingness to take you to those home-towns with her. As a songwriter Melissa is known for her musical versatility and lyric driven tunes. Producer Hank Alrich says of Ms. Ruth:
âI immediately found her songs fascinating. Lots of artists are putting forth 'original' material, but little of it is anywhere near this original. She has a very personal take on all of it - lyrics, melodies, accompaniment - that brings forth a truly refreshing perspective, one completely outside the 'cookie cutter' approach to which so many young artists fall prey.â

Melissa is often accompanied by blues and jazz guitarist Johnny Leal whose technical skill and farm-boy charm lend further depth to the duo's performance both in the studio and on the road. Ruth and Leal play frequently in the California-based trio Melissa Ruth and the Likely Stories.
Melissa currently teaches music to young folks and, when not teaching or touring, she delights in working her garden and playing with her cute and annoying dog Bruno.