New Orleans Based Singer and Songwriter Uses Hard Times as Inspiration on Wartime Favorites

New Orleans, LA— Hard times often inspire people to do remarkable things. Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans and surrounding communities almost three years ago, but stories of hope and inspiration keep on filtering out. At the time in 2005, singer/songwriter Ruby Rendrag was recording her debut album, and a few of the tracks were washed away after the hurricane, prompting her to name the album Interrupted, which never really saw the light of day.

Over the next several months, Ruby endured her mom’s sickness and eventual death, and went back into the studio to record a brand new album, Wartime Favorites, which hits streets on September 16. The title of the album was based on the premise that it was recorded during difficult times.

“It was three years of hell but great happenings at the same time,” says Ruby. “I made new friends, had some collaborative efforts, and dealt with difficult times but also had some worthy learning experiences.”

Ruby also met cellist Suki Kuehn and producer Ben Mumphrey (The Pixies, The Breeders) who helped mold her soulful, sultry and melodic sound into something really special. Ruby has been compared to the likes of Chrissie Hynde, Fiona Apple and Johnette Napolitano, but she been influenced by many more artists and songwriters than that.

“My influences are Gary Numan, The The, The Smiths, Led Zeppelin, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Radiohead (there is a stunning cover of ‘High and Dry’ on Wartime Favorites), Aimee Mann, Coldplay, Brandi Carlile, Beck,” Ruby says before pausing. “I'm sure I'm missing someone important.”

But what might be most remarkable is that after Katrina, there were no functional studios in New Orleans. Ruby wound up recording what would become Wartime Favorites in a FEMA trailer, and then found Mumphrey to mix and put the finishing touches on the project.

”I had the entire project on a hard drive headed for the garbage,” she deadpans.

On a positive note, Ruby had the good fortune recently of sharing the stage with Heart, Tim Reynolds and Juliana Hatfield. But to throw another curveball into the mix, Ruby had a CD production issue when the track listing was incorrect. The actual track listing is below.

Wartime Favorites, while dark in subject matter and in style, is also triumphant and uplifting, making Ruby Rendrag an artist to keep an eye on in the adult alternative world.

“There is energy without histrionics, swagger without arrogance, and joy without pretense. When you see Ruby live, you get to watch a musician who genuinely loves what she’s doing. Ruby Rendrag does not indulge in the self-deception so many singer-songwriters exploit to seduce listeners.”—Caleb Guillotte, Deadeye Dick

For more information, please visit www.myspace.com/rubyrendrag

Track listing:

1. Not Today

2. Superman

3. Nothing

4. High and Dry

5. W-26

6. Nothing Wrong

7. Meditation

8. Anything You Are

9. Long Way Up

10. I'm Gonna Go Crazy

11. Sonata No. 1

12. Clair De Lune