Rating: ****1/2
Red Bird Rising is the stage name of Diedrich Donald Weiss, a Minneapolis-born artist who currently resides in Colombia. Weiss is a singer, songwriter, and producer, and he has been making music since he was a teenager. His music is a blend of indie rock, folk, and electronica, and it is characterized by its honesty, vulnerability, and emotional depth.
He has a new single out that I'm gonna review right here on this very music blog that you're reading currently.. "Ruby," that tells the story of a woman struggling with suicidal ideation and the trauma of incest.
Yeah. That's a lot.
I gotta be honest, I didn't expect to wake up this morning and dive into a song with subject matter that's this heavy, but here we are.
I'll have a full report after the jump, like I always do.
"Ruby" opens with a haunting falsetto that transitions into a guitar riff/drumbeat combo that has a slow, steady build, as Weiss's voice begins to weave its spell. As the song progresses, the tempo picks up and the intensity builds, until the song reaches a crescendo of raw emotion. Weiss's vocals are both dark and hopeful, as he sings of the protagonist's struggle to overcome her very real, very painful struggles.
The track is heavy, but as dark as the subject matter is, it's still really a song of hope and resilience, and it is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always light to be found.
The song's lyrics are a masterclass in storytelling. Weiss paints a vivid picture of the protagonist's inner turmoil, and his words are both heartbreaking and inspiring.
The song's instrumentation is also perfectly suited to the lyrics, and it helps to create a truly immersive experience.
Powerful stuff.
Musically, it reminds me of some more of the downbeat tracks from Queens of the Stone Age, Lyrically the song should come with a trigger warning. The subject matter will be a lot to process for some listeners but that's what art is all about. Pushing the boundaries of comfort, "Ruby" is a powerful and important song that speaks to the experiences of many survivors of trauma.