Ruth Hazleton
  • The Killing Times
  • Ten Thousand Miles
  • I Wish The Wars Were Over
  • Same Old Man
  • Messiahs Of Hate
  • Past Carin'
  • State Of The World
  • Through The Grove (I Riden Sa)
  • Shackled (Song for Nudem Durak)
  • Walking Boss
Biography
Steeped in history, folk tradition and unapologetically political, Melbourne-based singer, banjo player, guitarist and songwriter Ruth Hazleton has remained a prominent figure in Australia’s folk music scene since she began performing in 1995.

Ruth’s music career began as a member of Canberra-based band Closet Klezmer, whose lively Eastern European dance music quickly led to them becoming local cult favourites. It was during this time she also developed an enduring passion for the music of Transylvania and Hungary.

In 1998, Ruth took to the stage with Kate Burke ('Trouble in the Kitchen'), and the rest, as they say, is history. Two of Australia’s most respected and renowned folk musicians; their vocal harmonies, exceptional musicianship and unique interpretations of traditional song have won them national and international acclaim over the years.

Kate & Ruth have toured Australia and internationally, recorded five studio albums, and performed and recorded with such luminaries as Andy Irvine and Bruce Molsky. They’ve picked up awards ('ScreenSound Australia Award for Best Folk Album', 'Lis Johnston Award for Vocal Excellence'), and have been described by The Australian as “Why folk music is cool again”.

The duo’s fifth and latest release Declaration (2015) was nominated for a genre award at 'The Age Victorian Music Awards', announced as ‘Album of The Week’ on 'The Daily Planet' ABC Radio National, and also on Blues & Roots Radio internationally.

Throughout her career, Ruth has also performed American old-time & Americana music (another enduring musical passion); initially with Canberra-based band 'The Horses’s Leotard' (yes, you read that right), and later 'Dev’lish Mary'.

Among the many acts and musicians Ruth has recorded and performed with are: Andy Irvine (Ireland - 'Planxty', 'Mozaik'), Bruce Molsky (USA - Mozaik), Nancy Kerr & The Sweet Visitor Band (UK - BBC Folk Singer of the Year 2015), Luke Plumb ('Shooglenifty'), James Fagan, Rens Van der Zalm (Netherlands - 'Mozaik'), Donal Lunny (Ireland – 'Planxty', 'Mozaik'), James Keelaghan (Canada), Martyn Wyndham-Read (UK), Fred Smith & Liz Frencham (Australia), Bill Jackson (Australia) and Shane Howard (Australia - Goanna).

In her non-musical life, Ruth Hazleton is a mum, writer, independent folklorist and social historian. Currently employed by The National Library of Australia, she is also an occasional blogger at The Hidden Culture, an assistant researcher for The Australian Magic Research Project, and Reference Committee member for the Australian Children's Folklore Collection at Museums Victoria. She is also an activist for Australian Independent Musicians and passionate campaigner for women in the Australian music industry.

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DAISYWHEEL

The daisy wheel (also known as a 'hexafoil') is a compass-drawn circle with six petals within it. The symbol has been found etched into mantlepieces, door frames, window frames and furniture for centuries in Britain and more recently, in Australia. A folk superstition or ritual without any recorded written or oral explanation, scholars now agree that the daisy wheel symbol served the purpose of protecting a household or building by warding away bad spirits and dispelling ‘darkness’.

DAISYWHEEL is also the name of the highly anticipated debut solo album from Ruth Hazleton.

Equipped with an electric guitar tuned to DADGAD and a 5-string banjo, Ruth Hazleton and producer Luke Plumb have created a stunning and diverse sonic experience; a confluence and collision of past and present, ancient and contemporary and a cross-cultural zeitgeist. A lyrical voyage of history, struggle & resilience in song, the album is in itself a musical daisywheel.

Of the ten songs appearing on the album, four are original, five are traditional (English, American & Swedish in origin) and one is a Henry Lawson poem Ruth composed the music for. The stories are varied, political and strident; whether wrangling with matters of the heart, dealing with themes of injustice, conflict, displacement and defiance.

Musically, this album is very adventurous; incorporating all of the influences that have shaped Ruth’s musicianship over the years and in many ways escapes strict boundaries of genre. There are flavours of Eastern European music, Middle Eastern music, Celtic music, old-time American music, straight-up rock & roll, folk-rock, washes of electronic programming and beats, ambience and a salute to one of Ruth’s great genre loves; British trip-hop and downbeat.

DAISYWHEEL was engineered and produced by long-time friend and collaborator Luke Plumb (Shooglenifty, The Circuit) and mixed/mastered in collaboration with Scottish engineer and producer Mattie Foulds (Karine Polwart, Lau, Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson, Shooglenifty, Kathryn Tickell, The Unthanks and Bella Hardy).

The musicians who appear on the album come from a range of musical backgrounds, including traditional, rock, pop, modern jazz and contemporary folk, and include:

Ruth Hazleton: Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Clawhammer Banjo, Piano & Shruti Box

Luke Plumb: Electronic Programming, Fiddle, Piano and Acoustic Guitar

Oscar Neyland: Double Bass & Bass Ambient Effects

Justin Olsson: Drums & Percussion

Tim Meyen: Cimbalom

Paddy Montgomery: Oud & Yayli Tambur

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QUOTES:

"New production ideals meet old tunes, old poems are adapted, new songs are written on old themes, traditional tunes find themselves underpinning contemporary lyrics. Like the Daisywheel on the album’s cover everything is cyclic and self-supporting, the final picture is arrived at via any number of musical detours.

What emerges is a self-assured work of great ambition - and no less listenable for that. Recorded between Tasmania and Scotland under the guidance of Scottish auteur Luke Plumb (Shooglenifty/Andy Irvine/The Mae Trio) Daisywheel is a great sounding record, the instrumentation and playing as logical as it is modern, the production as supportive as it is appropriate...

All the tradition and innovation in the world is meaningless if the recording doesn’t grab the listener and this is where Daisywheel triumphs. Put simply it’s a record with traditional roots that could take its place and hold its own on any current playlist". ~ Mick Thomas (Weddings, Parties, Anything), November 2019

"Whether a traditional song or a song of her own making, Ruth approaches her material with great understanding. Deeply concerned with the political and social, her convictions are intrinsic to the passion behind her music - evident in the strength of her music and her voice". ~ Andy Irvine (Ireland)

“With an easy but refined musicality, it is her deep knowledge of folk music traditions, a historian's eye and a storyteller's heart that makes Ruth Hazleton one of Australia’s most exciting artists”. ~ Lucky Oceans

“Ruth Hazelton's vast knowledge of folk music tradition saturates her own songs. She is a 'real deal' songwriter”. ~ Kat Goldman (Canada)

“Ruth Hazleton is the rarest of artists. A sylvan voice, an experienced player’s chops, a deep well of tradition to draw on and the ability to write songs that sound older and more lived in than most contemporary music”. ~ James Keelaghan (Canada)






4
  • Members:
    Ruth Hazleton
  • Sounds Like:
    Original, Electronic, Rock, Folk Revival, Traditional, Songwriter, Beats, Banjo, Electric Guitar, Harmony, Ambient
  • Influences:
    Feist, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Karen Dalton, Portishead, Eliza Carthy, Bruce Molsky, Andy Irvine, Massive Attack, Doc Watson, Pete Seeger, Billy Bragg, Musikas, Latcho Drom
  • AirPlay Direct Member Since:
    11/27/19
  • Profile Last Updated:
    08/15/23 16:35:10

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