Shame is a powerful feeling. It can bring even the most resolute in their actions to task to face unseen costs or become enlightened to taboos previously unknown. Red Bird Rising’s latest single release, “Ruby,” is a track that explores the deep and personal shames of the titular subject in a profound manner in the form of the song. The intent listener beware, it is not for the faint of heart.
The vocals immediately reach high and lure the listener in with an ethereal, operatic force. The drums come in just before the singing concludes to kick the track into a rockin, head-nodding beat that gets you moving. A bassline smooths the harsh edges of the percussion and goes well with the vocal performance. The smooth vocals of Diedrich Donald Weiss are smooth and just as alluring as the intro. The long vocal notes are the perfect setup for the free-wheeling, mysterious guitars that playfully move about the track. When the guitar begins to drift off into space, the bassline quickens to give it the depth to ground it. When it all comes together, the track has a dark and contemplative aesthetic that’s supported well by the busy and forward motion of the percussion. This aesthetic choice is a deliberate one, as the lyrics dive into some heavy themes and personal themes of this person ‘Ruby,’ with lines such as “Ruby, what’s your story? Poetry, it’s romantic, yes, dreams of your own death” at the beginning of the track only scratch the surface of this dark and somewhat suggestive subject matter explored in the track.
“Ruby” is an incredibly heavy track. The titular Ruby’s past traumas explained in song are not to be taken lightly and is not for someone simply looking for something new to listen to. This track explores deep shame and sorrow in its lyrics, with a sound that echoes their pain and allows it to breathe. While the track has a great groove and a good beat, “Ruby” is certainly not a track for everyone.
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