Indie-rock artist Red Bird Rising, aka Diedrich Donald Weiss, recently released his latest single, “Ruby,” a song about a woman, who, haunted by memories of incest, perceives suicide as her only relief.
“Ruby” follows on the heels of Red Bird Rising’s debut single, “My Revolution,” a scathing commentary on the war in Ukraine.
Ruby is a real person from Weiss’ life. A stranger who became an acquaintance who then became a friend. He has been given access to her poetry and to her circumstances. He is both listening to Ruby as well as speaking to her. It is a conversation in song.
Inspired by a line of poetry she shared with him that read “No one sings for me / no one touches me,” Weiss wrote the song to sing for her and, hopefully, form a connection so she might set aside the idea of suicide.
Originally from Minneapolis, where he recorded four solo albums, along with engineering and producing five albums for other artists, Weiss relocated to Colombia to build his recording studio. Creating under the name Red Bird Rising, remote collaborators on Weiss’ songs range from Ukraine, Argentina, France, England, Croatia, Brazil, South Africa, and the US.
“Ruby” opens with a beautiful operatic voice, flowing into a driving rhythm topped by darkly gleaming guitars, infusing the tune with shimmering coloration as Weiss’ evocative, deep tenor imbues the lyrics with dreamy, urgent passion. Drenched in luscious waves of indie-rock flavors with hints of folk-rock, “Ruby” conjures up vague suggestions of Leonard Cohen.
“I know that your hole is real and how the death dream soothes your wound / Like a wine of mercy and you get to say when, no matter when.”
Full of shadowy emotions intertwined with sparkling accents, with “Ruby,” Red Bird Rising offers an innovative, compelling song.