Featured Artist - July 2007
Ragamuffin Children
Acoustic / New Folk
Contact: Brooke Sing
ragamuffinchildren@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/ragamuffinchildren
The RAGAMUFFIN CHILDREN have recently released their debut album 'Werecat Lullabies' and are embarking on their first nationwide tour. This coincides with the exciting release of their single 'MORE OF ME' which was recorded after winning the Rise and Shine competition run by LOOP Recordings Aot(ear)roa in association with Microsoft.
Brooke Singer (keyboard, songwriter) and Anita Clark (vocalist, fiddle, guitar) formed the Christchurch duo in 2006 and have already played an impressive number of gigs, including support for Goldenhorse and a concert at the Canterbury Folk Festival with the songstress Chris While.
Earlier this year Brooke entered a song into Loop's Rise and Shine song writing competition. Over 400 people entered, an Brooke won first place, making her arguably the best new songwriter in New Zealand. Winning the competition gave Brooke and Anita the opportunity to record a commercial single with LOOP recordings. Mikee Tucker (LOOP) said, "you only have to listen to this song for five seconds to realize its intrinsic beauty. A stunning debut for these young up and comers".
The RAGAMUFFIN CHILDREN have promised to make every show on their tour a delightful, charming and memorable event. To set the scene just right they will bring a crescent moon and sparkly stars and a small table and tea setting so they can hold tea parties on stage. Anita says she is 'very excited' about it all.
Recently, Brooke and Anita began working with Jody Lloyd from She'll Be Right Records, for the release their debut album entitled 'Werecat Lullabies'. The album features 12 original songs with an array of instrumentation including cello, clarinet and glockenspiel along with more traditional instruments. Minstrel the singing dog also gets a cameo on the record.
SOUTH ISLAND TOUR DATES
30TH June- Mussel Inn, Takaka (free)
6th July- Circadian Rhythm Café (free)
7th July-Arts Centre 12pm (free)
7TH July- Harbourlight, starts at 8pm. $10
www.myspace.com/ragamuffinchildren
Here's what SmokeCDs.com had to say (Sept 07)...
Ragamuffin Children - Werecat Lullabies
An absolutely enchanting debut from this Wellington-via-Christchurch duo. Werecat Lullabies has a classy, unassuming beauty, one you rarely find in a debut release. There are shades of Catpower, Joanna Newsom and Beth Orton in here but fans of more commercial names like Norah Jones, Anika Moa and Hollie Smith will also love this album.
Put simply, the songs are stunning. It's not hard to see how the duo managed to take out a national songwriting competition run by Loop recordings which lead to them recording the single 'More Of Me' (also featured on this album). Songwriter and Keyboardist Brooke Singer and vocalist/guitarist Anita Clark recorded the album themselves at home over six month period. For the recording, the songs have been fleshed out with an array of instruments including clarinet, glockenspiel, cello. Minstrel "the singing dog" even pops in for a backing vocal cameo!
To top off a stunning record, 'Werecat Lullabies' is also packaged beautifully in a recycled paper digipack with charming illustrations that match the music's whimsical nature perfectly. Hats off to Jody Lloyd and She'll Be Right records for putting in such a full effort and, of course hats off to Ragamuffin Children for making one of the best debuts we've heard in ages. More details...
