Ruthie Bram (Solo and Band)

"...this bright and upcoming star...performed for pretty high profile affairs..."

Ruthie Bram Interview- Bram Glam
August 12th, 2007 by She Unlimited

by: Debi Dobson

While most 18 year old girls are busy chasing boys, hanging out at the mall and deciding what to do with their future, Ruthie Bram is hard at work becoming the next pop diva. A little pop, a little funk, a little rock, Ruthie has a sultry similarity to Gloria Estefan.

She Unlimited recently had the opportunity to interview this bright, up and coming star.

Q. You’ve achieved quite a lot in the last few years, Ruthie. What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
A. Thank you, I am so grateful and honored to have the success that I’ve had. I feel that with every inch of success I have, the closer I am to achieving my dream, which is to spread messages of hope, love, and confidence to millions of people all over the world through song. I think the EuroRock 2007 Rockin’ the World for Peace Tour is a big step forward for me. Since I’ve turned 18, my parents are allowing me to tour. So, the EuroRock 2007 Tour is my first opportunity to inspire a larger group of people in a short time and being on this tour is a significant step forward for me.

Q. Are you excited about being on the EuroRock tour?
A. Yes! I am very excited to be on the EuroRock tour, and I’m eager to sing about what I think is important to me and a lot of people. So, yes, the chance the EuroRock 2007 Tours offers me, to impact others, is thrilling to me.

Q. It’s a question asked of all musicians: where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
A. I get the inspiration for my songs from my experiences, from my observations of others, and from what others have told me has happened to them. Generally, I feel there has been, in some way or another, an outcome to most tales that has benefited the subject of the story, and I usually end up focusing on that person in my song. For example, in my single, SO YOU WANT MY LOVE, one person wants to know if the other has what it takes to please them. To be pleased is what most people seek in any relationship. So, I write about what I feel I want or what I observe others want. I write about seeking freedom, seeking hope, seeking the warmth of friendships, or seeking goodness in small things. Of course, I am inspired by heroic moments, but I am mostly inspired by the ordinary, daily events and feelings that make up all of our lives.

Q. Again, we’ll go with the oldies but the goodies: Which performers have most inspired you and why?
A. My parents exposed me to all sorts musical greats. Also, I was fortunate to be acquainted with one of the entertainers from the Soul Train era, who passed on to me, through old videos and recordings, music from the early jazz era, doo-wop, funk, hip hop, R&B, and current Top 40 and underground styles. So, of course, there are many performers that have significantly influenced me.

Some of my biggest inspirations are Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Minnie Riperton for the sheer beauty of their vocal sounds. I absolutely love Cab Calloway and Sammy Davis Junior for the humor they added to their already-great performances. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Smoky Robinson, Sly and the Family Stone, and Al Green for the distinctive stylzing they brought to their eras of music. Also I should mention that my music’s funk element is similar, in places, to Sly’s funk-era sound. He has such a cool vibe.

I admire Celine Dion successful handling of her great voice to execute delicate as well as powerful passages in songs. Texas girl, Selena was a charming, flamboyant performer who kept her audience rapt with pleasure each moment that she was on that stage. That’s a real entertainer! Finally, as a guitarist, I can’t forget my home state’s great Stevie Ray Vaughn and his Texas style of blues. My admiration is apparent, as those rock-funk elements in my guitar solos are also relatives of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Texas blues.

This list and explanations could go on and on. The more performers I hear, the more performers I admire. It’s a non-ending chain of admiration.

Q. It is every musician’s dream to be signed by a major record label. Do you have any prospects toward this goal?
A. I have had an offer from a label piggybacking off Warner Bros. to do Neo-Soul sound, but I didn’t feel it was going to be the best for me in the long-term. I was also was one of the top 4 in a three-continent search and the top contender in the United States for a new dance artist for a major label, but was eliminated because I was too young at 17 to go on tour by myself. You know how that is. However, despite that, I am a firm believer that if the label deals offered aren’t right for me at the moment, then, I’ll set my own course to sail, and…will be the captain of my own ship. There are some great advantages to being free from a label, and there are advantages to having a label back me. Regardless, of how this plays out in the immediate future, I hope that whatever I do in my musical career, I am satisfied with my accomplishments. Being satisfied that I have tried the very best that I can for myself is of utmost importance to me. It is very liberating and empowering to take hold the circumstances that I am in and do the best I can for myself.

Q. You have performed for some pretty high-profile affairs. Did you get to rub elbows with any celebrities?
A. It feels great! This is because many of the people in the forefront of the news are very receptive to entertainers, and actually, sort of interact with performers during their shows. For example, once, at a celebrity benefit in Beverly Hills, a table full of women saw me jump off a 3 foot-high step in order to reach the microphone across the stage in time to sing. They were at first, stunned and scared for me at the jump and then, delighted that I succeeded in getting to the mic. Thereafter, throughout the evening, whenever it was my time to perform, they roared their approval and their hope there would be more unexpected antics and, in the end, actually got out of their dinner seats to dance as a group while I performed. So, yes, many times high-profile people have proven they are really great audiences by encouraging the performer to put on a great show.

SheUnlimited recently had the opportunity to interview this bright, up and coming star. Visit her Online: www.myspace.com/ruthiebram
- Debi Dobson

"...first songs...successful as they were..."


TOMATRAX Interview: Ruthie Bram
Interview by Richard Rowe

• In your bio you say how you "I was born to write and sing for people and to tell their stories as well as my own." Is it hard to write songs telling other people's stories?
I usually tell my own stories or give my perspective on the world, but sometimes, in certain areas, I lack that experience and yet want to put the topic in a song. That's when another person's story, that has impacted me, comes into focus in a song. I seek to reveal what the other person went through and how their story has made me feel. An example of this is the song, NO MORE LIES. I find it quite an honor and humbling to be entrusted with another person's story, so I am very sensitive and careful when I use these shared events in a song.

• What made you want to be a singer?
I've aspired to be a singer since age 3. I started singing publicly at age 5. I loved and I still love the rush of walking on stage, uncertain of exactly what is to happen, and make sure that the performance goes well. At 5, I sang and danced to cover songs in competitions and for live audiences. So, both the singing and dancing had to go very well. Recently, I've added electric guitar playing to my singing. So, I still have two things that must flow beautifully for the performance, and I love it this way.

• When you wrote your first few songs, did you have any idea that they would be as successful as they were?
For several years prior to writing my first song, I had been creating topics and tunes that were memorable to me, but I never completed a song. Finally, at 14, I sat down and wrote a song with verses, choruses, bridge, introductions, and fade outs. I had no idea whether it would mean anything to anyone else. I just wrote what came from my observations and my heart. Somewhere in the production process, I began to hope that my music would move others as well.

• Given you've won so many awards so early do you feel any pressure from here on?
I believe that the more a person succeeds in life, the more skill she has for accomplishing additional goals. Do I have to top my past successes? I suppose I feel that I am equipped to do so and should use what I have. Is that pressure? Maybe, a little, but I love it!

• How did you manage to get on the Euro rock 207 line up?
Eighteen years ago, I was orphaned as an infant in Lebanon during the raging Lebanese civil war. An American couple learned I was in an orphanage, adopted me, and took me to Texas, where I grew up on ZZ Top, Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. The promoter of this tour knew of my turbulent origins in the Middle East and of my musical powers and asked if I wanted to be part of this tour. I said, "Yes."

• Can you tell us a bit about the tour?
EuroRock2007 "Rockin' The World For Peace" is a multi-national, multi-genre rock-n-roll tour with 17 dates on the East Coast and 17 dates in the Western US produced by Lou Ricca, Vic Colucchio (Summer of Sam), Oscar-nominated Dave Pederson (Super Size Me), and Alexandra Townsend. EuroRock 2007 is conceived as a retro project along the lines of the 1970 Martin Scorsese's first film "Medicine Ball Caravan" where 154 musicians toured the United States for world peace.

For the first time in over 30 years, 14 bands from Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, South Africa, the Middle East, Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Philippine Islands, Canada, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and the United States will join together and tour for world peace. The tour will be filmed for a documentary as well as a reality show.

Musicians from around the world will invade the U.S. later this month, August 2007. Traveling by bus, the tour will make stops in small towns and major cities across America. The primary focus of EuroRock 2007 is to encourage conversations about world peace. In addition to the immediate impact of the bands' live performances, America's reaction to a bus load of Rock N Roll musicians invading their hometowns to open this public exchange will be captured on film and shown on popular television.

More info about the tour can be viewed on my MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/ruthiebram or from EuroRock's MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/eurorock.

• How do you find festivals compare to single concerts?
Festivals, as well as concerts that I have played, have been relatively small. However, I find live audiences of any size just thrilling! I make it my business to capture my audiences, so that we both have a good time!

• Have you ever thought of playing in a band or do you prefer to remain a solo artist?
As a solo artist, tracks are sometimes needed. However, on this tour, I have a live band scheduled to back me at my performances. There is alot energy with a live band, and I get to rock out while playing screaming guitar solos.

• Do you ever listen to your own music?
You bet! I even dance and work out to it! It's energy on a disc. Plus, these are times when I can critique my music, so the next songs I write are even better.

• What sort of music do you listen to?
I listen to every genre known to mankind. I love it all! Also, the more types of music I listen to, the bigger library of knowledge I can draw from. Unconsciously, I always incorporate new things from my library into my music, which gives it unexpected twists and turns.

* What is the first album you ever owned? Do you still listen to it?
I believe it was the soundtrack to Evita. And, yes I still listen to it. It's great!

• Is there any question you've always wanted to be asked?
"What is my goal as an entertainer?" It is to be with others through my music. Many times, others think they are alone in their experiences. Hearing a song about that topic makes them realize they are part of a larger community of people with similar thoughts and feelings. Music simply brings people together. I want to do that--bring people together with my music.

• Is there any question you hate being asked?
At the present, I haven't develop an aversion to any particular question. Try that questions again down the road.



- Richard Rowe

Arriving from Texas comes blues-funk pop/rocker RUTHIE BRAM with her debut six track EP 'Ruthie Bram'. The best description I can give for this is Madonna with bluesy guitars. The songs are fun and catchy blues pop/rock with hints dance and funk such as opener track 'Groove to the Music'. This track is reminiscent of Prince with a hint to Stevie Salas and Dan Reed Network and is very catchy. 'So You Want My Love' is where the guitars crank up. This for me is my favourite song. Vocally, Ruthie sounds great on this. It has a mix of R'N'B and blues pop/rock and builds into a cool catchy tune, very much in the Gwen Stefani mould. 'Stop Right There' continues the blues-funk/pop and features some cool Hammond keys and smooth rhythms. I can imagine Michael Jackson performing this track. 'Will She' is a softer ballad; here Ruthie's vocals show diversity, and this another favourite track-gorgeous track. 'No More Lies' is blues-funk making me think of Pseudo Echo, and the last track 'Work Together' has a strong Gladys Knight and Brand New Heavies feel. It is laid back blues-R'N'B/pop rock with strong vocals. Overall, Ruthie delivers a cool blues-funk EP with a mix of styles. Keep your eyes on this one, and I look forward to a full CD. www.myspace.com/ruthiebram - UK-based rock mag

"...songs are hooky and tight…well-crafted...scary to think..."

"…she has a strong voice and a point of view beyond her years"

"Ruthie Bram is in our 100 Unsigned Artists for 2005"

"Scary to think what a seasoned connected producer could do with this." - Music Connection Inc.

"...you can’t help but want to dance to this...upbeat and contagious..."




“ ‘Ready Ready Ready’ - this bubbly and youthful song.”

“ “Shake It’ - Again, another upbeat and contagious dance track.”

" ‘Move To The Groove’ will transform any “wallflower” into “twinkle toes.” This is where Ruthie B. belongs, doing fun…songs like this."
- Stacy Sardelli

What college students think of Ruthie's music and performances:

Tony (Iowa State/Ames, IA)
“…plays some serious guitar licks while telling the song story..."

Bailey (Athol Murray College of Notre Dame/Chicago, IL)
“…unique, original, really right there!”

Mike (NYU/ New York, NY)
“…a little funk, a little hip hop, a little rock, and all acoustic—she’s ahead of her game!”

Sarah (U. of Central Arkansas/Conway, AR)
“Play that funky music, white girl!”

Chris (Berkley School of Music/Boston, MA)
“...drives home her songs with voice and guitar!”

Claire (Texas Tech/Lubbock TX)
"...unique, but real songwriting and performance!”

John (Hendrix College/Conway, AR)
“... real lyics and easy to follow melodies.”

Claire (St Mary’s College of Maryland)
“….Such a pure talent and delivery..."

Justin (Harvard/Boston, MA)
“…these songs are full of energy…the lonesome ballad is a crowd pleaser…"

Chris (Baker U./Baldwin City, KS)
“Ruthie delivers some soulful, funky music.”

Rachel (Ohio U./Athens, OH)
“... sings what we want to hear…”

Kevin (LSU/Baton Rouge, LA)
“...tight, funky, soulful, and alive!”

Scott (Bucknell Univ./Lewisburg, PA)
“…wonderful, smooth voice, with crisp, clean, and tight delivery…”

Dave (Oregon U./Eugene, OR)
“I'll listen to Ruthie’s ‘No More Lies' until I understand why girls keep letting me go!”

Chelsea (Pepperdine/Malibu, CA)
“...Absolutely love Ruthie’s music! Enough said!”

Sarah (Rice/Houston, TX)
"…energetic talent and drive…hope to see her on TOP soon!”

Jason (WTAMU/Canyon TX)
“… inspiring blend of melody and harmony…can see the soul of music!”

Kristy (Miami U./Miami, FL)
“Ruthie Bram “Bram Glam”…the name says it all! …glitz & glam into…music!”

Matthew (U of Maryland/College Park, MD)
“… nice warm voice…charming personality on stage!”

Amber (U. of Pittsburgh/Pittsburgh, PA)
“So You Want My Love…represents the drama of a lot of college students here. We like!”

Peter (Yale/New Haven, CT)
“I loved Ruthie’s performance… professional … smooth and melodious…”

Lauren (Tufts/Medford, MA) “So You Want My Love is an incredible song!” - College Reviews

"...her lyrically thoughtful songs...connect individuals through music."


CITY BEAT CINCINNATI

Music: Act Locally, Rock Globally
International-flavored music tour gives peace a chance

BY Justine Reisinger | Posted 09/05/2007

Link:
(http://citybeat.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid:141350)

Singer Ruthie Bram is one of the global performers on the "EuroRock 2007" tour.

Fourteen bands you've never heard of will be playing a night of short sets Friday at the Madison Theater. Many of the musicians are too young to drink legally, with this tour being their first. So why in the hell should you care?

Because they're rocking the world for peace.

The EuroRock Tour hopes to spread the message of peace through collaboration, traveling coast to coast with a groove and a goal. Backstage Pass Productions founder LouRicca conceived the idea two years ago, bringing proactivity with a hug and smile.

"I know musicians from all over the world, and everyone I talk to wants peace in the world," he says. "I thought why don't we bring everyone together from Europe to America to show everyone we can get along."

Now in its second year, the tour's size and scope are impressive from any angle. The bands hail from Sweden and South Africa and many points in between, with a few Yanks in the mix.



Singer Ruthie Bram is one of the global performers on the "EuroRock 2007" tour.


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The tour kicked off in New York City Aug. 29 with a televised special, followed by a Walk for Peace through Manhattan in the shape of a heart. Marchers followed a horse-drawn carriage pulling a grand piano to a free outdoor concert while singing John Lennon songs.

The EuroRockers will be stopping by Covington on the East Coast leg of their bi-coast, also heart-shaped tour route. For many of the bands, this is their first tour in the United States. Each night will begin with the solo and piano artists, eventually moving into the harder Rock & Roll acts with special guests in between. The groups and solo artists are diverse in genre, from Classical Pop to Electronic Punk Rock. At many of the show's stops, local acts will open to support the show in true EuroRock synergistic spirit.

In a fashion that could be considered rare for such an altruistic cause, the message of peace caught the eye of many major movers and shakers ¬ political and otherwise. Filmmaker Victor Colicchio, writer and producer of films including Summer of Sam and High Times Pot Luck will be following the East Coast leg of the tour for a documentary. With producer Dave Pederson of Super Size Me fame in tow, the crew will interview the bands and locals they meet along the way about peace and how they think peacemaking efforts should be handled.

"The whole focus of the film will be on EuroRock spreading the word of peace," LouRicca says. "That's the mission of EuroRock. Despite the fact that we're all sorts of different musicians from different genres, we're different colors, we're different in every way you could think of, we speak for the people.

"I know in America people don't want war," he says. "And that's the way it goes around the world."
The film crew will certainly catch great footage of a private barn-raising show held at Woodstock, where the EuroRockers were invited to spread the word. Many veterans of the original Woodstock festival, along with many liberal politicians (and potential presidential candidates) will also be on hand.

The circular nature of peace and music (ignoring Woodstock '99) makes the tour's formation all the more interesting. A testament to the global culture and interconnectivity of the Internet, LouRicca found the majority of the tour's participants through MySpace connections.

When looking for an act to represent the Middle East, LouRicca found 18-year-old Ruthie Bram thanks to her lyrically thoughtful songs posted on her page. A refugee of the Lebanese Civil War in 1988, Bram's songs draw inspiration from her experiences and the urge to connect individuals through music.
"Many times people feel isolated in their experiences," Bram says. "Hearing a song about that topic makes them realize that they are part of a larger community of people with similar thoughts and feelings. Music simply brings people together. I want to do that -- bring people together with my music."

With 50 percent of the tour's profits going to the Global Fund, an organization fighting AIDS, the tour's message surpasses even the hope that can be found in music. Thanks to its altruistic message, the tour was nominated for the MySpace Impact Awards in the category of International Development.

Philanthropy in the global picture can't discount the message these EuroRockers hope to get across night by night. Dionne Lennon, the youngest participant at 14-years old, views the impact the show will have on audience members to be motivating as well.
"(The audience) is seeing all these bands coming together, not caring where they came from," Lennon says. "What matters is that we're playing for peace, and I think people will be very inspired, especially because we're all very young. We all have so much in common.

"World leaders can't agree on it, but we can come together," she says. "That's such a powerful thing."
Though messages of peace have been heard through music for ages, the power comes not just in the message, but the action.

"I doubt there is much new to be heard from the EuroRockers about peace that has not previously been said by many people in other places and times," Bram says. "However, this is the here and now and it is our turn to put our stamp on the world scene that we find ourselves in. It's our opportunity to take or to ignore."

Not bad for a barely legal chanteuse. Check out Bram, Lennon and others singing for peace. Got something deeper on schedule already? I think not.

The EUROROCK 2007 tour (eurorockforpeace.com) stops at the Madison Theater Friday. - Justine Reisinger

"...an amazing artist...can look forward to..."

Big Smile Magazine Interviews Ruthie Bram

By Jonny Havoc

Hi Ruthie Bram, my name is Jonny Havoc, how are you doing today?
R: I am doing fantastic, and one of the reasons is because I’m being interviewed by you today!

Where can we buy your music?
R: You can buy my music in CD format on my MySpace at www.myspace.com/ruthiebram and at www.CDBABY.com/ruthiebram
Also, you can buy my songs in digital format on iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and just about every other online store.

I noticed that you aren’t under a label right now, and you’re an amazing artist, and I wanted to know why?
R: Thank you! At year ago, at 17 I had an offer from a label piggybacking off Warner Bros. to do Neo-Soul, but I didn’t feel it would be best for me in the long-term. At that time, I was also was one of the top 4 in a three-continent search and the top contender in the United States for a new dance artist for a major European label; but I was eliminated because I was too young at 17 to go on tour by myself. You know how that is. However, despite that, I am a firm believer that if the label deals offered aren’t right for me at the moment, then, I’ll set my own course to sail, and will be the captain of my own ship. There are some great advantages to being free from a label, and there are advantages to having a label back me. Regardless, of how this plays out in the immediate future, I hope that whatever I do in my musical career, I am satisfied with my accomplishments. It is of utmost importance to me that I am satisfied that I have done the very best I can for myself. It is very liberating and empowering to take hold the circumstances that I am in and do the best I can.

Do you have any upcoming shows that we can look forward to?
R: Well, you guys can look forward to seeing any of my shows that EuroRock 2007 is putting on in the US. I think you’ll enjoy my live performances. To check out which of the shows is nearest to you, go to www.myspace.com/ruthiebram and take a look at the schedule I’ve posted there.

I see that you are part of a nationwide peace tour (EuroRock 2007 Rockin' the World for Peace Tour), but what does this peace tour do to contribute to world peace.
R: The point of this tour is to encourage individual people, local press, groups, and so forth to think and talk about what it takes to bring peace into the world. Hopefully, as a result of thinking and talking, some people will put their deliberations into action. If no one brings up for consideration peace, then the topic is pushed to the back burner and no action ever takes place. So, the thrust of the EuroRock 2007 Tour is to foster conversation about goodwill toward others that promotes a more peaceful social climate.

And how are you helping to create world peace?
R: EuroRock is seeking to facilitate world peace by focusing attention on the topic of peace through song, and also, by showing that 14 bands from different sectors of the world can live and work together toward a common goal. Many times we witness individuals or groups that have a common concern but one or both groups are so uncooperative that they cannot work together long enough or effectively enough to obtain their goal.

Through our discussion of peace in music, we hope to encourage individuals to examine and work on their own social relationships. Peace or hostility can be generated between two people, between two rival groups, or between disgruntled nations while we as individuals may not be able to bring peace on a world scale, we can foster peace in our backyards with the people around us. The same thing holds for intra-societal groups. If we are a part of a group that is at odds with another group, we can work to see how we turn this around so that it becomes a small win-win, rather than a big win and big loose situation.

What inspires all of your lyrics for your songs?
R: My experiences, my observations of others, and what others have told me have happened to them gives me the inspiration for my songs. Generally, I am emotionally so impacted by the experiences that I’m driven to write about them. So, my lyrics are a reflection of what I’m going through or what I’ve witnessed another living through. Of course, I’m inspired by heroic moments, but I am mostly inspired by the ordinary events and feelings that make up all of our lives. These daily thoughts and actions are examples of when we are seeking hope, the warmth of friendships, or goodness in small things, and these are the thread of drama that connects us all.

Who comes up with the beats, and who plays all the instruments in your band?
R: I come up with the beats, and my producer, Eddie Hedges, enhances them with distinctive nuances. My studio keyboardist, Maurice Crutcher, is an absolute creative and technical genius, and my studio guitarist, Aaron McLain, plays for Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. So, I have a great team. They’re not my live performance band, but the bands I choose to back me in performance are the best of the best.


Could you tell me what is the best thing about music?
R: The whole vibe of my music and lyric is to be true to what is real. I keep the music and lyrics real so that others can identify and find meaning in it. I try to make the important phrases mentally memorable by catchy melodies and physically retainable by danceable beats.

Any funny/interesting stories from a show?
R: Once when I was soloist for a choir at an important celebrity benefit dinner in Beverly Hills, the entire show did not do a full stage rehearsal. As the seconds ticked up to when I was to leave the spot allotted to me at the end of the highest riser with the choir, I realized I was not going to be able to make a slow and graceful descent from the top riser to the bottom riser and over to my mic, which was front and center stage. In fact, to accommodate the vast distance, the blocking bodies, and the speeding time, I jumped from the third riser to the floor, then, gracefully glided to my mic. The performance was on target and the crowd roared its approval, especially a front row table of ladies. Thereafter, whenever I performed that evening, as I approached the mic, that group of ladies went wild. By evening’s end, they were on their feet dancing to the songs I sang. Later, my little brother, who was filming the show from a balcony along side a well-known TV personality, told me that after the jump from the risers, the celebrity came over to him and said, ?Did you see that girl jump from the risers!??

What do you do for work right now, other than play music?
R: At 18 I’m still in school. I am unable to work on my music, go to school, and work. My parents are very helpful with regard to finances, and I am very grateful that they can help me as they do.

What were some of your favorite bands growing up?
R: I was raised in Texas on the musical greats like Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Anything you would like to say to your fans reading this interview?
R: Yes, there is definitely is something I’d like to say to my fans! Without you, the fans, my writing and performing would not have any purpose. I am privileged that you relate to what I write and perform. Thank you for finding meaning in my music.


You have a pretty big tour coming up, how many tours have you been on?
R: This will be my first nationwide tour. After this I hope to continue touring and spreading the message of hope and love to people.

When you go on tour do you have a lot of out of state fans?
R: Most definitely! My music is being played on terrestrial and internet radio stations in Iceland, the Philippines, and parts of the U.S.A. So, I have fans throughout Middle East, UK, Europe, Russia, Africa, and Asia. There are more people from foreign countries playing my music on their MySpace pages also. It is gratifying.

What is the name of your latest CD?
R: ‘Ruthie Bram’ is the name of my latest CD. It will be released on tour, and should be on iTunes and everywhere else shortly after that.

Could you tell us a little bit about it?
R: My music fits the genre of funk rock/pop. This CD has luminous, fiery pop melodies that are undergirded by urban funk vibes reminiscent of the 1970s and are driven by screaming soulful rock guitar. If you like Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, and others like these, you’ll immediately love my music.

Your smart to have downloads on your MySpace for your songs, how are those selling compared to the actual CD?
R: It’s about the same. It’s more common today for people to download songs straight to their iPod; however, there are still a lot of people who like to have the full CD with the artwork and pictures (I include a lot of cool pics). Like in my new CD, my CD insert is a mini-poster. So fans love that.

I know over the years of being in the music industry you must have some promoting secrets that you would like to share with our readers?
R: The advice I would give is to choose your own route. Find your goal and create a plan. The most important thing to remember is to not doubt yourself and give it your 200%! Successful people don’t model after someone else, they’re innovators, and they invent their own way achieve their goals. So don’t follow someone else, do YOUR own thing!

What do you think of Big Smile Magazine?
R: Big Smile Magazine is FABULOUS! They give an introspective view of the indie music world, what it is now and what it’s becoming, who’s ‘IN’ and who’s ‘OUT’. They won’t lie to you! They know who the next rockstar/diva will be. The indie music world is in their hands, and they’ll let you know WHAT’S GOIN’ ON! Big Smile Magazine is an essential tool for indie musicians! - Johnny Havoc

Ruthie Bram’s “Will She” Named February “Best Song Of The Month”
Ruthie Bram, 19, a promising funk/pop/rock singer/songwriter & guitarist based in Amarillo, Texas, has won the SongwriterUniverse “Best Song Of The Month”


Ruthie Bram, 19, a promising funk/pop/rock singer/songwriter & guitarist based in Amarillo, Texas, has won the SongwriterUniverse “Best Song Of The Month” Contest for February, for her song “Will She” (lyrics co-written by her brother, Isaac Bram). This song is included on her six-song EP Ruthie Bram, which she released independently last month (Jan. 2008).

“Will She” is a heartfelt, midtempo pop/rock ballad, which starts with an intimate, acoustic guitar intro, then gradually builds into a soaring, full-band arrangement. This song features an appealing pop melody, plus a hooky chorus which is bolstered by Bram’s expressive lead and harmony vocals. Also noteworthy is Bram’s electric guitar solo following the second chorus, which helps drive the song’s momentum and energy.

Bram was born in Lebanon in 1988 during the Lebanese civil war, and she was adopted as an infant by American parents. She was then raised in Amarillo, TX, where she learned to play violin, and then piano. Interestingly, it was just last year (2007) that she also started playing electric lead guitar, and she quickly became skilled at it. As a guitarist, she has been inspired by some of her favorite artists, such as Prince, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Impressively, Bram now has a sponsorship deal with Daisy Rock Guitars.

When she was 15, Bram wrote and recorded a 3-song EP, which subsequently was named one of the Top 25 Demos (of 2004) by Music Connection magazine. The magazine also named her as one its Top 100 Unsigned performing artists for that year. When she was 16, she met funk/R&B artist/musician John Wilson, who played with James Brown. “John introduced me to a lot of great funk musicians,” she said. “I love this music.”

Since then, Bram has built a solid live following, by touring steadily in several U.S. regions. “I now play between 150-200 shows per year,” said Bram. “ I play a lot of shows in Texas, Los Angeles (she’s playing the Key Club this month), New York, Tennessee, and I play casino gigs in Rhode Island. And I am looking to get on a more commercial tour, like a House Of Blues tour.” Notably, Bram has opened shows for major artists Sting and Natalie Cole.

All of this touring has helped give Bram a high internet profile – her MySpace page has now attracted over 115,000 visitors. “Thing are going well,” she added. “I’ve had some interest from a music licensing company in New York. Currently, I’m working on songs for my next EP and touring. I’d also like to mention that I’m looking for a heavy-duty manager, to help take my career to the next level.”
- Dale Kawashima

"... a multi-award-winning ...entertains audiences with ...sassy lyrics that stem from pop, funk, blues,... rap...genres



Peace is the goal of EuroRock tour coming through Athens

By Athens NEWS Campus Reporter

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

EuroRock2007, a multi-national and multi-genre rock 'n roll tour, is invading Casa Cantina this evening with an onslaught of bands dedicated to showing the world that peace can happen if everybody works together.

"We want to show the world that peace is possible," said EuroRock founder LouRicca (who insists on that spelling of his name). The mission of this international tour is "to bring the world together and show the world that we can work toward peace no matter where we're from, the color of our skin or our musical tastes."

After a successful kickoff tour in 2006, LouRicca expanded the musical slate for EuroRock 2007 to include 14 musical acts from across the world that represent a variety of musical genres and talents. The array of musicians participating in the Eastern portion of the tour converged in New York last week to begin their cross-country musical journey for peace.

According to LouRicca, using music as a means of communication is an effective way to convey to audiences worldwide that people can get together, work together and work things out, regardless of where they are from, what religious beliefs they have or what politicians run their country. In addition to a cornucopia of musical acts, speakers promoting world peace are also participating in the tour.

The 14 bands and talents participating in the tour represent a variety of countries including Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, South Africa, Ireland, Great Britain, Denmark, Philippines, Canada, Italy, Czechoslovakia and the United States. There are six girl bands/solo artists and six boy bands/solo artists appearing on the tour, along with two bands that are local talents in each market.

Powderhog, a pure rock 'n' roll band from Denmark, is among the artists trekking across the eastern portion of the United States to promote world peace and global consciousness. Xms3, a punk, ska, alternative fusion group hailing from Wales, is also rocking out on the EuroRock tour with what the tour PR described as their energetic melodies and catchy lyrics.

Friendly Fire, a psychedelic rock band of Native Americans from Quebec, also will be raging the EuroRock2007 tour, as will The Models, a female trio hailing from Sweden.

Midterm Break, an emo, powerpop punk band hailing from the United Kingdom near Scotland, will also perform at Casa Cantina this evening as EuroRock veterans, since they are the only band returning from the 2006 kickoff tour.

Antonius, a pop-rock and classic jazz pianist hailing from Switzerland, is on tap tonight, as well as Ruthie Bram, a multi-award-winning artist from Lebanon who's a U.S. citizen. According to EuroRock, Bram entertains audiences with her sweet and sassy lyrics that stem from pop, funk, blues, rap and dance genres.

Doana, from Asia, is also making her way west with the EuroRockers, bringing with her an indie-rock, alternative approach to music.

Dionne Lennon, an "American Idol Underground" top 10 finalist from New York City, joins the EuroRock tour at the ripe age of 14. This emerging artist reportedly has a contemporary rock sound way beyond her years.

Exit Avenue, a group of five young boys from London, also will join the EuroRockers at Casa Cantina this evening with their pop-punk, electronica, melodramatic pop-inspired approach to rock 'n roll.

Other artists joining the EuroRock 2007 peace tour either on the West Coast leg or for select shows include: Mike Got Spiked from Ireland; Running With Scissors, an all-girl pop-punk band from Africa; Zofka, a talented retro duo representing artists from Italy and Czechoslovakia; Denise Vasquez, a solo artist from the Virgin Islands; BR Family, a group of musicians and peace artists who are supporting EuroRock in various capacities; and Valerie, a newcomer to the rock 'n roll front.

In addition to using music as a means to promote world peace and global consciousness, EuroRock is working on bringing together peace organizations on a unified front. Many organizations are EuroRock beneficiaries including the Global Fund, an international peace organization based in Geneva.

While the EuroRock 2007 tour makes its way across the United States, the tour will participate in a documentary filmed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Dave Pederson, producer of "Super Size Me." Also, Vic Colicchio, who produced the film "Summer of Sam" and "High Times Pot Luck," as well as many others, will help with the documentary. "EuroRocks America," the documentary's intended title, will not be filmed for a movie, but will be broadcast on a popular network, most likely MTV, said a release on EuroRock2007.

EuroRock2007 is already booked on a tour of the Eastern U.S. running though Sept. 18, and a tour of the Western U.S. kicking off Sept. 22. After the U.S., EuroRock2007 crosses the pond to the U.K. to rock from November through January. As 2007 draws to a close, EuroRock2008 will spread throughout Europe and eventually to Australia. LouRicca said he plans on making EuroRock an ongoing tour, continually cycling in artists who illustrate a commitment to spreading world peace and to their music.

The EuroRock festivities at Casa Cantina should get going around 7 tonight, said LouRicca, adding that the order of the bands has yet to be determined, but that the music will continue all night long, "rockin' the world for peace."
- Stephanie Laird 09/04/2007