I wrote The Road this past summer while on a writing residency in France. This early take was recorded with Brett Womersley in Sheffield, England but a newer version (oh the harmonies!) will be on Cardinal, an EP coming out March '16.

The Road (demo)

A commissioned song and an immense challenge. A & V asked me to write a song of their daughters, Winifred & Imogene. Beautiful girls, gorgeous family and how extraordinary to be entrusted with a task like this. 

Winifred & Imogene

may the wind be at your back
may you know just when to tack
may the oars be close at hand
if the billows should go slack
and may the compass of your heart
know true north is where you're at

Anchor(Cardinal – The Rouen EP 2016)

This morning on the street I found all of these:
a folded paper boat
scattered flowers, red blood
a pigeon, fresh dead
with her heart beside her head

Homing(Cardinal – The Rouen EP 2016)

You must be brave.
You must be.
You must.
And that is all.

Winding Road (Cardinal – The Rouen EP 2016)

I'd rather a song on my tongue
than a retirement fund
but I sure hope for both when I'm old
to draw water from

Good Enough(Cardinal – The Rouen EP 2016)

HER CROOKED HEART is the new name, new music of Rachel Ries and TO GENTLEMEN is the debut EP.  The quartet of EP tunes are culled from a larger, rollicking session recorded in the woods of WI, winter of 2016/17. The songs on To Gentlemen are a snapshot of the album yet to come; an album that is in turns disarmingly spare and deeply danceable.

Recorded in Eau Claire WI at Pine Hollow & hive.
Co-producers: Shane Leonard & Rachel Ries
Piano, vocals: Rachel Ries
Drums, Percussion: Shane Leonard
Bass: Pat Keen
Saxophone: Mike Lewis
Trumpet & Flugelhorn: John DeHaven
Recorded & Mixed by Brian Fredrick Joseph at hive.
Mastered by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering, Boston, MA
Assistant Mastering Engineer: Maria Rice

To Gentlemen (mp3)

To Gentlemen

Loving You

Are You Good You Are

Adrian

Rachel Ries, hailing from the prairies of middle America, crafts sly and compassionate songs for the crooked-hearted. With an electric guitar and piano; a clear voice and steady hand; she deftly pulls listeners in with disarming candor and holds them there with smart and tender poetry. 

Proudly carrying the torch of her love for the domestic arts, Rachel’s homemade preserves and hand-stitched notebooks can often be found at shows, nestled amid the 180 gram vinyl, cds and t-shirts. If you need comparisons, think Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jeff Buckley. If you don’t – just listen.

rachelries