Ruby: Wisdom Into Song

The long awaited arrival of "On the Way of Love: Songs Inspired by Rumi" is here!  The collaboration between vocalist Lisa Ferraro, guitarist/vocalist Erika Luckett and Rumi scholar, translator, author and songwriter, Kabir Helminski, has brought forth a collection of eleven songs inspired by the wisdom and poetry of the 13th century mystic who some consider the greatest spiritual poet of all time. 

The three artists collectively known as Ruby began their inspired journey only fifteen minutes after meeting when they welcomed their first song, Listen, O Drop.  As though the songs had been waiting for this particular convergence to arrive, music flowed with such ease that after their first "official" songwriting weekend, Ruby ushered in another five songs - each one a melodic jewel, a contemporary expression of Rumi's ancient wisdom.

With one more weekend of songwriting, the trio (along with the insightful participation of Camille Helminski) wrapped up a total of eleven songs and detailed plans for recording both in the United States and Turkey where they enlisted the participation of talented Istanbul based musicians to add traditional instrumentation to the group's Western sound.

Although Kabir and Camille have travelled extensively in Turkey over the last thirty years and are beloved for their valuable efforts introducing Rumi to the West, it was Erika and Lisa's first journey to that remarkable country.  Experiencing the culture and history first hand, spending time in Konya (the town where Rumi lived and died and whose mosque is a destination site for visitors from around the world), and having the opportunity to walk the ground and breathe the air that served for much of Rumi's inspiration imbued both Erika and Lisa with a deeper understanding of the poetry.

The confluence of serendipity, grace and love takes musical shape with this new recording.  If you seek songs that uplift, inspire, and invite you to drink from a stream of universal love, look no further.  "On the Way of Love: Songs Inspired by Rumi" is just that.

Take a listen to "Little by Little" or the more traditionally mystical, "Listen, O Drop"

At a time when the world moves through deep shifts and transition, the timeless gifts of truth and beauty steady weary hearts. Ruby ushers in the musical expression of the 13th century mystic poet, Rumi, in its upcoming release, On the Way of Love. This collection of eleven songs was born from the inspired collaboration of three artists: Lisa Ferraro, Erika Luckett and Shaikh Kabir Helminski.  Along with his wife, Camille, Shaikh Kabir Helminski was one of the first to bring the wisdom and exquisite beauty of Rumi's poetry to the west.  Not simply a writer or translator, Shaikh Kabir is a representative of the Mevlevi order founded by Rumi. His understanding and rendering of this ancient treasure along with the artistic depth and nuance of his partners, Lisa and Erika, create a profound musical expression and balm for the soul.  If you are interested in experiencing this music now, an advance EP  is available which contains five of the eleven songs.  Click here for more information.

As Rumi reminds us "Let the beauty you love be what you do." Ruby's alchemy of turning poetry into song is just that: a musical distillation of beauty and love.