Tennessee singer and songwriter Ruby Amanfu will be releasing a new album this August called Standing Still. The ten songs on the tracklisting include covers of songs by other artists like Kayne West and Bob Dylan. But the song “I Tried” is one her own songs. The songwriter went to work on the music, reconstructing the original tracks to make them a reflection of problems going on in the artist’s personal life. The entire album was recorded in five days near Leiper’s Folk, Tennessee in a cabin.
The original idea for the new album came up after Amanfu sang at Dylan Fest in New York City. Ruby Amanfu has played in tribute festivals to musicians like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Amanfu recently collaborated with Jack White on his solo album Blunderbuss, and was contributing vocals to his song “Love Interruption.”
“I saw tears on peoples’ faces in the crowd, much like my own and the next night, at the second Dylan Fest, I performed the song again and it happened then, too. It was, like, the most wonderful kind of déjà vu,” explained Ruby Amanfu.
The live recordings of the songs provide more deeper and personal connections to those who listen to the entire album front to back. The single “Streetlights,” a cover of Kayne West’s original song from his album 808s & Heartbreak is available to listen to on SoundCloud.
Standing Still tracklisting:
1. “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is” (Irma Thomas)
2. “Where You Going” (Jimmie Dale Gilmore)
3. “As The Dawn Breaks” (Richard Hawley)
4. “Shadow On The Wall” (Brandi Carlile)
5. “Cathedrals” (Jump, Little Children)
6. “Streetlights” (Kanye West)
7. “Not Dark Yet” (Bob Dylan)
8. “One By One” (Wilco)
9. “I Tried” (Ruby Amanfu)
10. “Out At Sea” (Heartless Bastards)