Singer/songwriter Rachel Ries got her start in Freeman and, through her travels and experiences, she has become a worldly artist, crafting sly and compassionate songs. As the daughter of missionaries, she spent time in Zaire, sharing music of faith. Ries has lived in Chicago and New York City, where apartment living made her feel trapped. Living in Vermont helped solve that problem.
Ries made her recording debut in 2005 with For You Only. It was captured on vintage analog equipment and included piano, accordion, banjo, fiddle, pump organ and percussion.
She has also added a painstaking personal touch to a couple of her releases. Her Laurel Lake EP (2012) was limited to 405 pieces, each one packaged in a sewn and hand-numbered fabric sleeve. Her Cardinal EP (2016) includes a handmade linoleum block art print.
Ries draws comparisons to Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Jeff Buckley. She performed at the BrickHouse Community Arts Center in Madison in October. It's this week's No Cover, No Minimum Radio!