We approach ‘Steinway Sessions (Special Edition)’ with a great deal of reverence and respect; it’s only natural, given the heightened pathos and charisma emerging from the record. A wealth of piano-driven, acoustic pieces, the album showcases Ruut’s striking vocal range and lyrical tenderness. The resulting listening experience is almost cathartic, constantly oscillating between life-affirming boldness and sensible introspection. In a way, that’s how Ruut has always conducted herself: receptive to human emotions, but fierce when needed. Her authentic artistry particularly shines through the record’s eight episodes.
Recently recognised as Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year, Ruut was originally born in Finland. After complex family circumstances, she and her mother then moved to Baltimore, US, where she has since become one of America’s most recognisable and impactful voices. Her gospel background is ever-present, although Ruut has now embraced deep eclecticism. ‘Steinway Sessions (Special Edition)’ is part of a series of special reissues, following a deal signed with Meridian (ECR Music Group). Notably, there’s also a brand new album in the works, ‘Motherland’, expected later this year.
Delving deeper into the new record, Ruut explains: “This special edition of Steinway Sessions revisits the songs I wrote and recorded in 2010 inside a Steinway atelier, guided by mentors who believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself. These intimate piano-vocal recordings capture a time of searching, growth, and new motherhood…they’re songs I’ve carried with me and shared on stages across the country for years. Returning to them feels like coming home to the piano, the place where I first found my voice, my grounding, and my sense of self.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Steinway Sessions (Special Edition)’ now: