Amidst personal upheaval, Ramah began writing music while working construction in 2010, leading to the formation of Wooden Rings – a delicate acoustic chamber group aiming to captivate intimate venues. Their journey included attention-grabbing EPs like “Wooden Rings” (2012) and “Twisted & Tangled” (2013), spotlighted by WBEZ/NPR. After a hiatus, Wooden Rings returned in 2015 with an electric format captured on vinyl, “Heliocentric,” released just before the pandemic.
Today, Wooden Rings is poised for artistic evolution and invested in sharing both the music written in Chicago and fresh compositions to new audiences in North Carolina. The band eagerly anticipates collaborative songwriting, arranging, and recording with local engineers.
Ramah is usually dual-amped on acoustic and electric guitar, Kevin Jensen commanding drums, and newcomer Misha Keith on electric bass. Drawing out the ghosts is violinist Asa Jackson, and Cameron Kellner on a variety of horns and reeds, harmonizing with the confident lead saxophone of Dakota Nyman. If you’re lucky enough to catch Wooden Rings with Andrew Munger on vibraphone, your face will melt.
One moment you’re in a folk forest, the next grinding against the asphalt of delayed and cavernous rock from Chicago. The compositions demand attention and appeal to the listener’s sense of compassion, leaving them with more than they may have expected.
Current Contributors
| Ramah Malebranche | Songwriting, Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Programming, Production |
| Kevin Jensen | Drums, Programming, Percussion |
| Dakota Nyman | Saxophone |
| Misha Keith | Bass Guitar |
| Asa Jackson | Violin |
| Cameron Kellner | French Horn, Oboe, Clarinet, Cornet |
| Andrew Munger | Vibraphone |
2020 
2016 
2012
Past Core Contributors
Ramah has been blessed to play with some inspiring collaborators, many of whom have become family and seen him through the very best and worst times in his life.
| Nathan Staley | Drums, Percussion |
| Alex Breskanu | Electric Bass, Supporting vocal |
| Liz Arakaki | Supporting vocals, Keyboards |
| Peter Burger V | Electric guitar, Supporting vocals, Glockenspiel |
| Justin Rodig | Supporting vocal, secondary writer, clarinet, banjo, glockenspiel |
| Marissa Deitz | Cello, supporting vocals |
| Brett Bakshis | Electric bass, Glockenspiel |
| Jon Ozaksut | Electric Bass, Supporting Vocals |
Past Contributors
Many have contributed their time, talent, and perspectives to this project, for which we are so grateful.
| Joshua Torrey | Trombone |
| Andrés Berrios | Guitar, Supporting Vocal |
| Gabe Sparrow | Upright Bass |
| Keith Bjorklund | Oboe and Saxophone |
| Sarah Eide | Piano, Keyboards, Supporting vocals |
| Byron Harden | Electric bass |
| Ira Oaks | Cello |
| Noah Silver-Mathews | Electric Bass |
| Raphael Crawford | Trombone |
| Jonathan Chui | Drum kits, Glockenspiel |
| Andrew Zelm | Trombone |
| Ed Yanasak | Trombone |
| JoVia Armstrong | Percussion |
