Friends,

I am so happy to announce that Wooden Rings has completed the recording, mixing, and mastering phase of our first full-length record, Heliocentric. We could not have done it without the never-ending support, care, and love of our close friends and family. We also had 50 amazing donors who chipped in to press our dreams into reality (thank you). The next steps include sending the masters and artwork to a record printing company that will take 10 weeks to carve it out into dead dinosaur disks. We should be performing and releasing the record in the winter hoping that the music con offer us some warmth.

Honestly, listening to the Sides A and B of this record transports me back into myself – to sit with my ideas- all wrapped in memories. I thought I’d share:

I remember my house and my mother living in Haiti. The air, the kennepas, and flowers but most of all, I remember my grandparents. They created Heaven for us in their homes in the mountains. Both died during the writing of this record. I was able to fly to my grandfather’s funeral, thanks to my father. My grandmother died a couple of weeks ago but Haiti is so violent I could not travel to see her. They were our family’s last true grounding point to the country my mother and I fled.

Fleeing leaves you lost and empty. As a boy I was so unsure of myself because I knew deep down, I didn’t belong. I missed and needed my family and I didn’t realize it. Nobody told me what was missing was my people scattered across the globe. Even now, I see my mother once a year and my father, less. This lack drove me to build family early, have a child young, and marry twice. I had no idea why I needed to do what I was doing. Some of these songs explore that plainly. This is the most important thing I’ve learned from playing in Wooden Rings since 2012.

Continuing to listen, I remember how much I loved my ex-wife and how amazing and beautiful she is. I believed in her more than anyone. Knowing how bad things had got between us, I am also reminded of how selfish and insecure I was and how I couldn’t be any better than I was. We were like two kimono dragons in house, two Qilins. I remember my daughter growing taller into the world with my cooking, challenging my conversations at the table, and testing herself carefully, listening to it all.

I remember how hopeless I felt working as a teacher, giving everything I had to others all day, with so little to bring home or share. I was good at it. My students flourished. Some died- shot. I attended only one funeral and decided, one would be all I was going to give. Writing this music was a way I could survive all of those ideas so I didn’t have to forget the memories. Those I could enjoy without being hurt by them over and over. Those I could keep without being poisoned.

The year is almost over and I’m so glad that I get to walk into winter with some Haitian sun, peaceful doves, my mother’s face, and some sugarcane rind to keep me warm.

-Ramah

So we are leaving the mixes in the hands of a super engineer, James Auwarter of Coda|Room Audio in Chicago. Godspeed my dude. Ramah

Dear friends and family,

We are excited to announce that Wooden Rings is partnering with 3Arts to complete our first full-length album, Heliocentric.

We ask you to please help us bring this album to light by donating to our campaign. We are attempting to raise $3333 by August 15th to commit Heliocentric to vinyl and make it ubiquitous on streaming platforms. If you can help us meet our goal, the 3Arts Foundation has agreed to cover the rest of the costs.

Those who know us well understand that our bone marrow has been woven into the art on this record. We believe that our sacrifices will make this release not only meaningful to us but to our listeners as well. With this work our aim is to connect with a broader audience without sacrificing the complexity and emotional range that make Wooden Rings so impactful.

Please help spread the word by liking and sharing our posts with your friends, family, and music-loving communities.

  Thank you for supporting us,
Ramah, Liz, Sasha, Nathan

Donation Link: https://3arts.org/projects/heliocentric

Wooden Rings will be performing on November 17th at Catcus Club in Milwaukee and was recently written up in Deli Magazine.

Wooden Rings has released a new track called “A Bell”. This is the group lead by songwriter, guitar player, and vocalist Ramah Jihan Malebranche with Nathan Staley on Drums, Alex Brescanu on Bass/Vocals, and Elizabeth Arakaki Vocals/Glockenspiel). This is their first single since 2016 and it focuses on our inability to take things back and unring that bell. The track was produced by Malebranche on the front end and the magical (we are not kidding about that) “Studio” James Auwarter on the edit and mix at Coda Room Audio, Chicago, IL.   The challenge behind the edit was blend two different takes from different rooms, at different tempos, with two different sets of instruments together into a whole. Other performers on the first take include John Ozaksut on Bass, Joshua Torrey on Trombone, Keith Bjorklund on Oboe  Peter Burger V smoking that electric guitar. If you live near Milwaukee, you have to come out and hear us.  Everyone that knew us describes Wooden Rings as chamber pop.  Come see how they are evolving beyond that label, swimming in more amplified waters.

Wooden Rings will be opening up for Leah Shoshanah with Khari Lemuel at Uncommon Ground on Devon on Friday, February 6at 8:00pm – 10:00pm $10 Uncommon Ground 1401 West Devon Ave Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60613 Music for your soul. Singer and songwriter, Leah Shoshanah, has teamed up with iconic singers and composers, Khari Lemuel and Ramah Malebrache, to hunt truth with music. Beautiful cello and guitar accompaniment, harmonies and powerful singing are the vehicle for a journey through stories and song. The evening will begin with a short set of solo work by Ramah Malebranche of “Wooden Rings”, followed by Leah’s solo music, as well as new collaborations with both Khari and Ramah. This is an event not to be missed! About the artists: Leah Shoshanah is a mystic, a storyteller, a visionary and an artist to the core. She brings her eclectic experiences to music as a composer and singer. She has been playing her original music for several years throughout Chicago and beyond. Often combining the sacred and the silly, she is a unique voice in the singer-songwriter world. www.leahshoshanah.com Khari Lemuel is an icon in the Chicago music scene. His voice and songs have brought him to venues around the world. A classically trained cellist, Khari brings instrumental accompaniment, back-up vocals and mastery to Leah’s compositions and poetry. Ramah David Jihan Malebranche is a master musician who composes acoustic chamber music for his band, Wooden Rings. His songs resonate with lyrical depth, tenderness, and unparalleled honesty. Check out his work at www.woodenringsmusic.com. Seating is limited, RSVP by calling 773-465-9801.

Submitted for your approval and use… Sunflung adjective \ˈsən flən\: the state of being elated by summer sunlight, knowing that in a few months you will be starved of it. #wrheliocentric

The astrological bodies have align for this one!!! Now, I’m am one of the least mystical people out there. Mysticism is actually a big turn off that I have to be carefull not the let flare up when meeting new people. But the crew and I were sitting in the kitchen at the recording studio, about to record this wonderful song, “Lucky,” when I pulled this prophesy out of my yummy fortune cookie. We all just stopped moving and stared for a second and the started screaming. We then nailed it in the studio. Can’t wait to share.

The recordings are underway with the core group of players. It feels so nice to be warm between the speakers at a recording studio again. This is my domain!