Harptress

Lady Ruby is a self-taught Canadian harpist and singer-songwriter, specializing in alternative dream pop. Ruby began her journey with the harp in Montreal in 2014 while studying Fine Arts.. She later moved back to her hometown in rural Ontario, where she continues to captivate a wide audience with her passion for genre blending. As her brand has evolved, Ruby coined the name Harptress, while developing a sub-genre she calls ‘harp hop’, incorporating elements of hip hop and soulful rhythms with electronic beats. Her performances offer an array of original compositions, popular song renditions and creative improvisations, which have been described as both ethereal, melancholic and hypnotic. Inspired by a diverse palette, Ruby draws influence from a range of musical icons such as Lana Del Rey and Beth Gibbons of Portishead. While growing up in a musical household, Ruby explored her artistic expression by experimenting with piano and accordion, and began writing and recording songs as a teen. She was first exposed to the harp at a young age in a whimsical manner, when her father introduced her to Harpo Marx of the legendary Marx Brothers. When she was a teenager, her eldest brother acquainted the family with ground-breaking harpist and singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom. It was then that Ruby knew playing the harp would become an integral part of her musical calling. She now plays three different harps, each with their own unique characteristics and sound.