Rua

'Rua' is the elegant, soulful CD of solo songs by singer-composer Moira Smiley. Rua, a collection of Irish, Appalachian and her own songs - rua means red in gaelic. Moira Smiley works internationally as a composer-vocalist. Based in Los Angeles, she leads her fiery roots vocal-band, Moira Smiley & VOCO, travels the world as a soloist in early and traditional music and creates new work with dance, theatre and film. While at Indiana University, Moira toured with her vocal quartet, VIDA, singing a cappella folk song from Eastern Europe and various other vibrant harmony traditions. VIDA was represented by IMG Artists, recorded three CDs of traditional and original songs, and had an exciting seven year career that culminated in concerts at Lincoln Center and other prestigious fine arts and folk venues in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Moira's mother tongue is probably traditional folk song. She moved to California to sing with KITKA Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, and continues to work with KITKA - recently premiering the new folk-opera Rusalka: Between the Worlds that was launched in Ukraine and the U.S. with Mariana Sadovska. Moira continues to study Irish Sean Ns (old-style) singing and Appalachian ballad and dance-song. With VOCO, Moira fuses a new sound with voices, banjo, cello and percussion that is rooted in traditional song - in 2006 VOCO embarks on a project of arranging Bela Bartk's Mikrokosmos piano miniatures for voices - recently premiered at Disney Hall/CalArts' REDCAT Theater. VOCO's lush sound is featured on tracks 1 and 13 of Rua. Your CD is lovely -- great singing and arrangements! And Queen Jane is beautiful... Dith Sproule Moira is as accomplished as she is motivated, with wide-ranging interests and a kind of passionate inner vision of her own work which Barbara Thornton liked to call having fire in her belly. I think this is a young artist who would have captured Barbara's interest, and I'm sure we will be hearing more from her in the future. Ben Bagby - founder/director of renowned medieval ensemble, Sequentia The intoxicating live vocals of [VOCO singers] Jess Basta and Moira Smiley enhanced [TripDance Theater's] 'Ups and Downs'... - Dance Magazine, January, 2006 One of the most striking features, one that many have been curious about since the release of the film's trailer, are Smiley's vocal contributions that help give The Affair of the Necklace it's unique personality. Nominated for Best Vocal Performance in Academy Awards (filmtracks.com) -Christopher Coleman - Tracksounds.com Anima Fortis performed early Italian Baroque music with Soprano Moira Smiley, a young woman with a liking for the dramatic and a voice that can turn from what would be it's natural form - a folk-music sort, to golden warblings, angelic origin or steel... -Bloomington Herald Times VIDA's great appeal stems from it's members' spirited voices, unassuming charm and sure sense for repertoire. -Billboard Magazine The reason to experience VIDA is the Voice, the pure, clean wall of sonic perfection that emanates from the place where these women join their individual vocals . -Ryder Magazine Praise for compositions: Moira Smiley's 'Find Ways' is as complex as any progressive-rock number, a stunning web of rhythm and modality... -Seven Days Review 7/14/05, Burlington, Vermont.