Ruvane

Local singer/songwriter Ruvane Kurland will perform at the final Reynoldsburg Farmer Market of the year on Sept. 30 at Huber Park.

A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and a Reynoldsburg resident since 2007, Kurland, 32, will perform acoustic folk rock originals from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. His appearance is sponsored by Telhio Credit Union.

Kurland said he started learning to play several instruments - piano, violin, trumpet and baritone horn - at an early age, but by the time he was 13, he found out girls like guys who play guitar, so he decided it was time to add that to his repertoire.

One thing led to another and from the age of 17, he found out he could write his own songs and perform them in front of a live audience. After a while, he began recording his own material and putting out his own CDs.

In the past few years, Kurland's primary job has been touring and playing throughout the Midwest. He has been routinely touring a 2,500 mile loop from southern Illinois to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and back.

"It's great to get paid doing something that I love to do. I've been writing songs since I was in high school; it's an absolute joy," Kurland said. "If someone is willing to pay me to do it, that's the best scenario you can possibly have."

His sound draws comparisons to such popular acts as Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band and Peter Himmelman.

Reynoldsburg residents might recognize him from his performances at a variety of nearby restaurants and bars, such as BW3, Epicures and Smokey Bones.

During one of his gigs at BW3, Kurland met Reynoldsburg Mayor Brad McCloud, who asked him to play at the farmers market.

Always looking for new ways to create a rich, layered sound, Kurland said he recently began incorporating a special looping technology he calls "acoustiloop" into his live shows. The technology enables him play an electric guitar and ukulele over acoustic guitar loops, making it sound like there are more than one person on stage.

"There's a lot of guys that are using drum machines and synthesizers and stuff, and that is not what I think of as impromptu looping, so anything I put through my looping machine has to be created organically," Kurland said. "It has to be created either with my acoustic guitar, my voice or hand percussion. I refuse to run actual electric guitars through it. It has to be me on the spot."

Along with having made several radio and television appearances around the country Kurland's song "I Don't Know" was featured on the Chicagoland Musicians Compilation CD.

His recording studio, dubbed the Atmosphere Room, is based in his Reynoldsburg home where he recorded his 2009 release, "Life in 360."

He just released a new CD simply called "Live."

When playing live, Kurland performs mostly originals, but sometimes incorporates a cover song or two, usually by someone who has influenced him in some way.

Kurland performed in 2007 at a rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for Hillary Clinton while she was on the 2008 presidential campaign trail.

"She was cool about it, and when I got there, the Secret Service asked me what kind of music I played, and my influences. I mentioned I covered U2 songs, and they said, 'Hillary loves U2. Why don't you play some of that?' So I did," he said.

For more information, call market manager Nadine Morse at (614) 322-6832 or 614-322-6800. - This Week Reynoldsburg (David Owen-writer)

Local singer/songwriter Ruvane Kurland will perform at the final Reynoldsburg Farmer Market of the year on Sept. 30 at Huber Park.

A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and a Reynoldsburg resident since 2007, Kurland, 32, will perform acoustic folk rock originals from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. His appearance is sponsored by Telhio Credit Union.

Kurland said he started learning to play several instruments - piano, violin, trumpet and baritone horn - at an early age, but by the time he was 13, he found out girls like guys who play guitar, so he decided it was time to add that to his repertoire.

One thing led to another and from the age of 17, he found out he could write his own songs and perform them in front of a live audience. After a while, he began recording his own material and putting out his own CDs.

In the past few years, Kurland's primary job has been touring and playing throughout the Midwest. He has been routinely touring a 2,500 mile loop from southern Illinois to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and back.

"It's great to get paid doing something that I love to do. I've been writing songs since I was in high school; it's an absolute joy," Kurland said. "If someone is willing to pay me to do it, that's the best scenario you can possibly have."

His sound draws comparisons to such popular acts as Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band and Peter Himmelman.

Reynoldsburg residents might recognize him from his performances at a variety of nearby restaurants and bars, such as BW3, Epicures and Smokey Bones.

During one of his gigs at BW3, Kurland met Reynoldsburg Mayor Brad McCloud, who asked him to play at the farmers market.

Always looking for new ways to create a rich, layered sound, Kurland said he recently began incorporating a special looping technology he calls "acoustiloop" into his live shows. The technology enables him play an electric guitar and ukulele over acoustic guitar loops, making it sound like there are more than one person on stage.

"There's a lot of guys that are using drum machines and synthesizers and stuff, and that is not what I think of as impromptu looping, so anything I put through my looping machine has to be created organically," Kurland said. "It has to be created either with my acoustic guitar, my voice or hand percussion. I refuse to run actual electric guitars through it. It has to be me on the spot."

Along with having made several radio and television appearances around the country Kurland's song "I Don't Know" was featured on the Chicagoland Musicians Compilation CD.

His recording studio, dubbed the Atmosphere Room, is based in his Reynoldsburg home where he recorded his 2009 release, "Life in 360."

He just released a new CD simply called "Live."

When playing live, Kurland performs mostly originals, but sometimes incorporates a cover song or two, usually by someone who has influenced him in some way.

Kurland performed in 2007 at a rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for Hillary Clinton while she was on the 2008 presidential campaign trail.

"She was cool about it, and when I got there, the Secret Service asked me what kind of music I played, and my influences. I mentioned I covered U2 songs, and they said, 'Hillary loves U2. Why don't you play some of that?' So I did," he said.

For more information, call market manager Nadine Morse at (614) 322-6832 or 614-322-6800. - This Week Reynoldsburg (David Owen-writer)

Congregants at Temple Israel know Ruvane Kurland as their musical director. He leads the musical part of the service and oversees all the musical activities within the temple.

What they may not know is that Kurland has a second career as a secular artist. Since the age of seventeen, he has spent time touring the United States as an independent rock musician. He has produced six CDs of his original music.

He's even been featured on a documentary called, "Ruvane Kurland Live from the Midwest."

WGN, an American cable station based out of Chicago, used one of his songs for the reality show, "Around the World for Free."

Last summer he released his fifth studio album, "Life in 360°." "It's the album I'm most proud of. Some of the featured artists include Jimi "Jazz" Prescott who played bass for G. Love and Special Sauce. A featured artists is Brian Fechino from the Pat McGee Band. There are Ohio musicians featured including Marc Rossio," said Kurland.

This January, he released a downloaded version of live tracks from the past year-and-a-half of touring. You can download this album entitled "LIVE" on online media outlets iTunes and Amazon.com.

"No CDs were pressed for this album. It's important how my touring is affecting the planet. There are environmental implications on how music is released," he explained.

Kurland describes himself as an acoustic songwriter. During his live performances he uses a method he calls "Acoustiloop." While performing in front of the audience, he uses a group of effects pedals. He records the sounds of the acoustic guitar, voice and hand percussion to create the sounds for the loop.

"I don't used a drum track or other electronic instruments because it is too predictable or Karaoke-ish. When you create live in front of the audience there is unpredictability with that," he said.

Recently Kurland decided to add the sound of the electric guitar to his music. He researched electric guitars and had two custom-built for him. Since musicians commonly name their guitars, he decided to acknowledge his Judaism by giving them Hebrew names. He named one shoshanah and the other has an orange and yellow burst on the body, so he named it Aish-which means fire in Hebrew.

He is always looking for ways to set himself apart from other independent musicians. "Last year I released an MP3 player loaded with my music. People were able to take it out of the case, put on the headphones, and then they were ready to rock and roll," said Kurland.

This spring Kurland is buying a convertible and wrapping it with sponsor logos and information. He plans to drive it in holiday parades. He sees this a way to get out in the community and raise awareness of his music.

Some of his current sponsors include Dream Seats, Evolved, White Castle, Vidsonix, and Sarah B. at Phia Salon.

"The way I connect with my audience is my performances is more important than any single song. If you don't create a certain mood for your listener, then you'll be forgettable. I work hard at creating moments for my audience at my shows that they'll fondly remember," said Kurland.

Kurland is married to Naomi, and they have a little boy, Lyric.

If you want more information about Kurland, visit his Web site at www.ruvanekurland.com. - The New Standard, Columbus, OH-Barbara A. Topolosky (author)

Singer/Songwriter Ruvane Kurland will bring his annual summer tour through Southern Illinois this month. The former member of local duo Six String Ride will perform Saturday, July 10 at Inheritance Valley Vineyards (whose Ruvanesque wine was name after Kurland) and Sunday, July 11 at Rustle Hill Winery. Steve Wierman, his partner in Six String Ride, will reunite with Kurland during the first set of the former show, and the entirety of the latter performance.

Kurland is touring in support of his latest collection, a live compilation recorded during last year's tour. One of the eight tracks from Live was captured at Inheritance Valley. The release is available only as a download. "It lowers my impact on the environment, lowers the cost for the customer, which I think is important in these economic times, and it's good for me--I can still put out music," Kurland says of Live's format.

There's a small environmental offset, however--Kurland has customized a 1984 Corvette, emblazoning it with his name, logos, and other artwork. Kurland uses the car as a promotional tool in parades and at special appearances. "I'm always looking for interesting ways to get the word out about my music and set myself apart from other indie musicians," Kurland says. It grabs a little attention...It's a lot of fun."

Since last year, Kurland has also begun to incorporate looping technology into his live shows, which allows him to play a little electric guitar and ukelele over acoustic-guitar loops. "For an acoustic musician, I have a lot of gear," he confesses--more than he can fit into the 'Vette when traveling to a typical gig. "The number of toys are growing. It makes the show more interesting. It's not as great loading in--or out."

Check out the new album and find out more at <http://www.RuvaneKurland.com>... - Carbondale Nightlife (Nightlife Staff)

Singer/Songwriter Ruvane Kurland will bring his annual summer tour through Southern Illinois this month. The former member of local duo Six String Ride will perform Saturday, July 10 at Inheritance Valley Vineyards (whose Ruvanesque wine was name after Kurland) and Sunday, July 11 at Rustle Hill Winery. Steve Wierman, his partner in Six String Ride, will reunite with Kurland during the first set of the former show, and the entirety of the latter performance.

Kurland is touring in support of his latest collection, a live compilation recorded during last year's tour. One of the eight tracks from Live was captured at Inheritance Valley. The release is available only as a download. "It lowers my impact on the environment, lowers the cost for the customer, which I think is important in these economic times, and it's good for me--I can still put out music," Kurland says of Live's format.

There's a small environmental offset, however--Kurland has customized a 1984 Corvette, emblazoning it with his name, logos, and other artwork. Kurland uses the car as a promotional tool in parades and at special appearances. "I'm always looking for interesting ways to get the word out about my music and set myself apart from other indie musicians," Kurland says. It grabs a little attention...It's a lot of fun."

Since last year, Kurland has also begun to incorporate looping technology into his live shows, which allows him to play a little electric guitar and ukelele over acoustic-guitar loops. "For an acoustic musician, I have a lot of gear," he confesses--more than he can fit into the 'Vette when traveling to a typical gig. "The number of toys are growing. It makes the show more interesting. It's not as great loading in--or out."

Check out the new album and find out more at <http://www.RuvaneKurland.com>... - Carbondale Nightlife (Nightlife Staff)

Bluffs native Ruvane Kurland returns to the area next week for a radio interview and a free performance at Cellar 19.

Kurland’s visit comes on the heels of his fifth album, “Life in 360 Degree,” released June 2. The album showcases numerous Ohio guest musicians and features Jimi “Jazz” Prescott (G. Love & Special Sauce) and Brian Fechino (Pat McGee Band).

On Monday, Kurland will be on the Steve King Show on CD 105.9 at around 8:30 a.m. Kurland will perform some songs as well as talk with King.

Kurland’s concert at Cellar 19, 928 Valley View Drive, is Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. This year, Kurland has started using an acoustic loop for his performances. Explained the artist, “I’m building (the song) in front of the audience by my voice, with acoustic instruments and a shaker.” Without a band or electric guitar, he achieves constructing each song by making use of a pedal board. The concert is free to the public.

Fans can keep track of Kurland’s tour by logging on to the newly re-launched Web site, www.ruvanekurland.com. Kurland maintains a tour journal on the site, in which he adds photos and commentary about each stop.

Arts & Entertainment Editor Kim Bousquet can be reached at (712) 325-5736 or by e-mail at kbousquet@nonparielonline.com - The Nonpareil (Kim Bousquet-Author)

By TIM ROHWER, Staff Writer
timothy.rohwer@nonpareilonline.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 11:23 AM CST
While growing up in Council Bluffs, Ruvane Kurland first started to play the piano, then went to strings and horns, and later picked up a guitar.

“I’ve kept going and never looked back.”

Now living in Columbus, Ohio, Kurland has made quite a name for himself on the music scene and will return to his roots as a performer at First Night on Dec. 31.

Kurland’s music is described as mellow groove rock, or acoustic rock, the kind of sound one might hear from the Dave Matthews Band. He has recorded numerous albums and looks for ways to add variety to his style. One of these methods is called looping, which creates different sounds at once.

“I use a pedal board to create a layered landscape of sound,” Kurland said. “It gives me freedom to experiment with additional instrumentation.”

Those who come to hear Kurland at First Night will be in for a treat as he will use an electric guitar for the first time in this looping method. A new album, officially being released on New Year’s Day, will be available for purchase by those coming to First Night.

Kurland has made radio and television appearances and has performed for Hillary Clinton. One performance he vividly remembered last year was at First Night.

“I loved playing at First Night. It was one of the highlights of my year. The audience was warm and receptive. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

The fun starts Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. at 13 different venues around Bayliss Park. At 9 p.m., there will be a children’s procession with the main finale held at midnight in Bayliss Park.

First Night buttons, which grant admittance to the events, are $8 each, or buy three and get the fourth button free through Dec. 15. After Dec. 15, buttons are $12 each. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Buttons may be purchased at all Bluffs Hy-Vee stores; all Bluffs No Frills locations; Fareway, 310 McKenzie Ave.; all Bluffs Peoples National Bank locations; all Bluffs Savings Bank locations; MidStates Bank, 1851 Madison Ave.; all Bluffs Liberty Bank locations; Frontier Savings Bank, 940 Valley View Drive; and the treasurer’s office at City Hall.

First Night sponsors include the city of Council Bluffs, Cox Communications, U.S. Cellular, The Daily Nonpareil, John and Linda Allen and Pottawatomie County. For information, go online to www.FirstNightCouncilBluffs.org. - The Daily Nonpareil

Bluffs native Ruvane Kurland returns to the area next week for a radio interview and a free performance at Cellar 19.

Kurland’s visit comes on the heels of his fifth album, “Life in 360 Degree,” released June 2. The album showcases numerous Ohio guest musicians and features Jimi “Jazz” Prescott (G. Love & Special Sauce) and Brian Fechino (Pat McGee Band).

On Monday, Kurland will be on the Steve King Show on CD 105.9 at around 8:30 a.m. Kurland will perform some songs as well as talk with King.

Kurland’s concert at Cellar 19, 928 Valley View Drive, is Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. This year, Kurland has started using an acoustic loop for his performances. Explained the artist, “I’m building (the song) in front of the audience by my voice, with acoustic instruments and a shaker.” Without a band or electric guitar, he achieves constructing each song by making use of a pedal board. The concert is free to the public.

Fans can keep track of Kurland’s tour by logging on to the newly re-launched Web site, www.ruvanekurland.com. Kurland maintains a tour journal on the site, in which he adds photos and commentary about each stop.

Arts & Entertainment Editor Kim Bousquet can be reached at (712) 325-5736 or by e-mail at kbousquet@nonparielonline.com - The Nonpareil (Kim Bousquet-Author)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:50 PM
By Brittany Kress

Job: Musician
Neighborhood: Reynoldsburg
Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa

Label your style: "Preppy rock"
So this is something you'd wear on stage? Absolutely. Astor & Black does shirts for me that I can tour with. It's really cool, because they have been able to be conscious of the sleeves, the length for strumming, everything's been very calculated.

What effect do your clothes have on your performance? If the audience is wearing a [different] style of clothes, they take it multiple ways. "This guy's different, that's cool;""This guy's kind of weird, but we'll hear what he has to say;"or, worst case scenario, "This guys dresses differently, he thinks he's better than us, we're not paying attention." And I've only got that vibe from pockets of people, but that's so not the case.

What do you wear normally? I look at all of the current trends and take them with a grain of salt. You'll never see me wearing man-Uggs or Crocs. I love retro T-shirts, I wear a lot of watches.

What's your weakness? Shoes. I have about 60 to 70 pairs; I rival many women. Journeys has some interesting shoes. The one pair in one size sitting in the back that nobody wanted because it was too funky - usually that's the one that I want.

Tell me about your hair. It used to be longer. When I was living in Chicago, Ambush Makeover found me. They changed it, and I've been refining it since.

What's your favorite city for shopping? Everywhere has something to offer. But I do enjoy going to the coasts, because it takes fashion about two years to get to the Midwest.

The outfit:
Shirt: Astor & Black
Jeans: International Concepts
Shoes: Steve Madden
Watch: Fossil
Guitar: Taylor - Columbus Alive

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:50 PM
By Brittany Kress

Job: Musician
Neighborhood: Reynoldsburg
Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa

Label your style: "Preppy rock"
So this is something you'd wear on stage? Absolutely. Astor & Black does shirts for me that I can tour with. It's really cool, because they have been able to be conscious of the sleeves, the length for strumming, everything's been very calculated.

What effect do your clothes have on your performance? If the audience is wearing a [different] style of clothes, they take it multiple ways. "This guy's different, that's cool;""This guy's kind of weird, but we'll hear what he has to say;"or, worst case scenario, "This guys dresses differently, he thinks he's better than us, we're not paying attention." And I've only got that vibe from pockets of people, but that's so not the case.

What do you wear normally? I look at all of the current trends and take them with a grain of salt. You'll never see me wearing man-Uggs or Crocs. I love retro T-shirts, I wear a lot of watches.

What's your weakness? Shoes. I have about 60 to 70 pairs; I rival many women. Journeys has some interesting shoes. The one pair in one size sitting in the back that nobody wanted because it was too funky - usually that's the one that I want.

Tell me about your hair. It used to be longer. When I was living in Chicago, Ambush Makeover found me. They changed it, and I've been refining it since.

What's your favorite city for shopping? Everywhere has something to offer. But I do enjoy going to the coasts, because it takes fashion about two years to get to the Midwest.

The outfit:
Shirt: Astor & Black
Jeans: International Concepts
Shoes: Steve Madden
Watch: Fossil
Guitar: Taylor - Columbus Alive

The wineries of Southern Illinois are surrounded by the beautiful Shawnee Hills. The atmosphere is calm and introspective, and Ruvane Kurland can revel in that kind of mood. The former Carbondale resident will return to Southern Illinois to play two shows-- at Inheritance Valley Winery on Saturday, June 6 and at Rustle Hill Winery on Sunday, June 7.

Joining Kurland is old friend Steve Wierman. The two men play as Six String Ride, and Kurland is looking forward to returning to a place he still holds close to his heart. "Working with Steve is a lot of fun," Kurland says. "He's the lead man. He plays a mean guitar and it's a real treat to be able to play with him."

Kurland has toured the Midwest for more than a decade. In the world of folk music, Kurland has lived the life of a journeyman and has grown as an artist who can stay down-to-earth while challenging himself. Most recently Kurland has experimented with looping in his live solo shows. "I am trying to stay with an organic feel [to the looping]," says Kurland. "Whether it's an acoustic instrument or my voice, I won't do any synthesizing, drum machines, electric bass, only sounds that can be created by my guitar or my voice."

While he wants to stay true to his folk roots, Kurland feels his looping experimentation will add a new layer to his music. "I know other musicians loop, but I am speaking more about background tracks. Ultimately it's a more complicated karaoke, where you play to a predetermined beat that you bring to every show."

Another reason Kurland is experimenting with a somewhat new sound may be that his new album, Life in 360 Degrees, will be released June 2. Like any artist, Kurland's studio and live performances differ slightly, but Kurland admits that the artists he worked with on Life in 360 Degrees were so special that he might have raised the bar on his own solo performances. Guest musicians on the album include Jimi "Jazz" Prescott, formerly of G. Love and Special Sauce, Brian Fachino of the Pat McGee Band, and children's musician Marc Rossio. "I listen to their music and go to their shows," says Kurland. "It was amazing to have them participate in the [creation of Life in 360 Degrees]. That's something I couldn't do live because of the rigorous touring and recording schedules of their respective bands. It was great to see how they would interpret my music."

Kurland spends most of his time in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives. During the summer, however, Kurland takes to the road, and as a former Southern Illinoisan, he always feels welcome. "I certainly have had positive experiences in Southern Illinois," Kurland says. "It's a beautiful place to visit, especially [this time of the year]. The vineyards are excellent. That's how I fill my tour schedule, basically. I go to the places I like going to. I go where the fans and the friends are, and where the music makes sense."

One strength of Kurland's performances is his ability to change with his surroundings. "When you're performing, you're looking for different landscapes," says Kurland. "If you painted the same picture every day or played the same song every day, you'd get really bored. There's a certain [kind of] electricity playing a place like PK's, where people will be up dancing [to my songs]. At the vineyards, you're standing in breathtaking countryside in flowing hills and vegetation. You're playing for different reasons at [bars and wineries, respectively]. You're more of an entertainment at a bar. At a vineyard you're more of an artist, because people listen more to the words than feeling a beat."

Life in 360 Degrees will be available at Kurland's shows, and also can be found at iTunes. More information on Kurland can be found at <http://www.RuvaneKurland.com>... - Carbondale Nightlife (T.J. Jones-Author)