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Emma Tricca & Bridget St John
Rubies (Bella Union) ST/DL
Released: 22nd September 2023
Lush single from Emma Tricca, with folk legend Bridget St John.
When a legend agrees to work with a contemporary singer songwriter, it becomes more than a collaboration, it is a confirmation of new blood, not a passing of the torch as such, but lighting the torch together over the many decades that separate the artists recording career. Such seems to be the case with Emma Tricca and Bridget St John on their new single, Rubies.
St John may not have released a solo album since 1974’s Jumblequeen, but she is rightly revered on the folk scene, whilst Tricca released her debut album, Minor White, in 2009. We reviewed her stunning latest album, Aspirin Sun, here. Though thirty five years separate those albums, what unites the artists is the consummate skill at their craft.
Tricca says of the track, “This is a song about being an outsider, not fitting in in to any scene, or even trying to. When I wrote it, Bridget’s voice was all I could think of, so I reached out and she came into the studio with us in July to lay down the track. The coda is an homage to Bridget’s song ‘Ask Me No Questions’. I’m very grateful that the full band and Jesse Chandler from Midlake could join us to make this tune happen.”
Rubies begins with the languorous stretching of morning, soft and sultry. Musically it has a tropical undercurrent with the sound of a flute redolent of lying on a beach, the waves lapping and the birds singing, with Tricca’s signature fingerpicking style underscoring it beautifully. Lyrically it’s full of imagery of jewels and nature, and mysterious characters.
The heart and beauty of the song lies in the two vocalists. Tricca has a remarkable voice that is full of longing and imbued with poetic rhythms, whilst St John creates a deeper undercurrent. It is a delight to hear two voice that span decades, coming together to create something so beautiful.
Emma Tricca & Bridget St John will also be playing a number of live shows together next month, in both the UK & Italy, including a London show at Café OTO:
Wednesday 11th October – Manchester – Carlton Club
Sunday 15th October – London – Café OTO
Wednesday 18th October – Savona, Italy –
Friday 20th October – Rome, Italy – Industrie Fluviali
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You can find Emma Tricca here, on Facebook, X and Instagram.
All words by Mark Ray. More writing by Mark Ray can be found at his author archive. And he can be found on X, Instagram and WordPress
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