Duo Ruut

Duo Ruut
Duo Ruut (Katariina Kivi front left; Ann-Lisett Rebane front right) in 2023, performing at an Estonian traditional music festival
Duo Ruut (Katariina Kivi front left; Ann-Lisett Rebane front right) in 2023, performing at an Estonian traditional music festival
Background information
OriginEstonia
GenreFolk
Years activeSince 2015 (2015)
Members
  • Ann-Lisett Rebane
  • Katariina Kivi
Websitewww.duoruut.ee Edit this at Wikidata
Duo Ruut performing with Jaan Jaago, Tõnu Tubli & Mati Tubli at Pärimusmuusika Lõikuspidu [et] (an Estonian traditional music festival) in 2023

Duo Ruut (English: Duo Square) are an Estonian, contemporary-folk duo formed in 2015 by schoolmates and friends, musicians and songwriters, Ann-Lisett Rebane and Katariina Kivi. While contemporary, their songwriting is inspired by Estonian traditions amongst those of other cultures. They perform their songs by both simultaneously playing a single kannel (an Estonian zither) between them, plucked as traditionally intended, bowed, and also as a percussive instrument, all while singing.

Rebane and Kivi began making music together in the fifth-grade of school, and entered a joint folk project into competition, Noortebänd [et] (English lit.: Youth Band). They both studied composition at school, and have cited Scandinavian and Nordic role-models. Kivi, who also plays the cello and bagpipes, enjoys and is influence by the Danish String Quartet, and also has an interest in Estonian traditional musician Maarja Nuut. Rebane also plays the piano and drums.

The duo was officially formed in 2015 when Rebane and Kivi were on a backpacking trip together, discussing that they wanted a simple name, and discarding one option, Mull ja Pilv (English: Bubble and Cloud). They settled on Ruut (English: Square) because they liked the sound of it. This initially caused some confusion with another Estonian band named Rüüt (English lit.: Robe), but after the word duo was prepended to their name by someone at a folk music band competition, their solution was to adopt it.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Tuule sõnad (English: Words of the Wind) (2021)
  • Ilmateade (English: Weather Report) (2025)

Extended plays

  • Kulla kerguseks (English lit.: For the Lightness of Gold) (2019)

Singles

  • "Liisa pehmes süles" (English lit.: "In Liisa's Soft Embrace") (2022)
  • "Udu" (English: "Fog") (2025)
  • "Kuuse koht" (English: "The Spruce") (2025)
  • "Enne ööd" (English: "Nightfall") (2025); featuring EiK [et]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rebane, Ann-Lisett; Kivi, Katariina (9 July 2018). "ÕL Videointervjuu: Noortebändi poolfinalist Duo Ruut: 5. klassist saati koos muusikat teinud tüdrukutele kukkus võistlusel osalemine otse sülle" [Video Interview: Youth Band Semi-finalist Duo Ruut: The Girls, Who Have Been Making Music Together Since 5th Grade, Were Lucky Enough To Participate In The Competition] (Interview) (in Estonian). Interviewed by Jaanika Vilipo. Õhtuleht. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Duo Ruut - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)". KEXP. 17 January 2023. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2025 – via YouTube. Kannel (traditional Estonian zither)
  3. 1 2 "Duo Ruut - Udu". Duo Ruut. 12 March 2025. Archived from the original on 13 March 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025 – via YouTube. the first single of the upcoming album; vokaal ja kannel // vocal & zither
  4. ↑ "WOMAD Festival: Duo Ruut". WOMAD. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  5. ↑ Walker, Sophie Leigh (24 May 2023). "Nothing Is Lost In Translation At Tallinn Music Week". Photograph by Jessica Mirely. The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 Schnee, Guillaume (28 May 2025). "'Enne ööd', la complainte élégiaque du duo estonien Ruut" ['Enne ööd', The Elegiac Lament Of The Estonian Duo Ruut] (in French). Radio France. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "Music Planet, Duo Ruut In Concert". BBC. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "About Duo Ruut". Duo Ruut. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Vaiksaar, Reelika (19 July 2019). "VINGE! Eesti bänd Duo Ruut tutvustab enda muusikat ülemaailmselt" [Awesome! Estonian Band Duo Ruut Introduces Their Music Worldwide] (in Estonian). Õhtuleht. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Duo Ruut: Shetland Folk Festival". The Shetland Folk Festival Society. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Duo Ruut". Duo Ruut. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025 – via YouTube. 'Tuule sõnad' (Words of the Wind) was awarded as the Debut Album of the Year
  12. ↑ Rogers, Jude (20 June 2025). "Duo Ruut: Ilmateade Review – Estonian Duo's Soulful Look To The Skies". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Liisa pehmes süles: Duo Ruut". Duo Ruut. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025 – via Bandcamp.
  14. ↑ "Duo Ruut - Kuuse koht". Duo Ruut. 25 April 2025. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025 – via YouTube. the second single of the upcoming album
  15. ↑ "Duo Ruut - Enne ööd feat. EiK". Duo Ruut. 28 May 2025. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025 – via YouTube. the third single of the upcoming album
  1. Vilipo, Jaanika (10 November 2018). "Suur Galerii: Selgus Noortebänd 2018 võitja" [Big Gallery: The Winner Of The Youth Band 2018 Has Been Announced] (in Estonian). Õhtuleht. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  2. Harrison, Ian (16 May 2022). "Floating Points And Arvo Pärt Shake Tallinn-Narva Music Week". MOJO. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  3. "Duo Ruut (EST) At World Music Festival Bratislava 2023". World Music Festival Bratislava. 26 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025 – via YouTube.
  4. Rebane, Ann-Lisett; Kivi, Katariina (5 July 2022). "Duo Ruut Interview - July 2022" (Interview). Interviewed by Steve Scholey. The Layover. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025 – via YouTube.
  5. Rebane, Ann-Lisett; Kivi, Katariina (22 October 2021). "Duo Ruut: Tegelikult mängime me hoopis teisi pille" [Duo Ruut: Actually, We Play Different Instruments] (Interview) (in Estonian). Interviewed by Lea Kreinin. Eesti Elu. Archived from the original on 6 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  6. "Pohoda 2023 Koncert - Duo Ruut (ES)". Aktuality.sk. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025 – via YouTube.
  7. "Duo Ruut". Spectaculum. 11 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025 – via YouTube.
  8. "Duo Ruudu uue albumi 'Ilmateade' väljaandmine" [The Release Of Duo Ruut's New Album 'Ilmateade'] (in Estonian). Duo Ruut. Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025 – via Hooandja.
  9. "Hooandja kampaania: Duo Ruudu uue albumi 'Ilmateade' väljaandmine" [Hooandja Campaign: Release of Duo Ruut's New Album 'Ilmateade']. Hooandja. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025 – via Vimeo.
  10. Rebane, Ann-Lisett; Kivi, Katariina (24 June 2025). "Interview: Duo Ruut – The Forecast is Personal (June 2025)" (Interview). Rhythm Passport. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  11. Galbiati, Giulia (25 June 2025). "Duo Ruut Brings Estonian To Glastonbury Stage With Guardian-praised Album". Estonian World. Archived from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.