Duo Ruut


Duo Ruut 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 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, . 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. They settled on Ruut because they liked the sound of it. This initially caused some confusion with another Estonian band named Rüüt, 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
  • Ilmateade

Extended plays

  • Kulla kerguseks

Singles

  • "Liisa pehmes süles"
  • "Udu"
  • "Kuuse koht"
  • "Enne ööd" ; featuring