“Imagine if the place where the sea and forest meet made a song.” - Morgan Mullin
Blue Lobelia is the solo project of Kjipuktuk (Halifax) based multi-instrumentalist, Rachel Bruch. She blends classical and indie-folk influence to create ethereal string arrangements under a rich soprano voice. Blue Lobelia's debut album Perennial (2016) is “…an ebb and flow of sound — sometimes a sparkling brook, sometimes a tidal wave...". The release was supported by three cross-province tours, with radio play on CBC and showcases at Maritime festivals such as Evolve, Paddlefest, Flourish, and NSMW.
In 2019, Bruch released her first full-length album, Beneath all Bloom (2019), named "2019’s Best Album" by The Coast. Deeply steeped in themes of dreamscape and motherhood, it has been described as the auditory equivalent of, ‘walking through an enchanted forest’ or ‘a daydream you can dance to’.
In 2021 Rachel had her introduction to archival music work with her release of Folk Songs & Broadside Ballads released by Big Turnip Records (2021) and the single and music video, Holding on must always lead to letting go, inspired by the flaura and fauna of Upper Economy where she was a resident at White Rabbit Arts (2019). The following year she released, 'Resilient Moon' (2022) which de-centers the use of a loop pedal in order to create space for folk-centric guitar playing and unfettered string arrangements. Resilient Moon was warmly received with a MNS nomination for ‘Best Folk/Roots Recording of the Year’and was named in The Coast’s ‘Top 10 Albums of 2022’.
Awards & Opportunities
2023
CCA Research and Creation Grant
Cape Breton Center for Craft; Ground Rules Artist in Residence
Private Study with Italian Mountain Fiddle Specialist Francesco Grasso
2022
Album ‘Resilient Moon’ Nominated for MNS ‘Folk/Roots Recording of the Year’ and named ‘Top 10 album of 2022’ by The Coast
ANS Professional Development Grant
CCA Professional Development Grant
CCA Research and Creation Grant
Private study: Contemporary & Pop Vocals (Rachael Delano), Harmony (Maximilian Fleischmann), Trad & Country Swing (Anna Wedlock), Mentorship (Jacques Mindreau), and Klezmer & Jazz Manouche (Gina Burgess)
2021
CFAT Media Arts Scholarship / Exhibition
Helen Creighton Society Grant
CCA Explore and Create: Concept to Realization Grant
EAC/Zuppa '50 Things' Commission Recipient
2019
White Rabbit Arts, Artist in Residence
2018
NSCC Artist Development Project
2017
The Deanery Project Artist in Residence
Commissioned composition for David Caesar’s Arctic World