Jmore
Baltimore-Based Singer/Songwriter SONiA to Perform at Beth El on Dec. 14
December 9, 2024 Alan Feiler, Editor-in-Chief
SONiA: "This concert isn’t just a show. It’s a full-circle moment for me." (Photo by Steven Tabor)
SONiA — aka, the independent singer/songwriter Sonia Rutstein — once compared her musical stylings to “a bird jumping off a window ledge. It’s in that split second of trust and light and talent and God.”
For nearly four decades, Baltimore area music lovers and fans around the world have relished “that split second” and the eclectic sounds of SONiA and disappear fear. On Saturday night, Dec. 14, she and the band will come together once again and perform at Pikesville’s Beth El Congregation, 8101 Park Heights Avenue.
Writing and performing in genres ranging from the Blues and Folk to World Music, SONiA has appeared at concerts around the globe and performed with such luminaries as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, the Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, Arlo Guthrie, and Peter Paul and Mary. Her latest recording is “Album 23.”
Jmore recently caught up with the Baltimore-born-and-bred SONiA to talk about her upcoming concert, music and the state of the world.
Jmore: How did this concert at Beth El come about?
SONiA: This is where it all began. I first decided to pursue music as a career right in the very spot where I’m performing now. Andrew Braun, who was the synagogue administrator at Beth El (and later became my stepfather), booked me and my sister Cindy [Frank] to perform at the Purim party in the Offit Auditorium. We were introduced as ‘The Rutstein Sisters.’
We were slated to play for 30 minutes. But as things often go when you’re just starting out, no one was paying attention. We ended up only playing for about 10 minutes.
I was working at the Beef Inn on Smith Avenue at the time, earning $1.40 an hour (while the guys were making $1.65), and we got paid $50 for that short set. I did the math in my head: $1.40 for an hour of work or $50 for 10 minutes of playing music. It was clear: making music was way more profitable than filling ketchup bottles and burning pizzas!
So this concert isn’t just a show. It’s a full-circle moment for me. I’m so grateful to be coming home to Beth El and have the opportunity to perform with my incredible band, including Cindy, Pete [Strobl], Marc [Lawrence], Howard [Markman], Brian Simms, Tobias [Hurwitz] and the rest of the talented musicians who will be joining us.
I’m just so excited to share this moment with my hometown audience. We’ll have beer, snacks and extra security — because we’re going big!
What should your local fans and others expect at the show?
You can expect an absolutely epic show, folks! For those who have been with me from the start, they know this is going to be a reunion of sorts. Not only will I have my amazing band with me — including Seth Kibel, the klezmer virtuoso, on sax and flute — but my sister Cindy, co-founder of disappear fear, will be joining us onstage to sing her heart out!
We’ll be playing a mix of our classic disappear fear hits with newer tracks that showcase how our sound has evolved. It’s going to be a high-energy, deeply emotional and joyous celebration of music, family and community.
How do you characterize your music?
I’ve found the best way to answer that question is to ask people what kind of music they like, and then I pull from my catalog to find something that resonates with that. For example, my latest album is a smorgasbord of sounds. The title track ‘23’ is a mix of Joni Mitchell, Yes and ELP, while ‘Ride This Ride’ is much more Garth Brooks. ‘Me Too’ brings to mind John Prine, and ‘Box of Tissue’” is very Mavis Staples.
Some songs have a soulful, folk-rock feel like the Indigo Girls (‘Deep Soul Diver’), and others are very much in the Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen tradition, like ‘Washington Work Song’ and ‘Moment of Glory.’ It’s a bit of everything, depending on the song and where the muse takes me.
What direction do you see popular music going in?
There’s a lot of amazing indie music out there right now — so much variety and creativity. Platforms like Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon give us access to incredible artists, but there’s always that big fish/little fish dynamic, right?
SONiA: “Music has always been a tool for healing, especially in times of crisis.” (File photo)
Back in the ‘90s, when disappear fear was hitting our stride, we were selling out venues in D.C. and Baltimore, but we didn’t have the tools to broadcast that success to a wider audience. Today, an indie artist can get their music out there faster than ever, but the major labels still hold a lot of sway. And it’s still a pyramid pay scale where the biggest names get the most money.
I do believe real music made with heart and soul will continue to survive and thrive. People need it. It’s how we breathe, like swimming or playing sports — it’s something we do intentionally, with purpose. That will never go out of style.
You’re a longtime activist for human rights and LGBTQ+ issues. How are you feeling in the wake of the recent elections?
I’m deeply disheartened by the direction our country is heading. I’ve always believed in the idealism of America — the hope that we can make things better — but it’s hard to keep that faith when I see people I love voting for policies that go against the values I hold dear. The fight for LGBTQ+ rights feels like it’s being undone, and the freedoms we’ve fought for over the last 50 years are under attack. It’s a frightening time, especially for the younger generation.
But as a boomer, I know I have a responsibility to keep fighting, keep speaking out and keep using music to bring people together.
You’ve spent a lot of time in the Middle East. Do you still believe in a two-state solution and peace?
I do believe peace is possible, but I have some ideas on how it could be achieved that go beyond the traditional two-state solution. We need to consider a more inclusive, democratic approach, one that allows all people living in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank to have a voice. I’ve worked with organizations like HungryforMusic.org to bring music and instruments to children in the region, and I’ve seen firsthand the power of art to bridge divides.
If we can unite the global Jewish community to have a voice in Israel’s leadership, we could create a democracy that serves everyone equally. Basically, this means that all Jewish adults could vote in Israeli national elections. The entire diaspora would, for the first time since the destruction of the Second Temple, be included and united in one voice having our choice heard in our ancestral homeland.
Can music help heal at a time many Americans are concerned about our country and the planet?
Absolutely. Music has always been a tool for healing, especially in times of crisis. As kids, Cindy and I found comfort in the songs of the ‘60s, like Crosby, Stills & Nash’s ‘Teach Your Children,’ and that belief in change became the foundation for disappear fear.
In the wake of this recent election, I believe we need music more than ever. Art helps us stay grounded and keeps our spirits alive in the face of fear. Music gives us hope and reminds us that change is possible.
You’ve performed with a lot of musical luminaries over the years. Anyone you were terrified to play with?
The first time I sang ‘Closer to Fine’ with the Indigo Girls at Lilith Fair was scary. Amy [Ray of the Indigo Girls] asked if we could do my song called ‘Who’s So Scared ‘ because she loved it. I was completely prepared to do it, but at the last minute they changed it to their song ‘Closer to Fine,’ and I was the one lesbian guitar player in America that didn’t already know the chords. So I was thinking, ‘Ugh, I’m gonna mess it up!’ But it is an easy great song, and in the end it was “close to fine.’
Then there was the time I was backstage at a festival in Asbury Park, and Bruce Springsteen was there. I had the chance to join the jam session at 3 a.m., but I chickened out. Call it stage fright, call it total exhaustion, but I walked away that night.
But guess what? I’m coming back to Asbury Park this January for the Light of Day Festival, and this time there’s no turning back. I’ll be ready to step into that circle, no hesitation.
Upcoming projects?
The past couple of months have brought an unexpected and deeply emotional shift in my life. My wife, Terry, has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer. Being her full-time caregiver is an all-consuming responsibility, and it often feels like a 40-hour-a-day commitment. The emotional toll is profound, and it has reshaped my perspective on so many things.
Amidst this personal journey, I continue to write and create music, though I’ve found myself doing so in quieter, more reflective ways. New songs and ideas are taking shape in my mind being dragged around by my heart. I’m also working on my autobiography, which is something I’ve been meaning to share for a long time.
In the midst of this, there is also a glimmer of hope for my musical endeavors. My musical, ‘Small House No Secrets,’ has gained some exciting traction and is likely to be performed in Germany soon. The script will be adapted into German, though the songs will remain in English, which is a wonderful bridge between cultures.
Additionally, the Baltimore-Washington area remains rich with musical talent, and I’m eager to collaborate with new musicians here. I’m looking forward to exploring what creative possibilities emerge in the coming months.
If you could perform with any legendary musicians from the past or present, who would you pick?
Ah, Hendrix — what can I say? He was pure electricity. If I had the chance to share the stage with him, I think I’d just stand there, utterly mesmerized, completely speechless. I’d be too busy soaking in the genius of it all to play a note.
Janis, on the other hand, was a force of nature. I don’t think my sound would have added anything to her raw, soulful power. She was an entity unto herself, a rock ‘n’ roll tempest.
As for Phil Ochs — well, he was my hero. His ‘Pleasures of the Harbor’ album? Brilliant.
But if I could have just one magical performance with anyone, it would be Louis Armstrong. The man was pure gold. Imagine standing next to him, feeling the warmth of his brass and the joy in every note he played. Just the thought of sharing a stage with Satchmo — riffing on a melody, exchanging a few musical winks — would be enough for me.
Now I know all those legends are no longer with us, but if the universe gives me even half a chance to stand next to Bruce or Elvis or Pink — I’d hit the road, Jack!
Doors at Beth El open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit https://bethelbalto.shulcloud.com/form/Sonia-DF-Concert.
“Quirky and smart, a poet with a guitar, SONiA is a master of crafting songs that make you simultaneously want to dance, sing and change the world.”
Georgia Voice, USA
Editor’s Pick: SONiA Disappear Fear at JxJ
The DCJCC's multidisciplinary arts series JxJ will present
SONiA disappear fear in concert this Sunday at 5 p.m.
By Doug Rule on October 19, 2022
SONiA disappear fear — Photo: Steve Tabor
“When you disappear fear between people, what you have is love,” says the progressive Baltimore-based singer-songwriter Sonia Rutstein, who has made the whole notion of “disappear fear” her life’s motto.
She long ago adapted the expression to serve as the name of her music act and identity, which she stylizes as SONiA disappear fear.
This past February, the veteran lesbian indie-folk artist marked the 34th Annual International Disappear Fear Day, which just so happens to be her birthday, and then reunited with the original five-piece disappear fear backing band — Howard Markman on guitar, Brian Simms on keys, Chris Sellman on bass, and Marc Lawrence on drums.
Along with special guest Tony Correlli, the band performed a one-night-only concert outside Baltimore that included many of the standout songs from her 30-plus year career. Yet the focus was on debuting songs from the next SONiA disappear fear album, which will also be the first recorded set featuring the five-piece since 1996’s Seed in the Sahara.
That set, which will be titled 23 to signify her 23rd release, is very much still on track, although an exact release date hasn’t yet been announced. After spending the spring on her 14th tour across Germany followed by an unfortunate summer bout with COVID, SONiA has recently shifted her focus to the album, including recording sessions in the studio with the band. Earlier this week SONiA released the album’s first single, “Teaching Vincent.”
SONiA disappear fear — Photo: Steve Tabor
SONiA has also been working to finish her autobiography, expected to coincide with the release of new music, which will recap her remarkable journey as a trailblazing lesbian artist over the past 35 years, having helped play a part in contributing to the improved cultural climate for LGBTQ-identifying Americans.
At the top of the pandemic in 2020, the GLAAD Award-winning artist collected the many songs exploring LGBTQ themes from her repertoire for the compilation Love Out Loud.
A number of those songs should factor into a concert next weekend in D.C., when she’ll also likely give Washingtonians a sneak peek of her new music.
Intended as a showcase of SONiA’s progressive and affirming music, the concert will be presented by JxJ, the multidisciplinary arts series of the Edlavitch DCJCC encompassing the Washington Jewish Film and Music Festivals.
© 2022 by Metro Weekly
Kalyna, Ukrainian anthem and peace songs
The Idstein bookstore and the city of Oestrich-Winkel invited to a benefit concert
Winkel. (sf) - She looks small and petite like a child when she comes on stage in skinny jeans and brown leather boots. But with a bright smile and a voice that gives you goosebumps, Sonia Rutstein has a stage presence that rivals her famous cousin Bob Dylan. At least that's what the guests of honor at the benefit concert in the Brentano barn felt: the singer sang and played for more than 100 women and children who had fled from the Ukraine, their caregivers in their new home country and supporters of the war refugees, and also made music with the refugees and guests.
Sonia Rutstein has just made a guest appearance in Oestrich as part of a bookshop session: the Idstein bookstore is in close contact with the artist and has had her as a guest for the fifth time. When she learned from Conny Prinz and Markus Idstein that the couple was committed to taking in Ukrainian refugees and providing children with Ukrainian and bilingual storybooks, she was immediately "on fire" to support the cause. Initially, the singer planned to collect crayons and coloring books in order to bring them to Oestrich-Winkel for the children after the end of her Germany tour in mid-May. "I was thinking of playing a few songs for the Ukrainian kids to cheer them up" - but then the idea evolved into a full, free concert for Ukrainian refugees and the Rheingau families who are currently hosting them.
The commitment is no coincidence: Sonia Rutstein has family roots in Eastern Europe and so she collects donations through livestream performances and the sale of merchandise items to support the work of "Voices of Children" and "Doctors Without Borders." "We are all challenged to find what we can give to our brothers and sisters whose lives are being torn apart by this senseless Russian invasion. My music has carried myself and many others over the years as a beacon of hope even in the darkest of moments. It is my natural desire to sing face to face with my Ukrainian brothers and sisters," says Sonia Rutstein.
This invitation was meant literally: together with the Ukrainian women Julia, Olga, Olja, Svitlana, Diana, Iwana, Sofia and Nataliya, she sang the Ukrainian peace song "Kalyna." "The song is more than 100 years old and was already the secret peace anthem in the Ukrainians' struggle for independence against Russia back then. It's about the snowberries that grow in our homeland and from whose fruits the women make wreaths," explains Nataliya Statzner. The Ukrainian, who had brought together the small choir for "Kalyna," came to the Rheingau many years ago and feels at home here. In her adopted country, too, she has a large network of Ukrainian friends who live in the region and have been campaigning for their homeland and the refugees since the outbreak of the war. Many supporters came from Nataliya's "network" and sold Ukrainian jewelry and scented hand-sewn stuffed animals during the benefit concert to support the refugees.
And there were many more helpers: Winegrowers from Oestrich-Winkel had donated wines and grape juice so that the concert guests could buy drinks for little money. The proceeds of 200 euros also benefit the refugees. The city of Oestrich-Winkel also supported the concert and not only made the Brentano barn available - as the official organizer, it was also the cooperation partner of the Idstein bookstore. The head of the city council, Aylin Sinß, and the parliamentary group leaders also came to the concert to show their solidarity. In addition, the First City Councilor Björn Sommer had asked for donations for the refugees at the Aldi supermarket and received them: 50 full bags worth 1,000 euros were handed over on the evening of the concert.
Conny Idstein herself had brought numerous books for the children, which were sponsored by her customers in a campaign. For each book purchased, the bookseller also made a contribution to a piggy bank for further children's projects.
So the benefit concert had become a special event. Not least because of the touching music by Sonia Rutstein: In addition to the highlight "Kalyna," she sang the Ukrainian national anthem at the beginning of the evening.
© by Rheingau Echo
Artist guest
"SONiA disappear fear" in Jägersruh
Frank Mertel 05/01/2022 - 08:19 am
On Saturday evening, the Folkclub Isaar invited to a concert in the Schützenhaus in Jägersruh. The guest was the artist "SONiA disappear fear" aka Sonia Rutstein.
The multiple award-winning singer and songwriter presented songs in various languages and styles. As part of this concert, students from the vocational high school in Hof presented their projects for International Disappear Fear Day to the 60 guests.
A highlight of the evening was the "Song for Nûdem", which was sung in nine languages by Sonia Rutstein together with students of the FOS/BOS Hof and Ukrainian refugee children. Background: This song was created as part of a petition for the Turkish singer Nûrem Durak, who was arrested in Turkey in 2015 and sentenced to 20 years in prison because she sang her songs in Kurdish.
Rock and Blues with Sonia Rutstein
Sonia Rutstein sometimes lets out the rocker in her. © Heiner Schultz
The concerts in the Vitos chapel have started again. Singer-songwriter Sonia Rutstein appeared as a guest for the fourth time. The lively American with a sunny disposition put the full house in the best of moods.
It was the 302nd »Musik bei Vitos« concert ever, emphasized organizer Rainer Römer, and the regular audience was pretty much all there. Sonia Rutstein, Bob Dylan's cousin, is a thoroughbred musician who, despite winning the industry's highest accolades, starts out humble. Her albums have sold millions of copies and she has played with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger. She also became known with her band »Disappear Fear«.
In Gießen she sings and plays the guitar, quite unspectacularly and without any effort. She starts with a nice rock title, catchy and happy, the lyrics remain unclear, the guitar is too loud and too similar to her bright voice. With "Me Too" she then makes it clear that her songs are very topical.
She convinces with great musical originality and perfect technique. Apart from the fact that she knows how to set the mood with the guitar when she lets out the rocker in her. It is particularly attractive when she sings softly, her voice becomes rough and she responds to someone very sensitively ("So scared of what the world will think of me"). She is also great at telling stories (“Today’s better”).
She sings John Lennon's "Imagine" in a self-confident, distinctive version, and it seems as if she gives the familiar lines current meaning: "Imagine there's no hell below us, above us only sky", the audience sings along - a heartwarming moment.
Rutstein is really good with demanding texts. For "By My Silence" she set a text by Martin Niemöller to music, "When the Nazis came for the communists", and made an urgent statement of clear partisanship out of it: "I didn't ask till their sorrow turned into mine", a topic to which she as a Jew has a special connection. She is also politically active and includes a song about a woman who was imprisoned for singing in Kurdish, and she sings part of it in Kurdish. Once she sings »This Land Is My Land« to the piano, but in a minor key - Rutstein can and likes to do it differently.
Stylistic command
Great highlights are »Consent« as well as the poetic love song »Princess and The Honeybee«, which she realizes in a multifaceted way. And she really comes out with groovy rockers ("I Had A Baby"). She pulls something like that out with dreamy stylistic confidence and an incredible feeling that - it's a blues - is transferred to the audience.
Sonia Rutstein is beaming, is at peace with herself and comes to visit every year ("I like to play in Germany, it's become something like my second home") and immediately follows up with a rock title that sends the audience into ecstasy and even makes them clap along: more would not be possible.
After the final applause, she sits down at the piano and sings »What a Wonderful World« very softly and sensitively with the audience. It's a wonderful evening.