Sisters songwriter releases CD

Raman Ellis is one of Sisters' premier musicians. A multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, Ellis recently released a new CD entitled "The Tides."

The recording features Ellis' musical compadres from Tumbleweed Peepshow, among others - local musicians who bring Ellis' vision to life: Brent Alan, Benji Nagel, Justin Veloso, Nick Patterson and Laurenne Ross.

"The development was just years of trying to get songs written," Ellis said of the genesis of his CD. "It was just a process of sorting through and deciding which songs were the strongest. I felt confident and good about all of them."

Ellis got his start as a standout member of the Americana Project, Sisters Folk Festival's music education outreach program. As it is for many artists, songwriting starts as a highly personal endeavor.

"At the core of it, it's really just a way ... of processing in life for me," he said. "It's a self-help tool to begin with, honestly."

Once the songs are brought into the world, they are shared with everybody, and it moves "from a need to an enjoyment," he said.

The Tides is available through iTunes and Spotify and CD Baby - and at Tumbleweed Peepshow gigs.

"I want to have something to leave people with after we're done playing," he said.

He's working on making the CD available through local retailers.

Ellis funded the recording effort through a Kickstarter campaign, and he expressed gratitude toward all those in the community who have supported his music - through the Kickstarter and by coming to gigs.

"The whole environment is definitely conducive," he said.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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