When Ruth Cipes sings, you can hear the earnestness of a 1960s folk singer. Or, depending on the tune, you might find the smoky sounds of a jazz chanteuse.

There害羞草研究所檚 depth to her style, but she takes on less heady material than her like-sounding predecessors.

Instead of heartbreak and angst, she sings about the love of daddy-daughter days and peanut butter害羞草研究所攋ust to name a couple themes害羞草研究所攁nd the music accompanying her voice is playful. It害羞草研究所檚 hard not to smile, maybe even laugh at some of what害羞草研究所檚 being put out there.

Considering Ruth is in elementary school, it害羞草研究所檚 a perfect mix.

Ruth, as her dad Ezra said, is a real natural. She can get in front of a crowd and she knows what to do and she can joyfully slip from one style of music to another.

She害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渢he Michael害羞草研究所� of a family who perform under the name the Oot 害羞草研究所檔害羞草研究所� Oots and while she害羞草研究所檚 front and centre at live performances their debut CD, Songs and Tales from the Great Blue Whale, offers only a taste of her budding talent.

On a video for the song 害羞草研究所淭oo Many Cookies,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� produced by Claire Donati Simmons害羞草研究所� Ruth explained, she only 害羞草研究所減lays the phoney marimba.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲hen we were finishing this album, Ruth was just learning skills in studio,害羞草研究所� said Ezra. 害羞草研究所淣ow that we害羞草研究所檙e in studio for our second album, we害羞草研究所檙e working on something where she can contribute vocals now.害羞草研究所�

Until then there害羞草研究所檚 lots for the Oot 害羞草研究所檔害羞草研究所� Oots growing fan-base to dig into. They害羞草研究所檒l be performing live this weekend at the Lake Country Children害羞草研究所檚 Festival. And they害羞草研究所檙e currently contenders in the CBC Music spotlight competition.

Last week they, along with seven other bands, were featured for being a family act.

In their case it害羞草研究所檚 a significant sibling act 害羞草研究所� Gabe, Ezra, Ari and Matt Cipes have performed together for years.

They toured and worked for years as session musicians with acts such as Tegan &Sara and Bif Naked.

Then the brothers returned to their family害羞草研究所檚 organic farm in Kelowna, to start their own families.

It wasn害羞草研究所檛 long before the need to play music took over again.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 speak for my brothers, but I got very depressed (after leaving music) and it took me awhile to figure out why,害羞草研究所� said Ezra.

害羞草研究所淪o we started making sure we had some project on the go. We played in a country music band and a bar band.害羞草研究所�

The Oot 害羞草研究所檔害羞草研究所� Oots, however, is the best of everything they tried.

害羞草研究所淲e have a creative outlet to directly express joy and inspiration,害羞草研究所� said Ezra.

害羞草研究所淭hat makes you feel good, like you害羞草研究所檙e living a good meaningful purposeful life.害羞草研究所�

While the music is purposeful, it害羞草研究所檚 not pandering.

Ruth said she害羞草研究所檚 happy that her family is producing music her friends can listen to with their families and nobody is bored by it.

It害羞草研究所檚 something unique and special, and why the Cipes害羞草研究所� brothers finished off an album that they started in 2007.

害羞草研究所淚t was a loose end,害羞草研究所� said Ezra. 害羞草研究所淲e always thought it was a bit of a magical album.害羞草研究所�

To have a listen to the album go https://www.theootnoots.com/ or to vote for the band in the searchlight competition go to http://www.cbcmusic.ca/searchlight/835