Playing gigs across Los Angeles and the West Coast since 2011, Ruthie Garibay and Stuart Johnson’s music is always evolving. With Stuart’s decades of experience as a multi instrumentalist and drummer, he injects playful rhythms along with his own brand of melodic sensibilities into their music. Ruthie writes lyrics born from authentic human experiences and creates unconventional guitar riffs and melodies. Their music has been compared to Lana Del Rey, Sharon Van Etton and Maggie Rogers.
ABOUT US
Ruthie Garibay grew up in a suburb of Detroit where Motown music played in every dentist office, marching band and grocery store, shaping her ear and songwriting sensibilities. Playing piano as a young girl, she found herself less interested in the assigned songbooks and more fascinated with exploring her own melodies. Ruthie also played flute, sang in choir and learned the guitar at a performing arts charter school. She eventually made her way to art school in San Francisco and played open mics with her Gibson acoustic. Later she moved to Los Angeles and started singing in a band where she met Stuart who was the drummer. Stuart was inspired by Ruthie’s original songs and Feisty Heart was born. They began playing at local venues all over Los Angeles such as Hotel Cafe, the Hi-Hat, Bootleg Theatre, the Townhouse, Pappy and Harriets and more, eventually touring up and down the West Coast.
Stuart Johnson was born in Louisville, Kentucky where he began drumming and playing guitar in grade school and continued both throughout high school. Soon after graduating, Stuart moved to New York City. He landed a major recording contract (MCA) and publishing deal (Warner/Chappell) within the first few years, and eventually made his way to Los Angeles. Some of his career highlights include playing on Letterman, Leno, Conan, MTV and VH1, as well as film and television, including playing Manny Stixman in the Austin Powers band Ming Tea. You can hear him on records with Jakob Dylan and Dhani Harrison, New Radicals, Johnny Cash, Kendrick Lamar, St Motel, Jessie Murph and Hozier. He has toured the world with Blake Mills, actor Tim Robbins, John Doe from X, New Radicals and more. Stuart can also be heard on the #1 Billboard Top 40 hit “Too Sweet” as a contributing writer and musician. Thanks to his participation on the Kendrick Lamar double album Mr Morale & The Big Steppers, Stuart is now a Grammy-winner (Best Rap Album). He is currently writing and producing with Feisty Heart.
HIGHLIGHTS
Toured with John Doe (co-founder of LA punk band X)
Live band for “Theater Macabre” an immersive theater production by Darren Lynn Bousman
Live performances: Abbot Kinney Festival